Ofada stew, also known as ayamase stew or designer stew, is a delectable Nigerian stew made with palm oil, fermented locust beans, and bell peppers. Serve with cauliflower rice for a delicious African keto lunch or dinner!
Ofada stew actually borrows its name from the type of rice it was originally served with, known as Ofada Rice.
Ofada rice is an aromatic variety of rice grown in parts of Nigeria. It has a more robust flavor than regular rice since part of the rice bran is left on the grain.
I will never forget the first time I tasted ofada stew. If you've ever tasted it, you'll understand my sentiment. The taste is one you don't forget easily.
Ofada stew has a very unique and addictive flavor. The taste is refreshing and comforting, and there is a real chance that you'll end up eating way more than you intended!
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Ingredients used
Green and red bell peppers: I have tasted ofada stew made with only green bell peppers and made with only red bell peppers. I personally prefer a combination of both, but you can mix and match as you see fit.
Or use what you have on hand. I use a ratio of 3 green to 1 red bell pepper.
Palm oil: Palm oil gives ofada stew its unique taste, especially when bleached (more on that later).
Habanero pepper: The traditional ofada stew is made with scotch bonnet peppers, but you can use them interchangeably.
Iru (fermented locust beans): I use iru in some of my African soups like my okro soup recipe. It is quite popular in Nigerian soups and gives a traditional, umami flavor when added in small quantities. You can omit this if you don't have any on hand.
Meat: I used beef for this, but you can also use goat meat or chicken.
Spices: Bouillon powder, salt, and ground crayfish.
How to bleach palm oil
Bleaching palm oil might sound strange, but this is quite common in many West African cuisines. It involves heating the palm oil till it loses its red color (and turns a light orange hue).
Why bleach palm oil in the first place? Palm oil is bleached because some very traditional dishes rely on bleached palm oil for their unique flavors.
You can make the same dishes without bleaching the oil, but the taste will be very different. This ofada stew is one of those dishes.
Bleaching palm oil is quite straight forward to make if you know how to do it right. If done improperly, you might end up with a smoking kitchen and a screaming fire alarm!
To bleach palm oil, pour it into a pot, turn the heat down to low, then COVER the pot with a lid. The last part is essential as this will prevent a smoking kitchen.
If you have a stove fan, turn it on. Also, make sure the kitchen is well ventilated.
Then set a timer. I only bleach mine for 5 minutes, but you can do it safely for up to 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat when done and cool for another 5 minutes before opening the cover to prevent splashes.
How to make ofada stew (ayamase stew)
Start by preparing the meat you want to use. If using beef, boil with salt, bouillon, and black pepper for 30-40 minutes till it is tender. You can even fry the meat to give it a more authentic taste. You can do this if you want to, but it's optional.
- Bleach the oil as outlined above. While waiting, coarsely blend the habanero peppers, the green, and red bell peppers together.
- Add as little water as possible when blending. If the blended mix looks a bit watery, pour in a pot and let it boil till some of the water evaporates.
- Chop the onions and set aside. Add the onions to the palm oil and when translucent, pour in the blended peppers and add the iru (fermented locust beans). Cover and let it cook for about 5 minutes.
- Make sure it's on medium heat and keep an eye on it so it does not burn. Add your choice of meat and the remaining spices. Taste for salt and adjust accordingly.
- Cook for another 10 minutes on medium heat or until the oil begins to float to the top.
- Your ofada stew is ready to serve!
What can I eat with ofada stew?
Ofada stew is commonly served over rice, but for a low carb option, serve with cauliflower rice or plain shirataki noodles.
Basically, you can use ofada stew in any meal that calls for stew.
Tips when making ofada stew
- You can reduce the habanero pepper if it's too spicy or add more if you prefer.
- You don't have to bleach the palm oil, but doing so will really enhance the taste.
- Use a mixture of green and bell peppers or use just one type. Generally, red bell peppers are a bit sweeter.
Enjoy these other delectable, low carb African stews!
Recipe
Ofada Stew (Ayamase Stew)
Ingredients
- 3 green bell peppers
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 habanero peppers
- 1/4 cup palm oil
- 1/2 onion
- 1 tbsp iru fermented locust beans
- 1 tbsp ground crayfish
- 1 tsp bouillon powder
- 1 tsp salt or to taste
- 12 oz beef
Instructions
- Chop the onions.
- Coarsely blend the bell peppers and habanero peppers.
- If the blended mix looks a bit watery, pour in a pot and let it boil till some of the water evaporates.
- Boil your meat with bouillon powder, black pepper, and salt till it is tender.
- Bleach the palm oil (as outlined in the next section).
- Add the onions, and after about a minute, add the blended pepper mix and iru.
- Cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the beef and spices.
- Cook for another 10 minutes on medium-low heat or till the oil begins to rise to the surface.
- Serve and enjoy!
To Bleach the Palm Oil
- Pour the palm oil into a pot, turn the heat down to low, then COVER the pot with a lid.
- If you have a stove fan, turn it on. Also, make sure the kitchen is well ventilated.
- Set a timer and let it heat up for 5 minutes (still covered and on low heat).
- Turn off the heat when done and cool for another 5 minutes before opening the cover.
Notes
- You can reduce the habanero pepper if it's too spicy or add more if you prefer.
- You don't have to bleach the palm oil, but doing so will really enhance the taste.
- Use a mixture of green and red bell peppers or use just one type. Generally, red bell peppers are a bit sweeter.
I tried bleaching my oil but instead my pot went up in flames
Oh no! Did you follow the instructions exactly? I bleach my palm oil quite a bit and I have never had it smoke up my kitchen. The secret is to bleach it on very low heat, covered, and in a well-ventilated kitchen. Let it cool down completely, still covered, before you cook with it.
Thanks for the detailed instruction, can I add fresh blended tomatoes to the pepper mix
Ofada stew is not really made with tomatoes, but you can add some if you want. It will just need to cook a bit longer.
Thank you I am about to try this but I maybe missed how many and wat sizw onion
Hi Ope, it's half an onion. I just corrected it in the recipe card. I hope you enjoy it!
Should I get a specific cut of beef for this?
No, any cut of beef will work.
Is there a good replacement for iru beans? I can't find them in my neighborhood.
No, there's no replacement for it but you can omit it and the stew will still taste great. Iru just gives it a very traditional flavor.
This looks intriguing! I wonder if you could clarify step 5, where it says "bleach the palm oil." Thanks so much.
Hi Roxana, I had the instruction on how to bleach the palm oil in the body of the post, but I just added it to the recipe card also. Let me know if you have any other questions!