Staple Foods: Swallow/Okele

Nigerian Solid Meals aka Swallow Foods are one of a kind. This is your sign to try them if you never have and to aid this quest, we have come up with recommendations of delicious Nigerian swallow foods and why they are worth having.

Iyan “Pounded Yam”: You can tell from the price of yam in the market that this swallow is the king and should be treated as such. It is best combined with rich egusi of nine lives, and assorted meat from a cow that has lived more than 3 years. It is the best swallow.

Image from Nairaland Forum

Semo: I want to belong, that is the motto of this meal. It shuffles between tasting like Iyan and white wheat. It goes well with Egusi, Okra, or Ogbono. Semo is a wannabe, but it would be worth your time. Try it with any soda of choice.

Image from Istock

Fufu: Fufu might want to make you say swallow is scum, but wait, you should try this spectacular nutrient-giving swallow with Chicken Soup or Ewedu. You should know Fufu is a loyalist and would always go regardless of the soup. Step it down with enough water.

Image from African Vibes Recipes

Tuwo Shinkafa: Permit me to introduce to you the meal of culture. This meal reconnects you with Rice because that is what it is made of. It’s called the meal of the culture because there is a style the Yoruba prepare it with that differs from that of Hausas, and it goes with almost any soup. Tuwo is the cousin of Semo.

Image from Taste Atlas

Amala: The famous one. Made from dried yam skin or cassava, this meal is said to send chills down the spine. It is the indigenous meal of the Ibadan people and you should try it. It goes best with the traffic light soup. Red for stew, Yellow for gbegiri, and Green for Ewedu. Amala can also be white. I think most people beef amala because it shares the same skin color as them (lol). The difference between this meal and wheat flour is the substance used in production. But you wouldn’t know unless you try. So go try. They say you haven’t lived if you haven’t tried Amala.

Image from Omokehinde

Eba: The OG Eba. This is that meal you can try anyway and make everywhere. It is similar to starch. We recommend this OG swallow, it always comes to the rescue and it’s made from Garri- cassava. You should try it with Efo Riro and Zobo.

Image from Buka Online

That’s about it on Nigerian swallow foods, let us know in the comments which one you would try or love most.

NOTE:
The world’s diet and food intake comprise 80% of staple food.
Staple food can be derived from both animals and vegetables.
Staple food differs based on country and region, stable foods are plant or animal food that are most accessible in our communities. E.g Maize, rice, cassava, etc.

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