Cookbook:Róbó (Fried Egusi Paste)

Róbó is a delicacy common among the Yoruba people of Nigeria, consisting of fried melon seed (egusi) paste. It can be eaten as a snack or used to complement meals like pap (cold or hot), cereals, garri (cassava flakes), etc.

Ingredients

 * Melon (egusi) seeds
 * Dried shombo (cayenne pepper)
 * Onions
 * Spring onions
 * Salt

Procedure

 * 1) Pick out all dirt and debris from the melon seeds
 * 2) Heat a clean, dry frying pan over low heat.
 * 3) Add the seeds. Dry-fry them, stirring frequently, until golden all over. Do not let burn. Remove from heat and let cool.
 * 4) Combine the toasted melon seeds and cayenne pepper. Grind to a smooth paste—no water is needed.
 * 5) Blend the onions and spring onions to a fine smooth paste in a separate bowl.
 * 6) Place the melon seed paste on a clean dry tray. Add about one-third of the onion paste, and gradually knead with both hands until the mixture begins to release oil.
 * 7) Pour the released oil into a separate bowl, and reserve it for frying. Continue to knead in the onion paste until it is used up and the melon seed paste does not release any more oil. By this time, the mixture should have become a semi-solid paste. Season with salt.
 * 8) Cut the paste into small pieces, and create any shape that takes your fancy.
 * 9) Heat the reserved oil in a clean pan over medium heat. A deeper pan is preferable.
 * 10) Add the róbó pieces to the hot oil, and fry until each piece develops a crusty outer shell with a relatively soft inside.
 * 11) Remove from the oil, and drain away any excess.
 * 12) Eat as a snack or an accompaniment to pap, garri, custard, oats, etc.