What is Eba

What is this eba that everyone is talking about?

Sometimes, the most simple things are the most complex. If you are a Nigerian and someone asks you “what is eba” you would be like; what? are you kidding me?”.

Well, while you know the answer to that question, so many other persons from outside Nigeria are still trying to grasp the nitty-gritty of Nigerian cooking.

I get questions like this every day and it doesn’t surprise me.

What is an eba?

What is it made of?

What is garri made of?

Well, I am going to give you a detailed break down via this article and even show you how to make eba from store-bought garri. If you are new to Nigerian cooking, I can understand exactly where you are now.

I have a cookbook at Amazon, it should be available from January 2017 “Beginner’s Guide to Nigerian Cooking”, it is very cheap and you can get it for a quick start to Nigerian cooking.

Eba is a Nigerian staple food eaten all over the country and beyond. It is made from fried grated cassava (manioc) flour, commonly called as garri.

Garri is a by-product of cassava. It goes through a lot of processes before it finally becomes garri. But you don’t need to bother yourself with all of those. We all buy garri from the grocery stores and make eba out of them in just five minutes.

Most of the Soups you would learn to prepare from this blog are not usually served alone in Nigeria. They are served alongside “swallows” – as we call them in Nigeria. There are just about ten of them and eba is the most popular.

This article shows you how to make garri (eba). It usually takes less than 10 minutes.

What You Need:
4 cups of Garri (white or yellow)
bowls
wooden turner
4 cups Hot water.

Serving: 4

This is what store-bought garri looks like. You can buy this from any Nigerian local market or grocery store.

Buy either the white or yellow garri and you are good to go.

How to make Eba

Step 1
Boil water and pour it into a bowl. We don’t usually measure the water but around 3-4 cups, you can always add a little more is the eba is too strong to stir.

Step 2
Sprinkle the garri into the boiled water. continue until the eba thickens. You can add more garri if it is too soft or add water if it is very hard.

Once the eba is well stirred to achieve a fine consistency, you can serve with any soup.

Step 3
You should be able to mold it in small portions, dip into your delicious soup and swallow.

Eba is served with any one of the popular Nigerian soup. I think it is the most popular Nigerian swallow.

That is how I prepare (garri), tell me how you prepare your own using the comment form below. I hear some just pour boiled water over the garri. Is that what you do? Tell me via the comment form below.

You can also learn about pounded yam, they serve the same purpose.

Served with okro soup

Follow this question on our sister site – What Eba is Made of?

Here is a quicker and printable recipe and video that shows you how to make eba without lumps.

Eba | How to Make (Garri) Eba

Chef Chidi

Eba is a common food in Nigeria. Almost every Nigerian has tasted eba before. A common knowledge is that eba must be paired with soup before it is considered as food in a Nigerian home

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 3 minutes mins

Preparation Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 8 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Nigerian Cuisine

Servings 3 People

Calories 120 kcal

Equipment

• Bowl

Ingredients

  

• Wooden turner
• Hot water.
• 4 cups of Garri white or yellow
• Medium bowl

Instructions

 

• There are two different colors for garri in Nigeria. T difference is just palm oil. Some are plain white while they rest turn yellow after palm oil is added to them during the manufacturing process.
• whether you have yellow or white garri, you will be ok.
• Boil water in a kettle (Let it cool a little).
• Pour into the bowl and start sprinkling the garri over the hot water.
• Stop once the eba thicken and turn/stir using a wooden turner.
• Serve your eba with anyone of the Nigerian soups.

Video

Keyword Eba, Garri, What is eba