Eat Frejon on Good Friday

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Today is Good Friday. It is a day that is observed as a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death on the cross of Calvary.

This day is observed during the Holy Week, s part of the Pascal Triduum on a Friday preceding Easter Sunday.

A day like this usually  coincides with the Jewish observance of the Passover.

It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, and Black Friday.

Many Christian denominations as well as their members usually observe this day with fasting and church services

But the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown directive across many countries have made it impossible for churches and church members to meet physically and celebrate the essence of the holiday.

Traditionally, on a day like this, many Christians abstain from eating all kinds of red meat and many people choose to eat fish and so many other delicacies like Frejon

Frejon  is the Portuguese word for beans {Feijão}. This delicacy is a coconut bean soup that is usually eaten on Good Friday by some  Christians, mostly Catholics.

Well, it is good for you to note that this cuts across the world and no red palmoil is used in cooking this meal..

In fact, in Nigeria, frejon is very common amongst South Western Yorubas.

Reports say many who returned to Nigeria from Brazil at the abolition of the slave trade and settled in what is known as the “Brazilian Quarters” in Lagos Island brought this meal along with them.

Apart from Nigeria, frejon is also popular in countries like Brazil, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone and other West African countries.

Frejon is eaten as a local pudding made of black beans.

In days of yore, frejon was usually cooked slowly overnight over a wood or charcoal fire, and then mixed with coconut milk to form a thick, sweet, smooth pudding, but today our pressure cookers and gas can do a better and faster job.

The beans are boiled to form a thick soft paste and then blended with coconut milk and then served with fish stew, peppered snail and  white sour Garri, popularly known as Garri Ijebu.

However assorted ingredients like pepper, crayfish, salt, and seasonings, as well tomatoes can be added to the mashed beans and coconut mixture.

Some can even go further and sweeten the frejon with sugar eat the food warm, chilled or hot.

Recipe for 5 servings:

1 cup sugar

2 cups coconut milk

3 cups black eyed beans (cooked)

salt and seasoning to taste (optional)

2 teaspoons fresh ground pepper

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Method:

  • Check the cooked beans and be sure it is very soft and tender.
  • Drain the water from the beans into the coconut milk.
  • Add sugar and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Add the salt and seasoning to taste.
  • Add the pepper and continue to simmer until a semi-fluid consistency is formed.
  • Remove from heat and serve with garri ijebu.

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