Igbo foods include the various foods the Igbos eat or prepared; their foods are diversified and exciting. Below is an overview of the most popular Igbo foods.
The Igbos are one of the predominant ethnic groups in southeastern Nigeria. Their foods are usually non-refined, natural foods, rich in dietary fiber, low in carbohydrates, and rich in nutrients and vitamins.
When people talk about foods generally consumed in Nigeria and Igbo, they tend to forget about highly sought-after items in the east, such as cassava, yams, Ukwa, Okpa, Oha soup, Abacha, etc.
Top ten in our list of popular Igbo foods
1. Ukwa (African breadfruit)
Ukwa is a trendy food in eastern Nigeria. Ukwa is located under the legume section because the two seeds look similar to each other, and the scientific name is Treculia Africana.
Ukwa is one of the most delicious and expensive all Igbo food delicacies. It can be cooked and eaten pure white, roasted and served with coconut or palm kernel, and prepared as a porridge.
2. Abacha (African salad)
Abacha is an eastern Nigerian dish made from dried cassava shreds. You can take it as a snack or a full meal. There are many variations in making this salad, but the more ingredients you add, the more delicious the dish becomes. Whether you prepare or eat it warmly or coldly, it will still come out tasty.
3. Oha or Ora soup
Oha or Ora soup is a delicious soup recipe from Eastern Nigeria. It is one of the local Igbo soups you taste and cannot forget.
This rich and nutritious soup usually prepare from the African tree leaves, traditionally known as Oha leaves. It is also thickened with cocoyam paste, Achi, Egusi, or Ofor to give it a unique consistency. It usually serves with Akpu (fufu), Semovita, Garri, or pounded yam.
4. Nkwobi
Nkwobi is a delicious native finger food of the Igbo people of Nigeria. It serves at formal events and family gatherings. Best enjoyed with palm wine, it satisfies the taste buds using various local ingredients’ exquisite flavors and aromas.
5. Onugbu (bitter leaf) soup
It is one of the famous foods in Igbo land, especially Anambra state; this soup is made with cocoyam and different ingredient, especially locust beans. Onugbu soup is one of the popular food used in Igboland and usually serves with fufu, Semo, etc.
6. Okpa
Okpa is a traditional Nigerian food; it is prevalent in Eastern Nigeria and tastes very good. It is made from Bambara flour. Flour made from scratch by milling dried Bambara nuts/legumes. It has a unique flavor that grows on you.
7. Achicha
Achicha is a dish native to the Igbo region of Nigeria, especially in the Enugu state. It consists mainly of dried cocoyam, Mgbumgbu (pigeon peas), and palm oil. Traditionally, it serves during the dry season when fresh vegetables are difficult to obtain.
The dried cocoyam and mgbmgbụ are steam until tender; then, the two are mixed thoroughly with a sauce made from palm oil, Ugba seeds, onions, freshly ground pepper, and salt.
8. Ofe Owerri
Ever heard the expression, “Better soup, na money kill am”? Well, Ofe Owerri is the soup, and this is to tell you how expensive the soup is. One of the astonishing things about this soup is that it tells you so much about just its name.
Ofe Owerri, which means that Owerri soup is unique to the people of Owerri, the capital of Imo state. What makes this soup is the leaves used are Ugu and Okazie, although some people add Uziza or Oha to theirs. Another primary ingredient is thickening agents with variations such as Ede (cocoyam), Ofo, or Achi.
9. Akidi (Black beans) and yam
Black beans and yam, also known as Akidi na Ji by the Igbos, is a tasty and enjoyable dish that you can conveniently prepare at home and devour gracefully as a lunch, dinner, or even a midday meal.
10. Nsala (white) soup
White Soup, popularly known as Ofe Nsala, is a mouth-watering delicacy unique to the Igbo tribe of Nigeria, especially Anambra State. It is a very abundant fresh fish soup, traditionally made with small pieces of yam, Utazi, catfish, and other ingredients. Serve with pounded yam, fufu, etc.
