Eba — Mediated Wiki

{{Short description|West African staple food}} {{about|the African food||EBA (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=May 2026}}

{{Infobox food | name = Eba | image = Eba Swallow.jpg | alt = Eba | caption = Eba | type = Swallow | place_of_origin = West Africa | region = Nigeria, Ghana, Togo. | served = Warm | main_ingredient = *Hot Water *Yellow or white garri }}

'''Eba''' (Yoruba: Ẹ̀bà), also known as '''Ebe''' or '''Pinon'''<nowiki/>' (in Togo, Benin, and southern Ghana) is a staple Okele or ''swallow'' from Nigeria, Togo and Benin in the West African sub-region and other African countries.<ref name="Quick guide fufu">{{Cite web |date=2017-11-28 |title=A Quick Guide to Fufu, Africa's Staple Food |url=https://www.okayafrica.com/what-is-fufu-a-quick-guide-to-africas-staple-food/ |access-date=2022-05-03 |website=OkayAfrica |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tomi's Kitchen |url=https://food.bolt.eu/en-US/320-nairobi/p/34181-tomi%27s-kitchen |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Bolt Food |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The term Ẹ̀bà originates from Yoruba.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eba |url=https://www.cooksense.org/eba |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=www.cooksense.org}}</ref> It is a cooked starchy vegetable food made from dried grated cassava (manioc) flour commonly known as Garri all across West Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chidi |first=Chef |date=2016-12-29 |title=What is Eba {{!}} How to Prepare Garri |url=https://allnigerianfoods.com/what-is-eba/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=All Nigerian Foods |language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allnigerianfoods.com/what-is-eba|title=What is Eba {{!}} How to Prepare Garri|website=allnigerianfoods.com|date=29 December 2016|access-date=2018-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nigerian Eba |url=https://www.seriouseats.com/nigerian-eba-5270376 |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Serious Eats |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amaechi |first=Din |date=2022-03-17 |title=What Does Eba Mean in Nigeria? |url=https://bettertourismafrica.org/niger/what-does-eba-mean-in-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

''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.<ref name="Quick guide fufu" />

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adewale |first=Femi |date=2018-11-01 |title=Eba, Amala healthier than Wheat |url=https://freedomonline.com.ng/eba-amala-healthier-than-wheat/ |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Freedom Online |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-25 |title=Eba – African Food Network |url=https://afrifoodnetwork.com/recipes/swallow-recipes/eba/ |access-date=2023-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Preparation == Blended garri flour is mixed into hot water and stirred thoroughly and vigorously with a wooden spatula until it becomes a firm dough that can be rolled into a ball. It can be made with different types of garri.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-04 |title=Eba Recipe – A Nigerian Garri Meal |url=https://9jafoods.com/eba-recipe-a-nigerian-garri-meal/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=9jafoods |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ayambem |first=Eya |date=2019-03-29 |title=How to make eba without lumps |url=https://www.wivestownhallconnection.com/how-to-make-eba-without-lumps.html/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=Wives Connection |language=en-US |archive-date=26 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326125856/https://www.wivestownhallconnection.com/how-to-make-eba-without-lumps.html/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-31 |title=Nigerian Eba (How To Make Eba) |url=https://www.myactivekitchen.com/eba-roll-croissant/ |access-date=2022-05-23 |website=My Active Kitchen |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Depending on the type of garri flour used, Ẹ̀bà can vary in colour, from deep yellow to off white. Palm oil is often added to the garri during preparation, resulting in a bright yellow colour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NeogricAdmin |date=2026-01-14 |title=Buy Yellow Garri: Uses, Health Benefits, Price Per Ton & How To Safely Source |url=https://www.neogric.com/buy-yellow-garri/ |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Neogric |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Nutrition == Eba is rich in starch and carbohydrates. Eba has a gross energy content of 381.5 kcal which is higher than other cassava products like ''fufu'' and ''lafun'' with 180 kcal and 357.7 respectively.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Ayankunbi |first1=M. A. |last2=Keshinro |first2=O. O. |last3=Egele |first3=P. |date=1991-01-01 |title=Effect of methods of preparation on the nutrient composition of some cassava products—Garri (eba), 'Lafun' and 'Fufu' |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0308-8146%2891%2990059-W |journal=Food Chemistry |language=en |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=349–354 |doi=10.1016/0308-8146(91)90059-W |issn=0308-8146|url-access=subscription }}</ref> However, it has a crude protein content of 0.9g/100g, slightly lower than ''fufu'' and ''lafun'' with 1.0g/100g and 1.1g/100g respectively.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Eba Food Recipe + Calories and Benefits {{!}} EpersianFood |date=3 May 2020 |url=https://www.epersianfood.com/eba/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225141544/https://www.epersianfood.com/eba/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery> Individual plate of garri to eat by hand with fish and greens, Baba1 (5570984125).jpg|Garri to eat by hand with fish and greens. Ndop, Northwest Cameroon, 2011 Eba and Efo riro (Vegetable Soup) with Fish.jpg|Eba and Efo riro (vegetable soup) with fish. Nigeria, 2014 Swallow_from_Nigeria.JPG|Wraps of Eba and pounded yam </gallery>

==See also== {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Akara * Amala * Bread * Cassava * Egusi soup * Fufu * Garri * Pounded yam * Sadza * Ugali

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * {{cite web |url=http://www.mydestination.com/nigeria/travel-articles/722668/iyan---pounded-yam |title=Iyan (Pounded Yam) |last=Animashaun |first=Ayoola |date=12 February 2014 |website=mydestination.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042759/http://www.mydestination.com/nigeria/travel-articles/722668/iyan---pounded-yam |access-date=30 May 2022 |archive-date=2016-03-05 }} * {{cite web |url=http://www.fatsecret.com/Diary.aspx?pa=fjrd&rid=247798 |title=Nutrition Facts. Eba. Calories |website=fatsecret.com |access-date=30 May 2022 }} * {{cite web |url=http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/nigerian-yoruba-white-eba-cooked-garri-238158397 |title=Nigerian Yoruba – White Eba (Cooked Garri) Serving Size : 100 g |access-date=30 May 2022 |archive-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112211355/https://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/nigerian-yoruba-white-eba-cooked-garri-238158397 |url-status=dead }}

Category:Cassava dishes Category:Ghanaian cuisine Category:Nigerian cuisine Category:Swallows (food) Category:Yoruba cuisine