EWA RIRO (STEWED BEANS)

Ewa riro which is also referred to as stewed beans is a Nigerian delicacy from the Yoruba speaking part of the country. It is made by boiling beans until its tender, and then we stew it up.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Black eyed peas or Brown cowpeas 
• ½ cup Dry fish (optional)                  
• 1 medium Onion           
• 1 tsp Salt              
• 4 medium Roma tomatoes                
• 1 Habanero          
• ½ Large bell pepper                                    
• 1/2 cup Palm Oil           
• 1 tsp  bouillon seasoning                  
• 1 tsp Curry powder (optional)           
• 1 tsp Ground red pepper (optional)             
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning            
• 7 cups Water                 

Ingredients Preparation

1. Finely slice 1/3 of the onion.
2. Rinse the black eyed peas, remove any dirt and any beans that float to the top or look disheveled
3. Rinse the dry fish if you chose to use some for this dish.

Cooking Instructions

1. The first step to making delicious stewed beans, is to, of course, cook the beans.
2. Add the beans, 7 cups of water, finely sliced 1/3 onion, the dry fish and salt. Cook on high heat until the beans is very soft. Takes about 30-45 minutes. You can use a pressure cooker which shortens cooking time.
3. While the beans are cooking, rinse the tomatoes, bell pepper, and habanero. Blend with the onions.
4. Once the beans is cooked (when you taste a bean, it should come apart in your mouth without needing to chew), add in the palm oil, bouillon seasoning.
5. Stir and allow cooking for about 2 minutes, and then adding in the tomato sauce and the rest of the spices. Allow to cook for another 30 minutes. The sauce around the beans should be thick when done.

This meal can be eaten with fried plantain.

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