Gbegiri
Gbegiri is a Yoruba soup from southwest Nigeria, beans cooked until they collapse and then worked into a smooth, pale-gold puree. It is almost always served in a pairing, spooned next to ewedu and a red pepper stew over a starch, the three eaten together. The traditional pot leans on red palm oil for its color and richness. Here smoked paprika carries that color and a wisp of smoke instead, so the soup stays true to its velvet texture and deep flavor without the oil. Black-eyed peas stand in for the honey beans usually used, and blend just as smooth.
Ingredients
- 3 cups Black-eyed peas, cooked
- 1 Yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cayenne
- 1 tsp no-salt vegetable bouillon
Method
- Sweat the onion and garlic in 3 tablespoons (45 ml) water in a pot over medium heat until soft and translucent, about 6 minutes. Cooking the aromatics down first gives the soup a savory base before the beans go in.
- Add the cooked black-eyed peas, smoked paprika, cayenne, bouillon, and 2 cups (475 ml) water. Simmer for 10 minutes so the beans drink up the seasoning and lose any raw taste.
- Blend the pot smooth with an immersion blender, or in batches in a stand blender, until it is completely velvety. This texture is the whole identity of gbegiri, and it is where the effort goes. For an even silkier soup, rub the loose skins off the beans before blending.
- Loosen with water to a pourable consistency and simmer 5 minutes more. The smoked paprika does the work red palm oil would in a traditional pot, standing in for its color and smoke, while cayenne brings the heat. Serve with a spicy stew or over brown rice.
Nutrition
Estimated per serving: 190 calories, 12 g protein, 9 g fiber, 45 mg sodium. Computed from USDA FoodData Central reference values for the main ingredients. This is an approximation, not a laboratory measurement. How these are computed.
Cost per serving is estimated from US national-average retail prices for cheap staple forms, using BLS dried-bean prices and USDA produce prices. Prices vary by store and season, so treat it as a guide, not a receipt. How this is computed.
