Nigerian Eba (How to Make Eba)

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Nigerian eba is a type of food made from garri with hot boiling water.  It should not be mistaken for EBA which stands for the European Banking Authority. If you are looking for how to make Nigerian eba (eba food) then you are in the right place.

Here, you will learn how to make it on the stovetop, in the microwave and in a bowl. These procedures are quick and very easy too. There is also a bonus on how to make eba roll.

I posted Bitter leaf soup on Facebook recently and I had a request on how to make Eba roll. Also, you can learn how to make Nigerian eba (also called eba food) using three methods as mentioned above.

What is Eba (Eba Food)

Eba is a type of food staple (swallow) popularly eaten in Nigeria and by Nigerians all over the world. It is made with fried cassava called garri and hot boiling water to form a smooth stiff dough.  It is best eaten with Nigerian soups such as Okra, Afang soup, Efo riro, Egusi soup and many more. Garri comes in two forms, yellow garri which contains palm oil or white garri which is fried without palm oil.

Ingredients for Nigerian Eba

Boiling water

Garri

For Eba Roll

Premade morsel food of choice (swallow/solid as called in Nigeria)

Rolling pin

Cling film or plastic bag

How to Make Eba (Eba Food)

This is a quick overview of how to make Nigerian eba. You can make it in the microwave, in a bowl or on the stovetop. I am more of a stovetop girl as I find it super easy to make. It is important to know that garri absorbs water differently depending on the type used.

You only need boiling hot water, a sturdy spoon or wooden spatula and garri to make eba

For every 1 cup of boiling water used, you will need between 1/3 cup of garri to 1/2 cup. Like I mentioned above, garri absorbs water differently.

Stovetop Eba

bring water to a boil in a kettle, place a small saucepan on medium heat, carefully measure out 1 cup of hot boiling water and pour into the saucepan.

start by stirring in 1/3 cup of garri to the hot water with a wooden spatula. If the eba is still soft, sprinkle more garri until desired texture is achieved. Serve it immediately with any Nigerian soup of choice

How to Make It In A Bowl

Add hot water to a bowl (water must be at rolling boiling point)

sprinkle the garri into the water (distributing it evenly as much as you can) use a wooden spatula or spoon to turn it together until smooth and lump free. Just like the stovetop method, add more garri if it is too soft or more of the hot water it is too hard.

How to Make Microwave Eba 

Add garri to a microwaveable bowl and cover with cold water. (the same level)

place the bowl in the microwave

Microwave on high for 2 minutes, take it out and turn together to combine until smooth and lump-free.

How to make Eba roll

If you have worked with dough before, you may find this very easy. Just imagine you are in an art studio creating a masterpiece with any substance of your choice. 

On a plain surface, cut cling film or plastic bag into 2 big sizes. One to put the eba on and the other to cover it with.

Use a rolling pin to flatten it and remove the cling film covering it.

Cut out uneven sides to form a rectangle/square

Roll or fold it from one end to another

there you have it EBA ROLL

Croissant design

Using the same flattening method from eba roll

Using a large knife or pizza cutter, cut out triangles from the rectangle starting from the far edge of the rectangle.

Cut a small slit in the middle of the triangle,

Using both hands, hold on to each end of the triangle base and roll it to form a crescent.

Serve with Nigerian soups of choice.

Enjoy.x

This post was originally published in March 2015. Now republished with new photos and more tips

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