Olufemi Olabode
Flora IP Food Hero: Olufemi Olabode!
Flora IP is pleased to present Olufemi Olabode’s short story to celebrate World Food Day for Children.
World Food Day: “The future is in our hands.”
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (2021).
How amala and ewedu soup gets to my plate.
As stated on our meal timetable at home, we eat amala and ewedu for dinner on Tuesdays. Amala is dry yam that has been blended into powder (flour). Ewedu is a green vegetable that becomes slimy when cooked. Both items were bought from Ajah Market by my auntie in Lagos, Nigeria. All other supporting ingredients were available at home.
To make amala, we pour the desired quantity of yam flour into a pot of boiling water and stir until we get a smooth thick paste. Add a little water, cover the pot and then leave it to cook for a few more minutes.
To cook ewedu, we remove the leaves from the stalk, rinse it a couple of times. Then blend the ewedu with very little water and locust beans. Pour the blended ewedu into a pot, add salt, then cook it for two to three minutes and the ewedu is ready.
The amala and ewedu is served with beef or chicken stew.
Activity
Storytelling. Write a story that tells us how your dinner today got to your plate. From the choice of the meal, the market/supermarket where the ingredients were purchased to the preparation of the meal. Ask your parents for help with this.
