Onunu food is a delicacy enjoyed mostly by the kalabari and okrika people of Rivers State, Nigeria.

This classic food is prepared with yam pounded with boiled plantains and then finished off with Palm oil and fresh pepper (optional)

Please Read: Easy Nigerian Fish Stew: Light Fish Stew (Imoyo)

Some people call Onunu, Rivers yam and plantain fufu which is literally what it means in English.

Traditionally, you need lots of energy to pound the yam/ripe plantain but nowadays, food processor can perfectly do the job.

Onunu food is more enjoyable when eaten hot or warm but not cold.

Onunu Food Recipe

The quantity of yam should be fairly more than that of the plantain. I enjoy it with a 60 – 40 percent ratio of yams to plantain.

However, some prefer to add salt while pounding instead of when boiling the yam and ripe plantain. Choose whatever works for you.

Ingredients

Yam

Plantain

Palm oil

Salt

Fresh pepper (optional)

Method

Firstly, peel, wash and cut yam into cubes for easy cooking. Put in a pot and start boiling. Then, when the yam has cooked right about halfway, add the ripe plantains. Before then, ensure that both the yams and the plantains have cooked through till soft before you pound. Add salt. Fourthly, put the yam gradually in a mortar and start pounding, when the yam is tender, add ripe plantain and continue pounding. Pound until the plantain mixes properly with the yam. After that, while still hot, add a small amount of palm oil and pound a little more. Lastly, finish off the pounding, when the palm oil properly combines, changing the color to yellow

Your Onunu is ready. Mold into balls and set aside. You can serve Onunu food with any spicy local soup of choice – fisherman stew, pepper soup or native soup.