When I lived in London I lived with a couple from Nigeria for a few months and I am trying to figure out what this food was. OK, it wasn't 'food' singular; it came in jars and was a paste of some sort. It came in varying 'hotness' levels (mild, medium, hot) and it could be mixed with just about anything - usually rice or mashed yams (come to think of it - does anyone know what kind of yams those were? they were white...that's all I know!). It was a reddish/brownish colour. Also, it was delicious and I need to find out what it was and if I can get any in N America (we have ethnic groceries here but they tend to be Asian).
Anyone???
-- Edited by Mia at 19:18, 2005-01-28
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"Don't be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Don't limit yourself in this way." - Bruce Mau
My stomach made me think of it. Also, I just didn't know where to go for this info before, because my memory is so vague, but I thought someone here might know...
It is the most delicious thing. I got addicted and started putting it on everything. The same thing happened when my Korean buddy made me eat kimchee. I started eating kimchee with *everything*. By the time I moved out I was almost up to the 'hot' level. The yams were also awesome. But I have never seen yams like that here. Damn. The food here is boring. Enough with the organic tofu already.
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"Don't be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Don't limit yourself in this way." - Bruce Mau
YES! That's it!! I remember it wasn't a smooth paste, it looked as if it had fish/something fish-esque in it. Where do you get it Ayo? Maybe I can phone them and see if they will ship? Do you know the name of the white yams as well (I don't know if their skin is white, but the flesh is white)?
Thank you for posting - I'm so glad I know what that stuff is now - I am going to get a jar from somewhere...I am going to go search online right now...
-- Edited by Mia at 17:15, 2005-02-01
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"Don't be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Don't limit yourself in this way." - Bruce Mau
:) The store I get it from it sort of mom and pop but who knows that just might ship it!
Oyingbo African International Market (301) 422-2223 6580 Ager Rd Hyattsville, MD 20782 2.1 mi NW - Directions
(first place I would check)
As a matter of fact before I even list anymore MD stores...my cousin lives in Canada and gets it from somewhere all the time. I'll ask her tonight.
The yams: I only know them has yams...they are brown on the outside they almost look like bark and white sometimes yellowish on the inside. If you ask for yams in any African store they will most likely know what you are looking for.
About shipping the shito...be prepared for a possible mess...that stuff is oily and often not sealed tight enough.
i have seem white yams (or maybe they were called white sweet potatoes here) in regular grocery stores a few times recently -- they were just in the potato section and looked like regular yams but the inside was white instead of orange.
Thanks for the info, Ayo (and e doli) - I will look locally first but I'll give that store you posted a call if I can't find it here (and am somewhat pessimistic that I will). I remember it was very oily - I ruined a good shirt spilling it all down the front one day. Heh.
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"Don't be cool. Cool is conservative fear dressed in black. Don't limit yourself in this way." - Bruce Mau