Nigerian Nkwobi

How to Make nkwobi, one of the Nigerian’s most popular evening meals.

Over the years I have received countless questions from members of the Nigerian Kitchen who require tips for making Nkwobi.

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This evening meal has been around for a very long time, initially, it was made with just bush meat (edible wild animals).

The likes of squirrel, grass cutter, rabbit and even antelopes could be used to make nkwobi. Along the line, however, people starting experimenting with domestic animals and even poultry birds.

If you are among the folk that are asking “what is nkwobi?” here is a simple definition;

It is Igbo delicacy that is made with different kinds of meats, in a little while you will read all the processes involved in making it and why it is very popular in the eastern part of Nigeria.

You will also learn about all the ingredients used in making it and different kinds of meats that could also be used.

I remember vividly the first time I had a plate of Nigerian nkwobi, it was very delicious and very pepperish.

Although you can use pepper to your taste. The last recipe I ate was made with chicken, but as I said initially, your choice of meat can vary but the methods remain the same.

Here are the ingredients that are used in making Nigerian nkwobi (for five to ten persons.)

Ingredients For Nkwobi

1 kg Meat (chicken, wild meat, goat, cow foot, assorted meat)
2 cubes of knorr
10 leaves of utazi
Edible potash (one teaspoon)
Palm oil 200ml
Ugba – 1 cup
6 Peppers (Scotch bonnet)
Onions – 2 slice
3 seeds of ehu (calabash nutmeg)
Salt to taste

Preparation

In this recipe, I will be using cow foot as you can see below.

The first step is parboiling the meat with some ingredients; onions, 2 cubes of stock cubes and salt will be enough.

Then allow cooking for another fifty to sixty minutes until the meat is completely soft.

This is necessary because nkwobi, as well as Nigerian pepper soup, is basically made with very soft meats, just so it is not hard to chew.

This is what you get.

Most preparation processes take place in a small mortar, (an African carved hollow wood), but you can use a pot if you are not in Nigeria.

This is just how it has been, some the Nigerian food customs have been around for years and we probably haven’t found a credible reason why they should be revoked.

Slice the onions and utazi, then set aside on a plate, some people choose to add these two during the preparation process while others use them for decoration purposes.

One way or another, Utazi and onions should be part of the ingredients used in preparing Nigerian Nkwobi.

You can boil the ugba in a small amount of water for about 2 to 3 minutes, this technique helps eliminate the fermenting bacterias.

Note that this ingredient is processed with the help of a harmless bacteria. This is just to be on the safe side even though most Nigerians eat ugba without heating it.

Cook the meat until it is almost dry, check to see the level of water. This is necessary so you don’t end up with another kind of pepper soup.

Stir the cooking meat in the pot to be sure that it doesn’t burn. Did I say that it is also necessary to cut the meat in small sizes?

How To Make Nkwobi

Dissolve the potash in about 250ml (one cup) of water and filter about half a cup into the pot, you will learn a little bit about this from the video below.

You will know exactly how this is done, although most Nigerians are familiar with this technique.

Add about half a cup of palm oil into the pot, stir to obtain a thick yellow paste (ncha) and you are just a few steps away from having a very delicious nkwobi.

Once you have the “ncha” add the ugba, a pinch of salt, a stock cube and [utazi leaves, ehu, and peppers] (all pounded together).

Also, add two spoons of ground crayfish, then stir very well before adding the meat.

Stir together and add the meat.

Note: If the meat is too hot, it would dissolve the “ncha” and turn it redish> allow the meat to cool for 20-30 minutes before using.

The utazi is very necessary because it adds a faint bitter taste which is an integral part of nkwobi. You pound some and you slice some.

Stir and serve. This is what you get.

Most times I serve nkwobi and boiled white yam, that’s just why you have the extra sauce. Alternatively, it is served in this wooden thingy as an evening snack.

Nkwobi Recipe - Igbo foods

Chef Chidi

Nkwobi is a popular side dish in Igboland. Usually, It is served with palm wine in popular bars. Sometimes, we pair with yam and serve as dinner in our home.

5 from 6 votes

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Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Igbo Cuisine, Nigerian Cuisine

Servings 6 People

Calories 620 kcal

Equipment

• Pressure cooker

Ingredients

  

• 1 kg Meat cow foot
• 2 cubes of knorr
• 10 leaves of utazi
• 1 tsp Edible potash
• 200 ml Palm oil
• 1 cup Ugba
• 6 Peppers Scotch bonnet
• 2 slice Onions
• 3 seeds of ehu calabash nutmeg
• Salt to taste

Instructions

 

• Season the meat with onions, two seasoning cubes and a teaspoon of salt. cook for 45 minutes. 15 minutes if you are using a pressure cooker.
• You just want the meat soft and easy to chew. The meat stock should be small and thick.
• boil the ugba for just 3 minutes with small water to eliminate fermenting bacterias.
• Disolve the potash in one cup of water and filter into a pot.
• Add the palm oil to the pot and stir very well, it should thicken and become yellow.
• To the same pot, add ground crayfish, Ugba, pepper and salt to taste.
• Add a seasoning cube, [utazi leaves, ehu, and peppers] (all pounded together)
• Stir together and add the meat.
• Stir and serve.
• Note: Some of the utazi should be pounded while the rest should be sliced. You add the pounded one during the preparation process and used the sliced one for decoration.

Keyword Igbo Foods, Nkwobi Recipe

Above is the video for making nkwobi, I used pre-cooked meat and didn’t use ugba for this video.

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