ECO / ECO
The eko or echo is an offering for all the Orishas, which can be prepared in different ways:
- A well-ripe corn grain is soaked, ground, and when it is well established, a little water is thrown away. It is cooked in a pot over low heat, without adding salt or any other seasoning. When it is cooked it is wrapped in banana leaves and offered to the Orishas.
- Here is another of the many recipes: mix in a casserole a packet of fine cornmeal, a little milk, 5 tablespoons of sugar, a little cocoa butter, a ball of husk and a little holy water and Put on the fire until the liquid evaporates and the flour is very dry. Wrap the flour in aluminum foil in the shape of a tamale and put them in a pot with boiling water, letting them cook for about 15 minutes. They are left to cool. To offer them as adimus, remove the aluminum foil and place them on a white platter or plate.
Oshun is presented with honey, Obatala with cascarilla and cocoa butter, Yemayá with molasses, Eleggua with corojo, and so on to the rest of the Orishas using the corresponding ingredients.
If they are for Aggayu, nine ekos are prepared and smoked fish and hutia, toasted corn and a guinea pepper, honey, corojo, a little red wine and a little brandy are placed on top of each one. Aggayu is uncovered and the plate or dish is placed on top of the basin for nine days, after which it is brought to the foot of a ceiba or a dry tree.