This might come as a surprise to many of us, but it is true that you can enjoy swallow and lose weight at the same time. Swallow basically is Nigeria solid meals that are usually taken with soups and usually swallow and not chewed. It is oftentimes eaten with the hands however some people still use cutleries to eat. Examples include fufu, eba, amala, starch, and others. The processes for making each swallow vary and can be eaten with different soups but some swallow are more compatible with certain soups than others just like how eba taste better with eguisi than okro. Although most swallow include mainly carbohydrates, the processes and fermentation some go through give them added nutrients. Also, the soups eaten with are also healthy and have their own personal health benefits.
1. Amala
This meal is made with yam flour or cassava flour. The three types of amala we have are yam flour amala, Cassava flour amala, and plantain flour amala or elubo. Amala is high in calories but the plantain flour amala is the healthiest of the three because it undergoes fermentation. The fermentation increases water absorbability and protein. It is usually eaten with ewedu and stew.
2. Fufu
This meal is another common Nigerian swallow also known as cassava fufu or akpu. This food is low in cholesterol and high in calories with added health benefits of fermentation. It is difficult to prepare but is undoubtedly worth it. It is usually eaten with okro soup.
3. Eba
This is made from cassava tubers and when prepared with boiling water it is called Eba. It is the easiest Nigerian swallow to make and can be made with both yellow and white garri. The cassava is fermented and processed into garri, this converts some of the carbohydrates into protein. Eba made with yellow garri is more nutritious than white garri. It is usually eaten with Eguisi soup or efo riro.
4. Plaintain fufu
Who knew fufu could be made from plantain. As the name entails plantain fufu is made from plantain and is similar to plantain amala. Either ripe or unripe plantain is pureed to a smooth paste and boiled to create a dough form that is later allowed to cool to harden it a little more. It can be eaten with groundnut soup.
5. Pounded yam
As the name goes this swallow is made from pounded yam, the yam is boiled first to soften it and then pounded with a pistol in a mortar until it softens and stretches. It is also called Iyan and is highly nutritious. It also helps those looking to add some extra weight. It can be eaten with efo riro.
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