Eba

Ẹ̀bà is a staple food mainly eaten in the West African sub-region, particularly in Nigeria and parts of Ghana. It came from Nigeria originally.[1] It is made from dried grated cassava (manioc) flour, commonly known as garri.[2]

Eba and Efo riro (Vegetable Soup) with Fish

Wraps of Eba and pounded yam

To make ẹ̀bà, garri flour (which should be further pounded or ground if not already 'fine') is mixed into hot water and stirred well with a wooden spatula until it becomes like a firm dough, so it can be rolled into a ball and can keep its shape. When you put hot water in the bowl of garri to make ẹbà, you leave it for a few minutes; then you stir it until it becomes a firm dough; then you can call it ẹ̀bà. It can be made with different types of garri.

To eat, a small amount of ẹ̀bà is taken with the fingers and rolled into a small ball and dipped into the ọbẹ̀ (a thick soup) such as okra soup, bitter leaf (ewúro) soup or pepper soup (ọbẹ̀ ata or ẹ̀fọ́ depending on dialect) with either okro, ọgbọnọ (Igbo)/apọn (Yorùbá), or ewédú, meat or fish, stewed vegetables or other sauces such as gbẹ̀gìrì, Amiedi (banga soup) or egusi soup (melon).

Ẹ̀bà can either come in yellow or an off white colour. It comes in yellow, when it is mixed with palm oil. Garri is very rich in starch and carbohydrate. It is quite heavy as a meal and a staple food of West Africans especially nigeria. It is often eaten with richly made soups and stews, with beef, stockfish or mutton depending on personal taste.