Eba is a staple Nigerian food made with garri (Cassava flakes) and boiling water to form a dough. It’s so easy to make!
What is eba?
Eba is a swallow made with boiling water and garri (cassava flakes) and stirred until it forms a dough. It is a common dish in Nigeria. It is not a stand-alone food; it belongs to the category of food called swallows.
Furthermore, it is gluten-free and a starchy swallow rich in carbohydrates and fiber.
Cassava, the primary ingredient in eba, is a highly resilient root vegetable that thrives in tropical climates. In Nigeria, cassava is processed into garri through a method that involves peeling, grating, fermenting, and frying. The resulting garri is a granulated, shelf-stable flour that can be easily stored and used for various dishes.
Let’s talk about ”swallow foods” – Okele
Talking about swallows, they are solid meals made from cereals, starchy roots, grains, and vegetables. These food are easily molded into a dough-like consistency and paired with soups. They are usually swallowed instead of chewed. Examples are fufu, amala, pounded yam, and much more.
What is eba made of?
Garri:is a fine granule cereal made from processed cassava. You can get garri in any African store or grocery.
Hot water: Must the water be hot? Yes, it has to be hot boiling water. Using water at room temperature equates todrinking garri. Hot water helps to bind the starch in the cassava flakes to form a dough.
How to make Eba
Eba is one of the easiest swallows to make; You can put it together in under 5 minutes. However, there is no precise measurement for making eba since dryer garri will require more water than less dried ones. My standard ratio is 1 part garri to 2 parts water – 1:2.
If the eba turns out too soft, feel free to add more garri, and if it turns out too hard, you can soften it with more hot boiling water.
Even though the process of making it is simple, it can also be tricky. You don’t have to worry; I will share three methods (stovetop, bowl, and microwave) to make soft and smooth eba without lumps in the recipe card at the bottom.
Step 1: Bring water to a rolling boil.
Step 2: Add garri evenly to the water till it is absorbed.
Step 3: Stir with your wooden spatula to your desired texture.
Step 4: If too soft, add more garri, and if it’s too hard, you can add a bit of water.
Step 5: After this, you can serve it by molding and adding your desired soup.
How to serve Eba
To serve, simply scoop the portion you want and shape it as a roll, then serve it with your favorite soup or stew.
Although nowadays, home cooks and chefs serve eba in different forms and shapes. For example, you can find it shaped like croissants, pinwheels, pyramids, hearts, and so much more.
How to eat eba
Like any other swallow, we cut eba into small edible morsels, dip them in or scoop them with any soup of choice. You will enjoy the sweet and satisfying feel as it slides down your throat.
FAQs
How much garri to water do I need to make eba?
The amount of garri you need depends on the texture of the eba you prefer. Some people prefer it more on the hard side, while others prefer it to be soft. In addition, some garri absorb water more than others because of how they are fermented or processed.
However, I will recommend 1 cup of hot boiling water for ½ cup of garri per serving for first-timers. If it is too soft, you can add more garri. On the other hand, if it is too hard, you can add more water. Feel free to double this recipe if you are serving more people.
Friends, if you have followed till this point, you will realize that eba and garri are not the same. While garri is powdery and taken as a cereal, eba is a swallow eaten with other soups. Eba is like a by-product of cassava. The Cassava tuber is fermented and processed into garri, and then the garri is cooked to make eba.
Color
Eba can be yellow or white. It takes on the color of garri you use. If you use yellow garri, you will get yellow eba. Also, you will eat white eba from white garri.
Both varieties are suitable for making this dish. If you want to know the difference between the yellow and white garri, check here for details.
Different ways to shape Eba
Eba is molded to make it more appealing and presentable. Due to its starchy nature, it can be molded easily into any shape. Molding into a roll doesn’t change the taste; it is just a manner of presenting the food on a plate before adding soup. You can shape eba into rolls, pinwheels, pyramids, hearts, or any other creative shape before eating it. By the way, making an eba roll is optional.
Are fufu and eba the same?
Fufu and eba are not the same. It is easy to confuse the two foods because they are both made from cassava (Yuca). However, the process and technique of making them are different. They have different textures, and they taste differently. While fufu has a smooth texture, eba has a rough texture because of the fine granules in garri.
Make ahead and Storage
Eba is best eaten hot or warm, but I know some people also enjoy it cold!
If you wish to make this ahead, you can wrap it in plastic wrap for storage. Wrap and mold it into a circle and store it in an insulated container to keep it warm, or microwave it when you are ready. When ready to eat, remove the wrap and serve with your favorite soup.
Eba is a staple Nigerian food made with garri (Cassava flakes) and boiling water to form a dough. It is not eaten alone, so it is served with Nigerian soups like okro, egusi, efo riro, and ewedu (jute leave soup).
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