Assorted meat, shaki and pomo: the meats in Nigerian soups

Our soups, rice and bean dishes come with a choice of beef, assorted or fish. If “assorted” is new to you, here’s what it means.

Assorted

Assorted, or “assorted meat”, is a mix of different cuts and parts of the animal, usually beef. It often includes tripe, cow skin, and other parts such as intestine, liver or kidney, along with ordinary beef. Each part has its own texture, which is the point: some pieces are soft, some are chewy.

Assorted is a common choice with soups like egusi, efo riro and ogbono.

Shaki

Shaki is beef tripe, the lining of the cow’s stomach. It has a honeycomb or ridged surface and a firm, springy texture. It’s cooked for a long time until tender.

Pomo

Pomo is cow skin. It’s cleaned, singed and boiled until soft. It has almost no taste of its own but a soft, gelatinous chew, and it soaks up the flavour of the sauce.

Cow foot

Cow foot is cooked slowly until the meat and tendons turn soft and sticky. It’s rich and gelatinous.

On our menu

You can choose beef, assorted or fish with our main dishes, rice and bean dishes. You can also order extra pieces:

• beef (one piece)
• shaki (one piece)
• fried fish (one piece)
• cow foot
• pomo and turkey, in the appetisers

See them all on our menu.

Not sure what to pick?

If you’re new to it, start with beef or fish, and try a piece of assorted on the side next time.