Ofada Sauce (Ata Dindin) is a genuine and popular African dish. This bukateria-quality stew is made with chopped savory pepper sauce, grilled assorted meat, smoked turkey, palm oil, and spices!
Everyone will certainly love this stew! It’s indeed aromatic with the inclusion of the secret ingredient, wholesome locus beans, for a bold flavor.
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This dish is also great for celebrations, weekends, and family events!
How to Make Nigerian Ofada Sauce
This Ofada sauce recipe is cheap, simple, and absolutely tasty!
Ingredients
Peppers
This dish uses red bell peppers and red sweet peppers. They have tangy flavors, inviting colors, and aromas. So, make the best pepper sauce with fresh peppers!
I love using peppers for Fried Rice, Jollof Rice, and Chicken Fried Bulgur.
Scotch bonnet
Add a kick of spice to the recipe by adding a scotch bonnet. Moreover, it blends perfectly with the pepper in texture and taste. Scotch bonnet is my favorite spice for Chili Flakes!
Onion
Balance the peppers and scotch bonnet using pungent onions. Furthermore, onions make great elements for soups and sauces like Egusi Soup and Chicken Gizzard Stew!
Assorted meat
Assorted meat is a great protein source for Nigerian Ofada Stew. Once coated with the sauce, the meat will absorb the best flavors.
Smoked turkey
Leftover smoked turkey can be an excellent ingredient for Nigerian Ofada sauce. In addition, it is naturally delicious with tender meat!
Locust beans
Locust beans are some of the staple beans for African recipes. Cooking it will surely give a creamy and smooth quality to any dish.
Seasoning
For the flavoring, use chicken stock cubes and sea salt. You can also include other herbs and spices of your choice.
Palm oil
Bleached palm oil makes the Nigerian Ofada Stew yummy. It also has a high smoke point to retain flavor and nutrients!
Give yourself a genuine African dining experience tonight. Enjoy the savory goodness of Nigerian Ofada Sauce!
Directions
- Rinse and dice the peppers and onion with a knife.
- Pulse the sweet peppers, scotch bonnets, bell peppers, and onion in a blender.
- Then, separate the liquid using a filter over a glass bowl. Set the pepper sauce or juice aside.
- Heat palm oil in a pot over medium fire.
- Place another pot on medium heat and saute the pepper pulp.
- Pour in the palm oil and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the locust beans, chicken stock cubes, diced smoked turkey, and sea salt using a spatula.
- Then, cook the stew for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Add the grilled meat or other meat or fish options.
- Cover the meat with the sauce and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Finally, it is ready to serve!
Trust me; it doesn’t get better than this. Nigerian Ofada Sauce is true happiness on a plate! Just imagine enjoying every spoon of this tasty sauce!
Tips
Pepper Sauce Without a Blender
- The sauce is usually made with a blender or food processor.
- You can also use a hand-held blender.
- Moreover, you can also use a grater or a knife to make the sauce.
- Alternatively, pound the peppers with a mortar and pestle.
How to Cook Assorted Meat and Liquid Stock
If you want to enjoy Nigerian Ofada Sauce, you have to cook it with mixed meat. It gives you better flavor and more benefits. In addition, use tripe, abodi, and other beef organs of your choice.
- Cook the meat chops with onions, garlic, curry powder, thyme, stock cubes, and salt.
- Cook the meat for 30 minutes or until the meat is tender and the stock is separated.
- Separate the meat from the stock.
- Freeze the stock in ice cube trays and store it in freezer bags within several months.
How to Bleach Palm Oil
Bleaching palm oil brings out an intense flavor in any recipe. It is highly suggested, especially for Nigerian dishes such as Fried Pepper Stew.
- Heat the oil in a pot or pan over medium to high heat.
- Let it cool at room temperature in a well-ventilated area.
- Once cooled, transfer the contents into an airtight container.
Nigerian Ofada Sauce Variations
Instead of meat and turkey, you can also use mackerel, tilapia, or other seafood. You can choose your herbs and spices. Season the sauce as preferred and needed.
For a touch of spice, add Chili Flakes or scotch bonnet too. In addition, locust beans can be replaced. You can also omit them from the recipe.
You can also try to make it in an instant pot or multicooker for easy cooking!
Recommended Tools
- Pot: Bleach the palm oil in a pot for better taste.
- Pan: Cook the stew in a pan.
- Blender: Prepare the pepper sauce with a blender.
- Colander: Drain the pepper sauce from the pulp.
- Wooden spatula: Combine ingredients using a wooden spatula.
- Knife: Chop the vegetables with a knife.
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How to Serve Nigerian Ofada Sauce
To fully enjoy the full Nigerian Ofada Sauce experience, I recommend serving it with rice options such as Ofada Rice, Basmati Rice, Jollof Rice, and Fried Rice. Side dishes may also include:
- Bread
- Roasted Plantains
- High-Protein Beans
- Fried Plantain
- Fried Yam
- Fried Cocoyam
Moreover, you can consume this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It is truly delicious if you want to have a good time with your loved ones! Additionally, serve it for parties and no one will forget about it!
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Nigerian Ofada Stew is best eaten within two hours of making it to relish its full flavors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nigerian Ofada Sauce made of?
Ofada sauce is made of red bell peppers, sweet peppers, scotch bonnet, and onion. The mix of sweet, pungent, and spicy flavors is truly delicious! Nevertheless, you can also use other vegetables and seasoning.
What is the difference between Ofada and Ayamese Stew?
My Diaspora Kitchen says Ayamese Stew is cooked with green bell peppers, while Ofada uses red bell peppers. Green bell peppers also tend to have an earthy and grassy taste to them.
Do you need to wash the locust beans?
It is suggested to rinse the locust beans. Washing is always needed to rid them of chemicals or dirt that can affect the dish. Do this minutes before cooking.
Why is my ofada stew bitter?
It may be due to the bell pepper used. Avoid using too many green bell peppers. You can deseed the peppers before blending to remove any bitter taste.
Ofada Suace Recipe (VIDEO)
Ingredients
- 4 red bell peppers (medium-sized)
- 4 red sweet bell peppers (medium-sized)
- 4 scotch bonnet (medium-sized)
- 2 onions (medium-sized)
- 1 cup palm oil
- 600 g assorted meat (diced and grilled)
- 180 g smoked turkey
- 1 tbsp locust beans
- 2 cubes chicken stock
- 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
Make the pepper sauce.
- Rinse and dice the peppers and onion.
- Pulse the sweet peppers, scotch bonnets, bell peppers, and onion for a pulpy consistency.
- Pour the sauce into a colander over a glass bowl. Set the pepper sauce or juice aside.
Bleach the oil.
- Heat palm oil in a pot over medium fire.
- Bleach the oil until it is really hot.
- Take the pot to a ventilated area and remove the lid.
Cook the stew.
- Place another pot or deep pan on medium heat and saute the pepper pulp.
- Pour in the palm oil and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the locust beans, chicken stock cubes, diced smoked turkey, and sea salt.
- Cook the stew for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Incorporate the grilled assorted meat or other meat or fish options.
- Cover the meat with the sauce and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes.
- It is ready to serve!
Video
Notes
- Serve Ofada Stew with rice, beans, bread, yam, plantains, and more!
- Customize the meat, turkey, and seasoning to make it a dish of your own.
- Make sure to wash the locust beans.
- Bleach the palm oil for enhanced flavor.
Nutrition
