PHYSICS IN THE NIGERIAN KITCHEN

iUniverse, Inc.

Contents

Preface..........................................................................ixAcknowledgments..................................................................xiThe Rhyme of Artistic Expressions................................................xiiiAbout Nigeria....................................................................xvOur Kitchen Prayer...............................................................xviiTasting is Believing.............................................................xviiChapter 1: Introduction..........................................................3Chapter 2: The Science...........................................................37Chapter 3: The Art...............................................................64Chapter 4: Collection of Selected of Nigerian Ethnic Recipes.....................91Appendix A: About Some Nigerian Ingredients......................................161Appendix B: Uses of Vinegar in the Kitchen.......................................169Appendix C: Other Useful Kitchen Tips............................................173Appendix D: Measurement Conversion Factors.......................................179

Chapter One

"Good science only adds to the enjoyment of the culinary arts." -Roald Hoffman, 1981 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry

Kitchen Dynamics

The kitchen is a special place in all cultures around the world. The best family traditions often start in the kitchen. It is the pathway to our well-being and the channel for a fulfilled soul. As such, it is full of physics and dynamics. In the Nigerian kitchen, cooking is often a manifestation of passion rather than a mere necessity. Food is a universal language of well-being. Food sustains life. No human exists who does not have a need to eat. No one can practice perpetual complete abstinence from food. Since complete abstinence from food is not possible, we might as well embrace it, celebrate it, and pay homage to all the stages of food transformation; growing it, cultivating it, harvesting it, cooking it, consuming it, digesting it, and using it to nourish our bodies. No matter which side of the above opening quote you profess to stand, the fact remains that you have a close relationship with food. Cooking is like a well-orchestrated symphony, where carefully appointed ingredients play together in perfect harmony. The symphony director (aka the chef) is the pride of the kitchen.

The modern kitchen has as much drama and sentiments as the communal kitchen common in rural parts of Nigeria. A mix of dynamics occurs in every kitchen environment. In a rural communal kitchen, housewives congregate and interact to discuss current affairs in the household and debate community politics. Each household in the communal compound has its own stove or cooking spot in the shared space. So, the interplay of people, personalities, physical environment, and cooking equipment create memorable kitchen dynamics.

Even in a single-family modern kitchen, where there is no sharing of cooking space, the family structure and residential personalities still create unique kitchen dynamics. Regardless of whatever kitchen structure prevails in the Nigerian household, the best foods are the end product. The photos below illustrate the typical scene in a rural Nigerian communal kitchen compared to a modern Nigerian family kitchen.

The Nigerian kitchen is a beehive of activities full of energy and cacophony of laughter, particularly during party preparations. In spite of its chaotic and jumbled appearance, the kitchen puts out the best of the best of food preparation. This typifies the following Yoruba saying:

"Inu ikoko dudu ni eko funfun ti unjade."

This translates roughly to say, "It is from a black pot that white corn meal emanates." No matter how rural a Nigerian kitchen might be, it still produces the best meals. This saying is also often used to commend the career successes of children who have risen out of poverty.

The term, Physics, in the title of this book, is not just about the science of physics. Rather, the word epitomizes the dynamics (processes, actions, and interfaces) that exist in a kitchen environment. As readers will soon find out, the Nigerian kitchen can be full of drama, excitement, and cacophony. In the Nigerian kitchen, commotion is what breeds gastronomic excellence, particularly for large party preparations.

The Nigerian kitchen is full of drama and excitement. One case example of a kitchen excitement is an incident that our older kids (Abi and Ade) witnessed when they were teenagers. According to Deji's recollection, a female family friend, Ms. D, known to our kids as "auntie" came to our home for a visit. Upon entering the kitchen, she started jumping up and down shouting to Iswat in a mixed English-and-Yoruba tone:

"Auntie, auntie, meatpie yen. Tie ba towo, oh my goodness. O da gan ni."

This means "the meatpie turned out great. If you taste it, it will feel like heaven. It is very good." Abi and Ade ran out of their rooms to come and check what the commotion was all about. They have never forgotten the excitement of that moment ... all for the sake of a good meatpie.

For the Love of Food

So pervasive is the love of food preparation that it has become a favorite topic to write about. The prevalence of recipe books on the market attests to this fact. Along with writing children's books, writing recipe books has become a favorite pastime of celebrities both old and young. Maya Angelou, in 2010, at the age of 82, wrote the book, "Great food, all day long: Cook splendidly, eat smart." Mr. Al Roker, popularly known as America's favorite weatherman, also has written a few cookbooks. This book follows the tradition of documenting and commending food in all its forms. This book celebrates Nigerian cooking at its best. Even nature endorses human's love of food. By far, the hardest part of the human body is the outer layer of teeth, thus enabling humans to tackle even the toughest food challenges.

Food as a Centerpiece of Fellowship

"All great change in America begins at the dinner table." -Ronald Reagan

Food is the centerpiece of fellowship in the African tradition. Nigerians take this rallying point to the next level in the way they host and entertain friends, family, neighbors, and extended acquaintances. Cooking and serving food is an essential part of how Nigerians promulgate fellowship.

From the Western, Eastern, Northern, and Southern nooks and corners of Nigeria, food is embraced and even worshiped in some local practices. Just as sports are often used as a basis to unify disparate parts of a developing nation, the interest in food can also be used as a joint foundation to overcome the nagging political differences that are rampant in developing nations. Trade and commerce related to food are important elements of how communities and nations interact. From sharing food, exchanging recipes, and "festivalizing" food to creating community unions, food facilitates participatory alliances among people of all creed and color throughout the world. Mass feeding of everyone within reach is a trademark of Nigerian chefs (actually, all African chefs), which is mere demonstration of the passion of cooking for many. This book is the culmination of years of passion and dedication to the science and art...