Ingredients:
1 bunch of fresh cocoyam (taro) leaves, shredded as finely as you can
7 fresh ears of maize
8 banana leaves
500ml red palm oil
1/2 smoked and dried fish
100g peeled prawns
250ml hot water
1 hot chilli, pounded to a paste
salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Method:
Use a sharp knife to cut the kernels from the ears of maize. Flake the smoked fish and remove the bones.
Place the corn kernels in a mortar and pound until you have a soft dough. Now add the smoked fish, prawns, cocoyam leaves and the pounded chilli. Pound together then add enough of the water to give you a smooth paste. Work in the palm oil then take two of the banana leaves (or sheets of greaseproof paper) and arrange in a cross shape. Take a quarter of the maize mixture and place in the centre of the leaves. Fold the leaves over to make a parcel and tie securely.
Repeat this process with the remaining leaves and maize mix. Place the parcels in a steamer basket and steam over boiling water for 90 minutes, or until firm. Allow to cool slightly before unwrapping and serving as an accompaniment.
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