Cow Foot Stew

 

IMG_4907 (2)Okay who does not like a hearty meat stew? Recently, I made some short rib beef stew for a project I was working on and it reminded me a lot of cow foot stew.  My mother makes a very good one and hers is always quite soupy,  but I like mine slow cooked and looking like  pottage.

Okay, I have to share the experience I had while I was making this very pot. It is quite funny 🙂 So, the recipe called for 1/2 -1 tsp of Uziza seeds(Piper guineense), but I added 1tbsp. It was whilst I was cooking it to the end that I remembered how much Uziza I had added. GOD have mercy, uziza is quite spicy oh! I hear word LOL 🙂 Then with the oil, although it is optional, the recipe called for half of a cooking spoon if using any. I was talking away and being distracted with baby girl and I added a whole cooking spoon. In any case, it was still very delicious and very spicy. Note to self, always stay focused Mrs. scatter brain 🙂 I did make some more stew a couple of days after with the right measurements and we enjoyed it even better.

In this recipe, I also made the use of Uda. Uda is a slightly bitter spice, so when using it, you have to remove the seeds, by smashing the pods with a hammer or using a knife to cut it open. I had the dry type of uda, so I soaked it in some lukewarm water for a few minutes to soften; after which I used a knife to cut it open and removed the seeds. Some people like to burn it a little before using it. You may do so; I did not do that for this recipe. Also, be careful not to over cook it with your soup; lest your food begins to taste bitter.

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This is a one pot recipe that will surely please you. You may slow cook it on the stove or use a slow cooker. If using a slow cooker, just season the meats with all the ingredients and let it cook on low or high heat until tender. About 5hours on high heat works.  I made mine on the stove top and on low heat, and I danced my way to and from the kitchen

Here is the recipe for you. Enjoy!

5.0 from 1 reviews
Cow Foot Stew
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Author:
Serves: 6
Ingredients
  • 2lbs chopped cow foot
  • 1tbsp dry grinded pepper or red chili flakes
  • ½ tsp Uziza seeds or black peppercorns
  • 4-6 ehuru seeds i.e. Jamaican or calabash nutmeg(toasted)
  • 2 sprigs of uda
  • 2tbsps of crayfish
  • 2-3 Habanero peppers or ata-rodo(depending on your level of heat tolerance)
  • half of a medium onion
  • ½ cup basil leaves or scent leaves
  • 1 Maggi crayfish(any bouillon works)
  • ½ a cooking spoon of palm oil(optional)
  • 2 large potatoes or 4 pieces of yam cubes; cut into little pieces
  • salt to taste
Instructions
  1. In a pot, wash and season Cow feet with salt and dry pepper; then set aside for about 30minutes
  2. Toast the ehuru seeds and blend with the habanero peppers, crayfish, onion and uziza seeds
  3. chop the basil and set aside
  4. Using a knife, open up the Uda pods and discard the seeds
Preparation
  1. Pour enough water to cover the cow feet and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook. Always add water when the water in the pot is low
  2. Once the meat is soft, pour in the spice blend along with the potatoes, uda and oil. cook on low heat until your desired thickness and until the oil is properly cooked.. Remove uda stalks once cooking is done and stir in the basil before serving
Notes
When using a slow cooker, the basil also goes in last before serving

 

4 comments

  1. Aijay says:

    Nma, nice recipe. But just a tip. When cooking cow skin, cow foot or any tough meat, just add onions and water then cook. Adding salt when cooking toughens the meat and makes it harder to get soft. You can add the salt and boullion cubes when the meat is tender enough.

    • Calabar Gal says:

      I simply save myself the headache and pop the cowfoot, seasoning(onions et al) into a pressure cooker and voila!! No headache at all!! It is ready in half the cooking time of an ordinary pot.

      LEarnt something new. I will definitely try this receipe. Been using uda only for my afia efere (ofe nsala)…

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