Liberian Dish: How to Prepare Beans Torborgee

Torborgee is a red cow peas/lentils or African pea eggplants-based stew popular in Liberian cooking that is thick, palm oil-based, spicy, and bitter. The cuisine, which is frequently enhanced by the addition of dried beef, chicken, pork, or fish, is typically related to the Lorma people who live in the region of Lofa County in Liberia.

The Liberian Lorma ethnic group is known for its torborgee. Torborgee is a classic main meal that Liberians cook both at home and abroad. It can be cooked as beans, pepper, bitter ball, water greens, fever leaf, or cassava torborgees and is eaten with rice.

Ingredients

• Meat Varieties (chicken, smoked fish, meat and seafood)
• 2 lbs Red Cow Peas (1 pack)
• African Red Palm Oil
• ½ tbsp Bicarbonate of Soda/ Country Soda
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 medium Onion, sliced
• 2 Habanero peppers (substitute for cayenne pepper)
• 1 ½ tbsp Chicken Flavor Bouillon
• Salt
• Ground Black Pepper
• Water

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Procedure

1. To cook torborgee, the first step is to add your red cow peas and 5 cups of water to a big pot and boil for at least an hour on high heat to soften them.
2. Add your meat, a pinch of salt, onions, garlic powder, ground black pepper, cayenne, and habanero peppers to a separate saucepan. Add water, then simmer for 30 minutes on medium heat.
3. The parboiled beef should be removed from the liquid and left aside.
4. Add chicken flavor bouillon, mashed habanero peppers, and the remaining onions to the broth pot and heat to a boil.
5. Stir in the cooked red cow peas evenly.
6. Red cow peas should be simmered in stock for 45 minutes on medium heat.
7. Add your meat and any necessary ingredients to the bean cooking pot.
8. Add red palm oil to the pot of beans over low heat and stir thoroughly.
9. Add a little bit of water and bicarbonate of soda. Pour the soda mixture into the bean pot. This particular component provides the soup its distinctive flavor and distinguishes it from other bean soups.
10. The soda causes the soup to froth a lot when it is added. The authentic Torborgee is prepared in this manner.
11. When you are done with this, allow your torborgee to cool for about ten minutes then serve with rice as a side.