‘Potato and chicken soup:Mouth-watering and nutritious’

Dr. (Mrs) Oyeduntan Adediran, acting Head, Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, shares her adventures in the kitchen with BLESSING EKUM and also gives tips on how to get the best out of meat and fish before purchase.

Is taking breakfast your regular habit?
Most times I don’t eat breakfast, but when I have to, I make sure it is well-prepared. When I don’t have the time for a proper meal, I take fruits in the form of fruit salad.

Your job appears demanding. How do you create time to feed your family?
I buy foodstuff in bulk and most times, I try as much as possible to make sure my freezer is well stocked. And with the incessant power failure, I have no option than to use a generator but I ensure that the meals I prepare are well-balanced.
What was the experience like the first time you cooked a meal?
I can’t recall the first meal I prepared but I remember how the first amala I prepared turned out. I was about nine years old and my mum decided I should prepare amala that day. I had watched her prepare it before and with her supervision, I did it. It turned out so well; I was proud of myself.

Are there dishes you miss from your growing up years?
There are a number of local dishes that we ate while we were growing up, but I hardly have the time to prepare now. Some of them are egbo and ewa (a corn and bean meal), ikokore which is one of my favourite dishes and ekuru. I enjoy these dishes, but they appear occasionally on my table.

Were you selective of food while growing?
I wasn’t. In fact, I was quite adventurous when it came to food. I loved to experiment and create my own recipes and I still do.

Is there a recipe you have created of recent?
Yes. That is potato and chicken soup with white rice.

What was your family’s comment?
It was a hit. It is delicious and nutritious.

Can you share the recipe?
You will need Irish potatoes, canned beans, mushrooms, sweet corn, chicken, salt, green pepper, seasoning cubes.
Peel potatoes and cook for some minutes. Add canned beans, sweet corn, pre-cooked chicken, mushroom, salt, seasoning cubes and sautéed pepper. Allow to simmer. Serve with white rice.

Is this what you serve as a special treat?
If we are expecting guests, I prepare the traditional fried rice or jollof rice but if it is just the family, I serve it. In fact, I prepare it as often as anyone wants to eat.

Don’t you like solid meals?
I am not particularly fond of them though I prepare them at home at times. But I rarely take them in parties.

Is it same with your husband?
Interestingly, his favourite meal is pounded yam and efo riro.

Do you do the pounding?
I do. I see no reason I should use processed yam flour.

What do you look out for before buying meat?
As a veterinary doctor, I am trained to inspect meat and certify them healthy for human consumption. First, I look out for freshness and that would be indicated in the colour, appearance and smell. I also look at the muscles and the glands and make sure there are no cysts in them. For the offal, such as liver, I look out for the colour, freshness and make sure it is not hardened or fibrotic. For the heart, the fat surrounding  it should be solid not jelly-like and not too much. If the fat is jelly-like (watery), then it means the animal has been malnourished or was sickly. For the intestines, you can feel for nodules (tiny lumps) and where this is present, it means the animal is diseased. Though with the way meat is cooked in this part of the world, most bacteria can be destroyed but that also destroys the nutrients in it and also, no amount of cooking can restore freshness to spoilt meat. I actually look out for a lot of things the untrained eye may not see and sometimes, it discourages me from buying meat and I go for fish, snails and chicken.

Is frozen fish actually safe?
Most times, the problem with frozen dish is that because of irregular power supply, it is frozen and then it thaws and then re-frozen.
However, it is safe but that depends on if you know what to look out for. The appearance can tell a lot. It should be glistening and shiny and there shouldn’t be any discolouration anywhere. Sometimes, you see some yellow discolouration and they try to convince you it is normal, but it isn’t.

Do you insist on the family eating on the dining table or has it been converted to a mini-library?
The dining table in my house is both a dining table and a mini-library. I have growing children and often times they are reading. So, you see them with books even on the dining table. I just insist on them clearing both their dishes and the books when they are done with eating.