At some point, you might have heard of this famous sauce called Ayamase sauce which is also known as Ofada Sauce. It is a pepper sauce which is most times eaten with Ofada rice – A Nigerian rice from Ogun State which is named after the Ofada Community of same name. Unlike most rice, this one isn’t completely white. The Ofada rice is slightly unpolished which also gives it the unique colour and taste.
Alright, let’s go back to the sauce. The almighty Ayamase Sauce. I haven’t had this sauce until I relocated abroad. Although, this sauce originated from Nigeria, I have never had it in Nigeria. When I was ready to try it, I did a lot of research trying to understand this sauce that is so popular in Western Nigeria. You see, although my mum is from Western Nigeria – this wasn’t part of our regular meal. But, I am a curious food explorer. I was determined to try it.
After all the research and tips and tricks, I finally tried it. The uniqueness of this sauce comes from the bleaching and fragrance from the African Palm oil combined with the fragrance and flavour from the locust beans (Iru) and green bell peppers. Oh! The fragrant of green bell pepper on the bleached African Palm oil amazing.
The key to an amazing Ofada sauce are the 3 ingredients listed above. The properly bleached oil, the locust beans and the coarsely ground green bell peppers. For proteins, you can go crazy. Put whatever you are craving from beef to goat meat to ponmo to shaki to chicken to turkey to offals and whatever you crave but there has to be boiled eggs. However, if you don’t like boiled eggs, you can certainly omit it.
The boiled eggs with all sorts of proteins on a steaming plate of Ofada rice or any kind of rice really, is exceptional. Actually, I hardly eat this with Ofada rice – my regular parboiled rice (Nigerian rice). You can also enjoy this sauce with yam, plantain.
This sauce is rich from the dark green richness of colour to the abundance of proteins in the sauce to it’s flavour, it is truly unique – there is no sauce like it (that I am aware of, at least). There is another variation which uses red bell pepper instead of the green bell pepper. The difference is just the colour of the pepper – Green Bell Pepper vs. Red Bell Pepper.
Enough of my talks, let go into the recipe properly.
Ayamase Sauce
This sauce is also known as Ofada Sauce. Made with green bell pepper which gives it its unique color and taste. Usually attend with Ofada rice (Ofada rice is a rice that is grown in Ogun State in Nigeria) or any rice.
- 8 Green Bell Pepper
- 6 Green Thai Pepper (Deseeded)
- 1 medium Onion
- 1 Thumb-size Ginger
- 4-5 cloves Garlic
- 1.5 cup Palm oil
- 1 small onion (Chopped)
- 2 tbsp Locus Beans (Iru)
- Seasoning Cube (To Taste)
- Salt (To Taste)
- 5 Cooked Eggs (optional) (Eggs were cooked for 4-5mins in a boiling water and then peeled and set aside.)
- Fried choice of proteins such as beef, chicken, pork, shaki, ponmo, fish, turkey, etc. (You may also use any combine of multiple proteins as you desire. You can use as many or as little as you prefer. )
Blend the Green Bell pepper, thai pepper, garlic, onion and ginger into a coarse mixture – Not smooth.
Transfer into a sieve and place the sieve into another bowl to drain out the excess liquid.
Place a medium pot on medium heat.
Add the palm oil into the pot and cover the pot.
(If the pot cover has a steam escape hole with a rolled small piece of paper tissue. Doing this ensures that the smoke doesn't escape to set off the fire alarm or bring discomfort to people in the home)
After 15 to 20mins, turn the heat off BUT do not remove the pot cover from the pot. Leave it covered until the oil is cooled. This should take about 15 to 20mins
Once the oil is cool and there isn't any smoke in the pot, remove the cover and return to heat.
Once hot, add in the chopped onion and allow to sauté for a few mins about 3mins. Make sure it doesn't burn. Stirring constantly.
Then add the locus beans (Iru) and stir for about 2 mins.
Now add the blended pepper mix and stir. Then cover and allow to cook for about 10 to 15mins, stirring constantly so, it doesn't burn.
Add Salt and seasoning cube to taste and allow to cook for about 3mins.
Add the boiled eggs (if using any) and your choice(s) of proteins and cooked and allow to cook for about 5-7mins on low heat. Stirring constantly so it doesn't burn.
Remove from heat.
Serve with rice, plantain, yam, etc.
Enjoy, With Love, B!
