Hey, my lovelies! Welcome to my blog! I’m so excited to have you here as we dive into the holiday spirit—my favorite season!
From food, family, and gifts to celebrating my birthday, the holidays bring me so much joy.
To share this excitement, I’ve put together 5 amazing Nigerian recipes you’ll love this season. They’re easy, delicious, and perfect for your holiday table. So, let’s dive right in and cook up some holiday magic together. And don’t forget to share your recreations with me using #MyLoveliesCookToo! 💕
1. Nigerian Chicken & Fish Stew Recipe
This recipe is one of my favorites to make, and even my friends can’t stop asking for it. It’s a timeless classic that never fails to impress, thanks to the perfect blend of chicken, smoked fish, and rich spices. So, I’m going to share my secret recipe with you—let me know how it turns out! Let’s get cooking!
Kindly watch the video below for more details with step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg chicken
- Pepper Mix (4 tomatoes, 3 scotch bonnet pepper, 1 onion, garlic and ginger)
- 1 piece smoked fish
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 6 medium-sized tomatoes
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder (optional)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp suya spice (optional)
- 2 tbsp blended crayfish
- 2 seasoning cubes (or seasoning powder)
- Salt to taste
Preparation:
- Chop the tomatoes, green pepper, and onion.
- Roughly blend the pepper mix.
- Clean the chicken.
- Debone the smoked fish and set aside.
Instructions:
Step 1: Cook the Chicken
- Place the chicken in a pot with 2 cups of water.
- Add turmeric powder, thyme, curry powder, sliced onions, and salt.
- Cook for about 30 minutes until tender. Separate the chicken from the broth and set aside.
Step 2: Fry the Chicken
- Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken pieces until golden brown. Set aside.
Step 3: Make the Stew
- In a large pot, heat vegetable oil and sauté onions for 30 seconds.
- Add chopped tomatoes, green bell pepper, thyme, curry powder, black pepper, turmeric powder, and crayfish. Stir well.
- Add the smoked fish and fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the fried chicken, chicken broth, and pepper mix. Season with seasoning cubes and salt.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- And our lovely chicken and fish stew is ready to be served.
What to Pair It With:
This stew is incredibly versatile. Enjoy it with boiled yam, rice or fried plantain. Let me know what you paired it with in the comments below!
2. Chicken & Goat Meat Stew
This hearty and flavorful stew is a must-try for meat lovers. Packed with bold flavors and simple to make, it pairs well with almost anything. I’m so excited to share this recipe with you- enjoy!
Kindly watch the video below for more details with step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg chicken
- 1 kg goat meat
- Pepper mix (Tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, onions, ginger, garlic)
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- Suya spice (optional)
- Seasoning cubes
- Salt to taste
Preparation:
- Blend the pepper mix.
- Clean the chicken and goat meat.
- Chop onions.
Instructions:
Step 1: Cook the Meat
- Add chicken and goat meat to a pot with water, chopped onions, thyme, curry powder, turmeric powder, black pepper, seasoning cubes, and salt.
- Cover and cook until tender.
Step 2: Fry the Meat
- Heat oil in a pan and fry the meat until golden brown. Set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Stew
- Heat oil in a pot and sauté onions until translucent.
- Add the blended pepper mix, thyme, curry powder, turmeric powder, suya spice, and chicken broth. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the fried meat and simmer for another 15 minutes.
- And our delicious chicken & goat-meat stew is ready to be served.
What to Pair It With:
Serve with rice, yam, or any side dish of your choice.
3. Gizdodo – Dodo Gizzard Recipe
This is the baba! I made this recipe as a surprise for two of my sisters, and they were so encouraged that they couldn’t stop talking about it. Guess what? One of them is getting married in two months, and she’s asked me to make this as a side dish at her wedding! Trust me, this combination of gizzard and plantains is a party favorite that’s both sweet and savory—a must-have during the holidays! Bring something nice and fancy into your delicacies this season. Let’s get cooking, and don’t forget to share your thoughts below!
Kindly watch the video below for more details with step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients:
- 500g gizzards
- 3 ripe plantains
- Pepper mix (tomatoes, chilli peppers, scotch bonnet pepper, onion, garlic, ginger)
- Bell peppers (Green, red and yellow bell peppers)
- ½ cup Vegetable oil
- 1 tspn Black pepper
- 1 tspn Thyme
- 1 tspn Curry powder
- 1 tspn Suya spice (optional)
- 1 tspn Turmeric powder (optional)
- 1 tspn garlic powder
- 1 large Onion
- 1 tomato (for garnishing- optional)
- Spring onions (for garnishing)
- 2 Seasoning cubes/powder
- Salt to taste
Preparation:
- Wash and cut the gizzards.
- Dice the bell peppers, slice the tomato, and chop spring onions.
- Blend the pepper mix.
- Peel and cube the plantains.
Instructions:
Step 1: Cook the Gizzards
- Boil gizzards with thyme, curry powder, turmeric powder, garlic powder, seasoning cubes, and salt. Cook until tender and set aside.
Step 2: Fry the Plantains and Gizzards
- Fry plantains until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel.
- Fry gizzards in the same oil until dark brown.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
- Heat fresh oil in a pan, add spices, and sauté onions for 30 seconds.
- Add the pepper mix and seasoning cubes. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Add fried gizzards, plantains, bell peppers, sliced tomatoes, onions and spring onios. Stir and let it simmer for about 3 minutes.
- And our special gizdodo is ready to be served.
What to Pair It With:
Serve as a side dish with fried rice, jollof rice, or white rice.
4. Asun (Spicy Goat Meat) Recipe
Guys, this Asun is giving, as my Gen Z’s would say! No too much talk—just try this out and let me know your thoughts. I made this to encourage some of my family, and it turned out amazing! This smoky and spicy dish is a hit at every gathering, and I’d love to hear if you’ll be trying it out this holiday. Share your thoughts below!
Kindly watch the video below for more details with step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients
- 1 kg of Goat Meat
- Pepper mix (scotch bonnet pepper, chilli pepper, onion, garlic and ginger)
- Bell Peppers (Green Bell Pepper, Red Bell Pepper and Yellow Bell Pepper for garnish)
- 5 tbs Vegetable oil
- 2 Onions
- Seasoning powder/cube
- Salt to taste
Preparation
- Thoroughly clean the goat meat using clean water
- Chop and slice some onion
- Blend the pepper mix ((scotch bonnet pepper, chilli pepper, onion, garlic and ginger) – adjust for spice preference
- Clean and chop the bell peppers (Green bell pepper, red bell pepper and yellow bell pepper)
Instructions:
Step 1: Marinate the Goat Meat
- In a bowl, add the goat meat.
- Add chopped onions, seasoning powder or cubes, and salt.
- Mix thoroughly to ensure the meat is evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl with foil or a lid and place it in the fridge to marinate for 2-3 hours, or overnight for better flavor. The longer, the better!
Step 2: Grill the Goat Meat
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Line a grilling tray with foil and arrange the marinated goat meat evenly on it.
- Grill for 30 minutes, flipping the meat every 15 minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
- Brush the meat with vegetable oil midway through grilling to keep it juicy and moist.
- When the meat turns golden brown with a smoky aroma, it’s ready to come out of the oven.
Step 3: Cut the Grilled Goat Meat
- Once the goat meat is grilled, transfer it to a chopping board and cut it into bite-sized chunks.
- Set the chopped meat aside for later use.
Step 4: Cook the Asun
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the grilled goat meat.
- Pour in half a cup of water and add the pepper mix.
- Add some vegetable oil, seasoning powder or cubes, and mix everything together.
- Let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Step 5: Garnish the Asun
- Add the diced bell peppers and stir everything together.
- Allow the mixture to simmer for another 3 minutes.
- Add the sliced onions and give it one last stir.
- And there you have it! Your special, smoky, spicy Asun is ready to be served!
What to Pair It With:
Pair with jollof rice, fried rice, plantains, or yam.
5. Nigerian Chicken Pepper Soup Recipe
This was another recipe I made to encourage one of my sisters who celebrated her birthday a few days before mine, and I thought to share it with you. It was really delicious and mouthwatering—a warm and comforting dish perfect for the chilly holiday evenings. Let’s get into it!
Kindly watch the video below for more details with step-by-step instructions.
Ingredient
- 1kg of Chicken
- Pepper mix (scotch bonnet pepper, chilli pepper, onion, garlic and ginger)
- 1 tspn Black pepper
- 1 tspn Suya spice
- 5 tbsp pepper soup spice
- Basil/scent leaves
- Seasoning powder or cube
- Salt to taste
Preparation:
- Clean the chicken.
- Blend the pepper mix.
- Wash the basil/scent leaves.
Instructions:
Step 1: Cook the Chicken
- Add chicken, pepper mix, spices, seasoning cubes, and salt to a pot. Simmer for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Add Water and Cook
- Add 2-3 cups of water. Simmer for 30 minutes until tender.
Step 3: Garnish and Serve
- Add basil/scent leaves. Simmer for 3 minutes.
What to Pair It With:
Enjoy with rice, yam, or just as a hearty soup.
Let’s Connect!
Did you try any of these recipes? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to tag me on social media with #MyLoveliesCookToo so I can repost your creations.
Happy holidays, my lovelies! Let’s make this season extra special with good food and great memories.
