Nigerian delicacy - #404 with plantain

peterakpan(55)

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Hello steemians and welcome to my blog once again. Well like I promised from my other post, next time it's gonna be food so here it is!!

They say what's worth doing is worth doing well, I had to take time and go through stress of preparing and taking pictures too so you get to know step by step on how to prepare this wonderful decilacy eaten mostly by the southerners in Nigeria normally called 404 or J5

Well before you continue reading I have to warn you this might not be the post you would like, reasons being that this meal is prepared with a dog!! Yeah I understand dogs are pets, used as securities and many other purposes but like they say "different people, different cultures". Over here in southern nigeria it's not just a delicacy but a special one for the natives. Prepared on special occasions like political meetings, family gatherings and even some traditional marriages, so let's just get to it.

Recipe

Dog meat
pumpkin and curry leaves
palm oil
thickener
seasoning cubes
pepper
onions
plantain(semi ripe/ripe or as preferred)
perewrinkle
salt and of course water.

The Cooking

getting your meat to desired size

First and foremost you have to cut the dog meat into sizes, preferably small sizes so as the ingredients could go round easily as cutting it in big sizes may amount to some part of it being tasteless or half done.

prepare/get your ingredients in place

After cutting the meat it's advisable(like I do most times) to prepare your ingredients and keep near the fire. This is to help you not skip a phase or miss the timing due to delay in trying to get one ingredient ready while the pot is on fire. Start by washing your onions then you slice them. Move on to wash your leafs and cut them too(dont forget to rinse them after cutting). Cut your perewrinkle and wash thoroughly. Also dress your plantains and cut them to desired shape and keep.

please make sure everything is washed perfectly especially the perewrinkle to avoid sand.

your meat is set to go on fire

Make sure they are washed properly, clean the pot then make fire and boom, the cooking has started!! Add parts of the onions, cubes and pepper to the meat, cover the pot and boil for at least 4minutes. After that(so as to avoid a burnt meat) add a small quantity of water, cover the pot and cook it till its half done.

time to add plantains

After making sure it's half done, add the plantains, add cubes, a pinch of salt and cook for another 4minutes before adding the perewrinkle. Add the perewrinkle and cook for another 5minutes.

in everything you do from here onward, keep adding water(bit by bit) and taste your meat

Palm oil and thickener is up.

By now the aroma coming from the pot should definitely make you want to taste some meat. Add the palm oil, cook for about 4minutes, taste your dish to know where it's lagging, add the required ingredient before you add the thickener. Cover and cook for about 2minutes.

time for spices and vegs

After 2minutes of adding the thickener, add remnants of the onions, a little pepper and vegetable leafs with curry and cover the pot.

you see this?? You know your 404 is ready!!!

"50 shades of 404"

Looks inviting right?? Definitely!! It could be served with chilled wine or beer. But over here the locals enjoy taking it with chilled fresh palmwine aka palmy