A nostalgic spin on Nigerian breakfast foods
It’s no secret that I love food, and I love food that is well done and prepared with soul! Having my roots in West Africa means that I love it spicy, exotic, and of course, healthy. Preparing healthy and sustainable meals is not difficult if you take the time to prioritize your health by planning out your meals, sourcing healthy and pesticide-free produce, meats, etc as well as eliminating or minimizing processed foods from your kitchen. This Nigerian fusion omelet is full of spice and lots of healthy ingredients!
My family’s version of this Nigerian fusion omelet:
Today I’m providing a sneak peek into my kitchen with this spicy omega-rich Nigerian-style omelet. keep in mind that most if not all the ingredients are either locally sourced, organic, and sustainable! To begin with, you can’t have your Nigerian-inspired omelet without smoked sardines in olive oil (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!) and fresh scotch bonnet peppers because these two ingredients are important aspects of this particular flavor profile. Listed below are all the necessary ingredients for putting your own unique spin on a favorite meal back home!
Ingredients for your Nigerian fusion omelet:
Smoked canned sardines in olive oil
Farm fresh eggs (local or organic will do the job as well)
Scotch bonnet peppers (use 1/2 of one small pepper if you can’t tolerate a lot of spice), chopped fine.
medium bell pepper (color is irrelevant), finely diced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup of finely chopped basil (this is an added ingredient for a deeper flavor and nutrient profile)
1/4 Teaspoon of dried thyme (1/8 cup, fresh and finely chopped)
1/2 teaspoon of curry powder
1/4 teaspoon of spicy paprika
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder (you can also use fresh garlic that is finely minced)
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
1/8 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1/8 teaspoon of cumin powder
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Cooking Instructions for Nigerian Fusion Omelet:
Once all the ingredients are prepped, simply warm your skillet, add the two tablespoons of olive oil (allow it to fully heat), and then add your aromatic spices and gently mix them in the pan. This will allow the flavor to fully express even as you add the other ingredients to the omelet.
Next, combine your chopped ingredients with the mixture and gently sauteé for two to three minutes at medium heat, and then incorporate your smoked sardines. Finally, whip together your eggs with a bit of salt and fully incorporate this mixture into the sauteéd ingredients. The final step is to gently turn the omelet on each side to cook for 2 minutes or based on your preference (i.e. some people enjoy an omelet that is looser than others).
For a more authentic flavor, I also add two tablespoons of almond milk for a creamier texture but you can use canned evaporated tin milk for the authentic flare of how we do it back home! Enjoy!
Final thoughts regarding fusion recipes
Regardless of how “traditional” a recipe might be, everyone adds a little bit of “themselves” to their version. Most folks have their own version of this spicy Nigerian fusion omelet recipe that reflects both regional and local influences. When I was a child, my mom fused her own background to the recipes she cooked; often adding a little bit of black American influences to a lot of her dishes. This version of my Nigerian fusion omelet reflects a lot of my childhood faves and now you can add your flare to this recipe as well! Also, for another quick and healthy recipe check out this post
