GHANA RECIPES (APIM - AMPESI)

Ampesi is any meal of either boiled yam/plantain/cocoyam/cassava or a mixture of any two or all of them served with stew/gravy/kontomire or thick palm-nut soup.

These are the ingredient that goes into the preparation of ‘Apim ampesi’ with garden eggs stew.

Ingredient

Yam/Plantain (green) or Cocoyam/Cassava

Salt to taste                                          

Water

Grounded pepper

Ginger and Onion

Salted fish and eggs

Tomatoes

How to cook ampesi:

• Peel the yam, cut it into a rounds shape about half an inch thick, and cut each round in half. If using green plantains peel them and cut them in half lengthwise (horizontally). If using ripe plantains, sweet potato, cassava (manioc), potatoes, or cocoyam (taro), peel and cut each in several pieces.
• Put them into a large pot, cover with water, and add a little salt if you like.
• Bring the water to a boil and cook until the vegetables are soft but not mushy (if the ripe plantains cook more quickly, you can remove them with a slotted spoon while the other vegetables finish cooking).
• Drain the water off when they are cooked (about 20 minutes), and serve immediately with any stew, such as corned beef stew.

Recipe for Ghanaian classic garden egg stew;

• Boil the garden eggs for 12 – 15 minutes,
• Prepare grounded pepper with ginger and onion, chopped onions and tomatoes
• Heat oil in saucepan, add salted fish ‘koobi’ beef and sliced onions and fry for 2 minutes.
• Add grounded pepper with ginger and onions, cook for a few minutes then add chopped tomatoes and cook for about 10mins.
• Add eggs, simmer for 5mins and remove skin and seeds of garden eggs if you like.
• Chop or grind garden eggs and add to stew, let stew simmer for 15mins on low heat and add a little salt to taste as there is already the salty fish.
• Serve with hot boiled plantain ‘Apim’.

So if you are looking for a delicious, hearty and healthy meal, look no further than ‘Apim Ampesi’ and garden eggs stew! Not only is it sumptuous; it is easy too! ‘Nyadowa abomu’ as popularly known by a Ghanaian is best served with boiled plantain or yam but if you are not able to get those try some rice and enjoy.