Packet pasta is one of the best pantry items, ever invented. Quick and easy to cook and it can cooked in so many different ways, even with an extremely lean budget, you can whip up a very tasty pasta meal.

Of the packet pasta, I find Spaghetti the easiest to cook and maybe even the most versatile.

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You can concoct all sorts of recipes around Spaghetti. I did that a lot in Uni and I’m certain so did other students.

For this recipe, I added Efinrin -Nchuanwu/ Ahuji (Igbo) Daidoya (Hausa). (Botanical name Ocimum gratissimum; African Blue Basil, Wild/Bush Basil). Basil goes well in pasta, so why not Efinrin. As a Yoruba girl of course some heat from pepper. Prep to cook time for this meal is between 30-45 mins.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 packet Spaghetti
• 1 medium-sized onion (chopped)
• 2 tbsps blitzed peppers (use peppers of choice)
• Beef or chicken stock
• 1 tbsp of crayfish powder
• 6-10 broad Efinrin leaves (sliced finely)
• 2 medium-sized smoked fish (-panla- smoked cod or hake)
• Slices of ponmo
• Chopped meats
• Vegetable oil (2 cooking spoons)
• Water
• Salt to taste
• *Seasoning cubes (optional

Procedure

• Clean, debone and split your smoked fish into small bits.
• In a clean pot on medium heat, heat up vegetable oil.
• Lightly fry your split smoked fish (this is so it stays firm in your pasta) once fried, remove from the oil. Next, fry your meats till golden brown.
• Using the oil you fried your fish and meats in, add chopped onions, fry till onions are slightly browned.
• Add blitzed peppers and half of the sliced efinrin leaves, fry a little bit.
• Add beef or chicken stock, in the absence of stock add water. Bring to boil.
• Add Spaghetti (whole or broken). Add crayfish, *seasoning cubes*, salt to taste.
• Cook with the lid on, just before Spaghetti is cooked (al dente or well-cooked- your preference)
• Add fish, meats, and remained sliced efinrin.
• Take the lid off, turn the heat down and let it simmer.
• Serve hot or warm

Enjoy

Drink Recommendation FDVie Tropical Fruit Burst

• General
• Meals
• Pasta Dishes