By Itty Okopide
How do we define culture without exploring the local dishes that are being offered? It is no news that the culture of a people is greatly influenced by their food through various ways such as tradition, religion, and family. Food is used as a means of retaining cultural identity, and is regarded as one of the most important aspects of culture.
Traditional meals are one of the special features of cultures and tribes around the world and do you want to entice your taste buds? I bet you do. That is why the Ubobok Ukom (Plantain and Cowleg) of the Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State cannot be left out. We have at one point in time heard or come across a saying that the people of Akwa Ibom have a variety of traditional foods to choose from. The Ubobok Ukom is a unique delicacy that combines unripe plantain, cow leg and sometimes cow head for a truly delightful dish. The dish is also served by the Efik people of Calabar and it is called Ukang Ukom.
My Experience
The first time I tried this dish, I remember my sister getting excited over preparing a special delicacy made with unripe plantain and I couldn’t help but wonder what all the excitement for unripe plantain was. I watched her eagerly as she steamed the cow leg, peeled the plantain and boiled with the meat, added seasoning cubes and leaves so effortlessly and in a twinkle, my special delicacy was served. I never felt the same way about unripe plantain. You will never feel the same way about unripe plantain after you have tried this dish. The simplicity of preparing this dish makes it the ultimate choice for families, parties and marriages. What cannot be put aside is the cost-effectiveness which I strongly believe is of great importance given the country’s financial instability.
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Ingredients & Benefits
With ingredients such as unripe plantain, scent leaves, crayfish, olive oil, cow meat, etc, this dish boasts of a lot of health benefits like being a great source of vitamins, which I believe should be one of the many reasons why you shouldn’t miss trying this dish. The dish lowers cholesterol triglycerides in the blood, helps in the prevention of colon cancer and constipation, and last but not least, entice your taste buds.
