Eba

Ẹ̀bà (Yoruba) also known as Ebe or Pinon' (in Togo, Benin, and southern Ghana) is a staple swallow from Nigeria, Togo and Benin, also eaten in the West African sub-region and other African countries.[1][2] The term èbà originates from Yoruba. It is a cooked starchy vegetable food made from dried grated cassava (manioc) flour commonly known as garri all across West Africa. It is often eaten with rich soups and stews, with beef, stockfish or mutton. The dish is often described as having a slightly sour, sharp taste.[3][4][5]

Èbà is eaten with the fingers, rolled into a small ball, and dipped into thick soups such as okra soup, chilli paste in Togo, bitter leaf soup or with either okro, ọgbọnọ (Igbo)/ apọn (Yorùbá), or ewédú, meat or fish, stewed vegetables or other sauces such as gbẹ̀gìrì, ofe akwu (banga soup) or egusi soup.[1]

In West Africa, there two types of garri, the white and yellow; the yellow garri is prepared by frying with the addition of palm oil to give it a yellow colour and extra flavour while the white garri is fried without palm oil and is slightly more acidic with a sharper taste.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b "A Quick Guide to Fufu, Africa's Staple Food". OkayAfrica. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Tomi's Kitchen". Bolt Food. Retrieved 23 May 2022.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "What is Eba | How to Prepare Garri". allnigerianfoods.com. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Nigerian Eba". Serious Eats. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  5. ^ Amaechi, Din (17 March 2022). "What Does Eba Mean In Nigeria?". Retrieved 23 May 2022.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Adewale, Femi (1 November 2018). "'Eba, Amala healthier than Wheat'". Freedom Online. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Eba - African Food Network". 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2023.