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Obe ata ( Yoruba) is a stew or sauce used in Yoruba cuisine and meals found in Nigeria, Benin and Togo. In concept, it is similar to that of French mother sauces: a sauce from which other sauces are made, or to the Mexican 
It is also eaten as a general stew / sauce with white rice (and other rice dishes) or as a dip for bread, yam, chips, or fries.
Obe ata is made from tomatoes, a variety of peppers, onions, oil, and spices like thyme, garlic, ginger, and stock. Obe ata stews have several recipes that require Iru as well, or bay leaves and curry powder depending on the flavour profile. Some recipes call for dried or powdered crayfish.
The tomatoes, peppers and onions are pureed together and then sauteed in oil; often
Mole
Mole (or Molé) may refer to:
Animals
* Mole (animal) or "true mole"
* Golden mole, southern African mammals
* Marsupial mole
Marsupial moles, the Notoryctidae family, are two species of highly specialized marsupial mammals that are found i ...
. It can be used as the base with which Jollof rice
Jollof (), or jollof rice, is a rice dish from West Africa. The dish is typically made with long-grain rice, tomatoes, chilis, onions, spices, and sometimes other vegetables and/or meat in a single pot, although its ingredients and preparatio ...
is made, either at the initial or near prepared state. Rice, yam and bread are also eaten with it. In Nigerian cooking the sauce is "ubiquitous".
It is also eaten as a general stew / sauce with white rice (and other rice dishes) or as a dip for bread, yam, chips, or fries.
Obe ata is made from tomatoes, a variety of peppers, onions, oil, and spices like thyme, garlic, ginger, and stock. Obe ata stews have several recipes that require Iru as well, or bay leaves and curry powder depending on the flavour profile. Some recipes call for dried or powdered crayfish.
The tomatoes, peppers and onions are pureed together and then sauteed in oil; often groundnut oil
Peanut oil, also known as groundnut oil or arachis oil, is a vegetable oil derived from peanuts. The oil usually has a mild or neutral flavor but, if made with roasted peanuts, has a stronger peanut flavor and aroma. It is often used in Americ ...
or palm oil
Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of oil palms. The oil is used in food manufacturing, in beauty products, and as biofuel. Palm oil accounted for about 36% of global oils produced from o ...
, depending on the flavour the cook is going for. Red palm oil, an unrefined oil with a sweet taste, is specified in some recipes. Spices and other flavorings are added as it sautees. The finished product is lightly spicy and savory. Most cooks use fresh tomatoes, some use canned and some use a mix of both. Some roast the tomatoes, peppers, and onions before pureeing.
A cousin sauce is ata din din ( Yoruba) which is more a spicy concentrated stew. There are other Yoruba stews and variations as well, including Ofada Sauce/stew, Ayamase, Agoyin Sauce, Buka Stew, Omi Obe etc.
Also, on the other hand, Obe is the general name for soups made from vegetables and seeds in Yoruba culture, some if these soups or obe will be considered sauces in standard English. Obe is usually eaten with Okele but can be eaten with rice too. Some Obe Include: Egusi, Efo, Marugbo, Apon, Ila, Ewedu, Gbegiri, Ila-alasepo, Ilasa, and so on. Obe are from different ingredients like Indian Chutney.
References
Yoruba cuisine West African cuisine Stews Tomato sauces {{Nigeria-cuisine-stub