Maize is used to prepare different kinds of breakfast foods specifically referring to porridge. We can talk of oblayo, korklui, katsa and more. This porridge is one of a kind that I can assure you is cultural-centric. I have travelled to places like Accra, Kumasi but haven't come across this porridge anywhere but in my hometown in the Agbozume, it is sold in community. A lot of people also love to prepare it at home as that cuts on expenses and the kids are able to enjoy more as it is prepared plenty in the house. In fact, it can be taken at anytime of the day. It is found in the Volta Region among the Ewes. To get it prepared, you only need a wooden sieve (made from palm branches), corn dough, sugar and salt.
You can get corn dough for purchase in the market. I know many households in Ghana love to grind corn dough for storage in the house because it is a better way of cutting on too much expenses of food. If your house is one of such, you don't have to worry about buying from the market but just taking the quantity you like.
Gbadze- This is its local name in the Ewe language. It is made from palm branches and used to sieve different kinds of foodstuffs. To separate stones from maize, the maize is poured on it and the pebbles handpicked and the other unwanted materials falling below into the bowl beneath.
The process involved is not a difficult one, get a bowl large enough and place the wooden sieve over it. The bowl must be wiped well of any droplet of water as well as the sieve. It must also be very clean. Pick your corn dough and add some small amount of water to make it contain some moisture. The reason is simple, the moisture content of the corn dough determines how large or small the lumps of the porridge will be. Too much moisture(water) means too big lumps which some people do not like but a well added water ensures even lumps formation.
The corn dough has been poured on the sieve here. It looks a bit dry and hence some amount of water is added.
With the palm, smear the dough over the sieve for it to descend into the bowl beneath. Continue till every bit of dough drops into the bowl. The next step is to shake the bowl and this causes the sieved dough to form small lumps which are round in form. Once the dough is forced through the sieve to settle into the bowl, the lumps are already formed but shaking the bowl very well ensure that the lumps are even and made round properly. At times some lumps form too big and will need to be made small using the hand to break it into smaller ones.
Forcing the corn dough through the sieve(gbadze)
An image of how the lumps of the porridge look like.
Put water on fire and make sure to add salt and allow to boil. When it starts boiling, use a banku stick or ladle to stir the water as the prepared dough is also being sprinkled into the water with one hand.
Without the stirring the water as the prepared dough is poured into it can cause them to be coagulated resulting in too big lumps. Another thing to note is that without the water boiling well before pouring in the prepared dough, the lumps dissolve in the water and the lumps are not sustained. It is interesting how this porridge is prepared to ensure it is well made.
korkli dzogbor
The porridge can be taken off the heat after this step or allowed to boil a little. The porridge can be enjoyed with milk, groundnut or bread.
One time some friends who love buying this porridge from a particular vendor in town complained that the porridge contained too little dough. It is the reason why the amount of dough prepared must go with the right amount of water to ensure a superb porridge.
Corn meal porridge for babies
Corn dough is used to prepare porridge which among the Ewes of Ghana is known as 'vidzikatsa' and it translates as porridge for babies.
How is it prepare?
Corn dough is mixed with water in an even consistency and because there are some amount of the succulent layer of the maize grain present in the dough, it has to be strained. The mixture therefore is then strained to remove that rough particles out of it to make it very smooth making it easy for babies to swallow when it is used to prepare porridge.
Put a pot with water on fire. Add some salt to taste and allow to boil. After this the well strained dough mixture is poured into the boiling water and allowed to cook very well. It is very suitable for children to take and to make it smell good, some dates are added. After some minutes it is poured into a cup and sugar added. Milk and other stuffs like groundnut can be taken with it.
Creative write-up.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Delete