How to cook/prepare “OKU-ISHI”

How to cook/prepare “OKU-ISHI”

“Öku-Ishi””as it is locally called in Isua dialect, is a local delicacy of the Isua people. It’s a highly respected food among the people. It’s nutritionally rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fat & oil, fibres, etc. I would say it’s the best example of balanced diet across the globe. It is prepared in various ways and ingredients, based on the choice of the consumer, but all still driving around a point.

The food is in two sections; “Oku” is the solid and “Ishi” the soup. The two are prepared separately, but served either together or separately. I prefer when it’s served together.

Ingredients

Ø  Beans

Ø  Maize/corn

Ø  Garden egg/Egg plant

Ø  “Ewedu” leaves / okra

Ø  Fresh unripe/semi ripe pepper

Ø  Salt

Ø  Palm oil

The preparation of Öku

The beans and the maize are milled together in a suitable proportion according to the taste and choice of the consumer. Some prefer only beans, or only maize, or whichever way. The milled product is then meshed and mixed with appropriate proportion of water like in the preparation of moi-moi, but a bit thicker and without oil. Add salt to taste. The mixture is then ready to be bagged and packaged for cooking. Cook for about forty (40) minutes or wait till you think it’s done.

The preparation of “Ishi”

Wash your garden egg and fresh pepper, boil very well to soften and easy to mesh (best advised to boil alongside the cooking of the Öku). Mash the garden egg and pepper in a container or a mini mortar. You will as well boil your okra or ewedu leaves and mash to bits as done for the garden egg and pepper separately. Turn the mashed garden egg, pepper, okra/ewedu leaves altogether in a pot, stir together, add palm oil, salt, and seasoning if you like, stir on fire for 2-3 minutes, then the food is ready.

Serve the Öku alongside the Ishi, and enjoy.

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