Foods I surprisingly came across in Kumasi. The whole story

 Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana also called Kumerica is a very wonderful place to be based on many factors. First of all, saying Kumasi is a city describes how busy the region can be with all sorts of business activities. At some place like Kejetia market, the place is busy 24/7 with commercial activities such that at times sales in the evening is even more vibrant than daytime. It looks a bit exaggerated but it is the reality of what it is. It is a place you would want to visit and also tell your own version of the story after witnessing for yourself what the city holds. 

Well, definitely, once you are at someplace, the foods of that town have to be tried because you definitely might not find all your local hometown meals there and even if there are some, not how you want them. The year 2023 has almost ended and coming 2024, you can look out for the foods you will find in this comprehensive writing and try them out for yourself.

ETOR

The first time I tried this food was in a house I stayed. That day we had some plantain in the house which wasn't all that ripe. One typical Asante came and said we've got to try Etor today with the plantain. I thought in my mind, 'This is going to be fantastic'. Upon a visit to a new region, he culture has to be learned so one can adapt to it and be appreciative of it. We enjoyed the food with some stew and it was cool though it was the first time trying such a food. Later, I learned to prepare it and in fact, it is a wonderful food where in Kumasi several women carry it on their heads as they sell to lovers of this special meal. 

Learn how to prepare in detail here

Azikpeli/ Nkyewrie/ roasted groundnut with corn

I was actually surprised when I saw this food in Kumasi thinking it was only in the Volta Region where we have some. It is one of the foods we use to exercise our gum on some days with ripe coconut as the work on the farm or in the loom goes on. As we weave kente, we use this food to motivate ourselves in the loom. Roasted groundnut with corn also called azikpeli or nkyewrie is found at so many locations in Kumasi. Just with anyone selling provisions, you are likely to get some. Azikpeli is the local Ewe name and Nkyewrie is the local Twi name for roasted corn with groundnut. I tried this whilst in Kumasi to see if there are any differences from the ones I know but it turned out that the taste was not different. Culture indeed has some aspects that are related from one location to the other. 

The steps

Ingredients:

Corn

groundnut

salt

• Boil groundnut in water.

Make sure to add  salt to the water. The boiling should last for a very short time about 2-3mins only.

Strain the groundnut and dry under to sun for just some minutes to make the moisture evaporate.

Get a pan and pour in a clean soil. The soil has to be washed with water and then heated in a pan to evaporate all the moisture.

Pour in the groundnut and roast.

The same way pour in the corn and roast. The roasted corn and groundnut in like manner has to be poured into a basket to let off the soil.

After everything, you sprinkle salt solution over the mixture(roasted corn and groundnut) and enjoy with dry coconut.

Nkyekyere

The next food on the list is NKYEKYERE. It is also made from corn but how it is made, I haven't tried it myself. You can do well to find the process here.

Awiesu

The name of this food is a Twi name and when translated means "Eat and cry." It sounded funny to me when it was first translated to me but I got to understand how food sellers make it interesting to buy their items even if you have not initially decided on a purchase.

This food is made from  corn flour and groundnut added to it. It is carried in on the head and sold.

The next time you visit any place distant from home, be sure to explore the culture their and learn more about the taste, desires and ways of living that make living comfortable their.

Groundnut candy

This product is made from only roasted groundnut and sugar. Learn more about it here. When I saw a woman in Kumasi selling this product, the name it was called is nkati k but somewhere in the Volta Region it is known in the local dialect as luga.