A brief history
The Ewa Agoyin sauce is originally a recipe for the Agoyin people of Cotonou, Benin Republic. The sauce which has since been domesticated by the Yoruba people of Southwest Nigeria and was introduced to them by the Beninoise living in Lagos State.
The name Ewa Agoyin is from the Yoruba word Ewa meaning beans in the Yoruba language and Agoyin is a name for a tribe in Benin Republic.
The recipe became popular in Lagos in the early 80s and has gone on to become a very popular street food in Nigeria.
The Ewa Agoyin Sauce
This popular street delicacy is very easy to prepare whether for commercial purposes or for food at home.
I will be taking you through the process of making one of Nigeria’s most popular street foods; the Ewa Agoyin also called Ewa Agayin.
Before we go into the nitty-gritty of cooking the Ewa Agoyin, I would love to give you a list of all the necessary ingredients that are needed.
Ingredients for making Ewa Agoyin
Here is a list of all the ingredients you need to make a delicious pot of Ewa Agoyin:
- Beans (Black Eyed Peas)
- Water
- Dried Chili preferably Tatashe or California chili pods
- Red bell pepper
- Fresh onion
- Palm oil
- Seasoning and spices: salt, ginger, Crayfish, seasoning cubes and salt
How to cook Ewa Agoyin
After gathering all the ingredients you need to cook this delicacy, the next step would be to start the cooking. I am going to take you through the process. And here we go:
Pick the beans
To ensure you cook and eat what is clean, it will be necessary to first pick out the specks of dirt from the beans, and rinse and drain the beans several times. However, if your beans are clean, then you need to pick them. Aside from the black-eyed peas, you can also use locust beans. Check here for our locust beans.
Cook the beans
The next step is to cook the beans. Pour the beans into a stockpot, add enough water and cook it for about 2hrs to make it very soft.
Then put the beans down and mash them to your preference using a potato masher or wooden spoon.
The Ewa Aganyin Stew
How do we prepare the Ewa Agoyin stew?
The Peppers
The first step is to pour hot boiling water over the dried Chilies and bell peppers for about 2 hours. This is to rehydrate them
After they are properly rehydrated, blend them with the onions, ginger, and about a quarter cup of water and put aside.
The Palm Oil
For our palm oil, it should be heated in a skillet over medium heat until it is extremely hot but not bleached.
Add the onion slices and let it simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Not black or charred, we want it to be browned.
And finally,
Add the blended peppers and stir for around 10 minutes. Add salt to taste along with the crayfish and seasoning cubes.
The pepper’s colour is expected to change from bright red to dark red after another 5 to 10 minutes of cooking. If not, cook for a little longer.
Put it down and call me, please! Ewa Agoyin is ready.
The Nutritional Benefits
Now that we have successfully cooked a delicious pot of Ewa Agoyin, it will be essential for us to know some of the nutritional benefits of this recipe. Why Ewa Agoyin?
1. Regulates Blood Sugar
Eating Agoyin is not just for the satisfaction it gives but it is medicinal. It helps diabetic patients to lower their blood sugar levels. This is good for people with type 2 diabetes.
2. Reduces High Cholesterol Level
Ewa Agoyin helps to keep your heart safe. This recipe helps your body to manage its cholesterol level by reducing it to the right proportion. This keeps the heart safe from heart diseases and stabilizes the rate of the body’s heartbeat.
3. Body Weight
Eating beans can keep you full for a long time without requiring you to eat anything else throughout the day, which will help you lose extra weight. Eating beans causes a reduction in body fat. After eating some beans, you may notice that you drink too much water; beans encourage you to drink more water.
4. Solves digestive system problems
The body digests meals more quickly with the aid of Ewa Agoyin. Consuming enough beans will help you swiftly find a solution if you’re experiencing digestive system issues.
5. Source of Protein
Beans are a good source of plant-based protein. You need protein in your diet for a number of body processes, including tissue growth and repair, immune system support, and muscle mass maintenance.
6. Source of nutrients
Ewa Agoyin is rich in nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It also offers a variety of vital nutrients. Especially high in folate, iron, magnesium, and potassium are beans. These nutrients are crucial for producing energy, creating blood cells, maintaining healthy neurological function, and controlling blood pressure.
Now that we have gone through the history, process and health benefits of Ewa Agoyin, I believe we have already added it to the list of Nigerian delicacies we will be trying out this week. Ewa Agoyin is quite a tasty meal that should be taken considering its tastiness and nutritional benefits. Though we are not armed with all this information, especially on the process of making the Ewa Agoyin, we may not really have the time to go through with it.
However, getting the Ewa Agoyin sauce without having to cook it yourself is possible. You can have this delicacy delivered right to your doorstep. The Ewa Agoyin sauce is on Naijapackage.com. For ease of access, I will be dropping links here for you to just follow to get your Ewa Agoyin sauce at very affordable rates. You can also watch the video below to know more about the Ewa Agoyin sauce.