
Homemade Peppered Cow Leg (Bokoto)
Abuja, Nigeria ·
Aperçu
Peppered Cow Leg, known as Bokoto in Nigerian street food culture, is a Lagos institution: slow-cooked cow leg (bone and all the connective tissue and skin intact) until the meat is gelatinous and falling-tender, then deep-fried until the exterior is crispy, and finally tossed in a fiery blend of peppers, onions, and seasoning that coats every piece in a bold, spicy glaze. Bokoto is the ultimate expression of Nigerian cooking's commitment to using every part of the animal well. The cow leg, with its gelatin-rich bones, skin, and connective tissue, becomes something extraordinary after hours of patient cooking and the hot-oil finish. It is a staple of Lagos evening street food, Nigerian parties, and the beloved Nigerian tradition of small chops.




I bought two pounds of clean cow leg from the halal butcher in Columbia City. In Ethiopia we prepare trotters differently, but blending the ginger, garlic and onion into a paste before boiling the meat gave it such a deep flavor. Had no pepper soup spice so I added a small pinch of berbere along with the scotch bonnets. The sticky texture of the reduced stock went surprisingly well dipped with injera!