Red-Red

Red-Red, a popular dish in Ghana made from cowpeas (black-eyed peas), might be named for the combination of red pepper and red palm oil. The Red-Red cowpeas stew is usually served with Fried Plantains.
plantains in cameroon

What you need

* two to three cups dried cowpeas (black-eyed peas) or similar
* one cup red palm oil (or vegetable oil)
* one or two onions, thinly sliced
* two or three ripe tomatoes, quartered
* one or two bouillon cubes or Maggi® cubes (optional) -- or -- small piece of smoked or dried fish and/or one spoonful shrimp powder
* cayenne pepper or red pepper
* salt and black pepper
* several ripe or near-ripe plantains (but not overly ripe)

What you do

* Clean the black-eyed peas in water in a large pot. Soak them in water for at least an hour or overnight. After soaking them, rub them together between your hands to remove the skins. Rinse to wash away the skins and any other debris. Drain them in a colander. If using smoked or dried fish: remove bones and skin, rinse and soak in water, then dry. If using dried shrimp: grind the shrimp (or obtain already ground or powdered shrimp).
* Place the black-eyed peas iIn a large pot, fill with water to just cover the peas. Bring to a slow boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the peas are tender, thirty minutes to an hour. When cooked, the peas should be moist, but not standing in water.
* While peas are cooking: Heat oil in a skillet. Fry the onions until slightly browned, then add tomatoes, and fish and dried shrimp (if desired). Mash and stir the mixture to form a sauce.
* Stir the onion-tomato mixture into the black-eyed peas. Add buillon or Maggi cubes (if not using fish or shrimp). SImmer for ten minutes. Add salt, black pepper, and cayenne or red pepper to taste.
* While peas and sauce is simmering: Prepare Fried Plantains.
* Serve peas and plantains side by side on a plate.

Maybe you would like some Kelewele, instead of plain fried plantains.

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Superkanja

Superkanja may be Gambia's super soup, but the name is probably a combination of Portuguese and West African words. Sopa, the Portuguese word for soup; like palaver a word left over from the early days of Portuguese exploration of the African coast. Kanja, evidently a West African word for okra. (?) Superkanja is also called supa kanja, supakanja and kanjadaa.
bridge, west africa

What you need

* one cup palm oil or peanut oil (or any oil)
* one pound stew meat (beef or similar), cut into cubes
* one onion, peeled and chopped
* one sweet red pepper, chopped (optional)
* one hot chile pepper (left out, or left whole and removed at serving for a mild dish, or chopped for a spicy hot dish)
* five to ten cups water
* one smoked or dried fish, cleaned, rinsed in water, and bones removed, broken into bite-sized pieces
* one fresh fish, cut into bite-sized pieces (optional)
* one to two pounds of greens (spinach, collards, kale, turnip greens, okra leaves, sweet potato leaves), stems removed, cleaned, washed, and shredded
* twenty to thirty okra, ends removed and cut into pieces
* one or two Maggi® cubes or Maggi® sauce; or chicken or beef bouillon cubes
* salt, red pepper (to taste)

What you do

* Heat about a quarter of the oil in a large pot. Fry the meat until browned. Add the onion and pepper and fry for another minute or two.
* Add all remaining ingredients, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for one to two hours, until all is tender.
* When soup has reduced to your liking, stir in additional palm oil (if desired) and simmer for another ten to twenty minutes.
* Serve with plain boiled Rice.