The corn (maize)
season is here in the middle-belt of Nigeria and will last through June to August. Many Nigerians abroad who relish the eating of boiled
corn on the cob with
coconut as snacks, when they were at home, may feel home sick. But they need not be. Here
is a corn/coconut recipe you can prepare any where you may be in the world. And more
- we show you how to make the coconut milk used for other recipes.
Coconut is
botanically known as cocos nuciferaz.
It is rich in iron and potassium and also high in calcium
and phosphorous, but considerably low in fat and rich in nutrients like vitamins A,
B, and C. All these add up to the fact that it is a very nutritious and non-fating food item.
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Ingredients
One
medium size
coconut.
Fresh corns on the cob as
required.
Salt.
Method
1. Select fresh corns on
the cob. Corn that are still in the milky stage are preferred. Prepare them for boiling by
removing the green covers and tassels. Break each cob into pieces of about 6 inches long which can go
into a medium sized aluminum pot for boiling. Sprinkle a little salt on them, add water and
boil.
Test if they are done by piercing with a
fork. When done, drain off the water and leave the pot by the side of the oven to
keep warm.
2. Select a medium size coconut. Break it up
and remove the white meat with a blunt knife. Wash in cold water. Slice the washed
coconut meat into half inch thick pieces. Wash again with drinkable
water.
3. Serve the boiled corn with the coconut
slices. The corn is eaten with the pieces of coconut slices. The mixed taste of
corn and coconut is delicious.
NOTES:
-- Locally you can get the fresh corn on cobs in
local markets. We usually make trips to nearby farms at week ends to buy directly from the
farmers. In that way we get the best selections cheaply.
-- Abroad you can get fresh corn on the cob
these days from large chain supermarkets. If in London, try the Safeway
supermarkets.
Making Coconut Milk>>>
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Coconut milk is needed
for making many coconut based foods. Although you can buy imported coconut
milk from Brazil or Thailand in supermarkets,
it is good to learn how to make some yourself.
Method
-- Select a good coconut.
Shake it well to hear the water in it moving. This is one sign of a good
product. Crack it open with a hammer or heavy object. Remove the white meat
with a blunt knife and slice it to bits.
-- Grate the pieces.
-- Mix the grated coconut
with one or two cups of water. Pour into
a fine sieve to separate the milk. We usually put the remaining
coconut
meat that cannot pass
through the sieve into a liquidiser
to grind it more
and pass
it again
through the sieve.
-- Finally, to get more
milk out of the meat,
put the
liquidised meat in a
clean dish cloth and squeeze out the milk. Discard the rest of the meat.
Use of Coconut Milk
You
can preserve your coconut milk in a
refrigerator and use it as you like
in the following food
preparations:
-- Coconut Sauce for your
breakfast yam, dish.
-- Use some in you soup
for boiled rice dish etc.
-- You
can use some to mix the ingredients for a local pudding called
Moyin Moyin
and another snack - "Coconut Candy".
In all these,
the aroma of the coconut milk will make the food more
appetising and
enjoyable.
Try it. |