13 Most Commonly Consumed Igbo Food
The Igbo people of Nigeria are known for numerous traditional food. Igbo no doubt is home to many popular Nigerian cuisines as most of the foods Nigeria is known for has its origin from Igbo land.
1. Utara na Ofe Igbo Food:
Utara na ofe, Commonly known as Swallow and soup is the most popular and commonly consumed Igbo food. Utara, also called Nri Onuno, can either be Akpu, Utara Ji or Nri Ji, Nni Ede, or any form of swallow like, Garri, Nni Oka, Semo or Guinea corn swallow. Utara can be eaten with different kinds of Igbo soup ranging from Oha, Egwusi and others.
2. Ji Igbo Food:
Ji is one of the most consumed and the most Important food among the Igbos. Ji is cooked and eaten in so many ways but the most common way the Igbos eat their ji is by preparing it with vegetable. the process is called Igwo Ji or Ibio Ji and the vegetable Yam is called Ji Agworo Agwo, Other Ways the Igbo Eat their Ji includes: Ji Ahrur Ahu, Ji Olulu/Orulu Ji Abubo, ji Mmanu.
3. Osikapa Igbo Food:
Osikapa, popularly known as rice is one of the many food eaten by the Igbo, Osikapa can be prepared in many way but the most common is Osikapa Ocha na ofe (White rice and stew) Osikapa Agworoagwo (Jollof Rice) Osikapa na Agwa (Rice and Beans. For reasons that still beats my imagination osikapa is mostly and mainly eaten on a Sunday.
4. Abacha Igbo Food:
Abacha is made from cassava. Abacha can be served as an appetizer or main meal, it is mostly used to welcome visitor before serving them the main meal. Abacha can be prepared in so many ways depending on the community you visit or the home you visited. No event happens in Enugu or isuochi,Ụmụnne and some other parts of Igboland without Abacha in the menu. Abacha can be prepared in so many ways and it’s best served with fresh palm wine.
5. Okpa Igbo Food:
Okpa, also referred to as king’s meal or lion’s food is a popular Igbo dish of Eastern Nigeria which originated from Enugu. Okpa is made from bambara flour gotten from bambara nut. okpa is very easy to prepare as few ingredients are required and it takes just about 45 to 50 minutes to cook. Okpa which is mostly wrapped in banana leaves or thin white nylon bags can be gotten anywhere in Enugu as vendors sells them in virtually all the joints and parks in the state. Okpa can best be eaten with. Coke, Pap, soaked garri or tea.
6. Nkwobi Igbo Food:
Nkwobi is a much loved delicacy in the eastern part of Nigeria, Nkwobi comes in so many varieties as it can be prepared with cow meat, goat meat, stock fish or even chicken. The most popular of all nkwobi is Isi Ewu, or kpomo nkwobi. Nkwobi can be found virtually in every beer parlour in Nigeria, people mostly don’t prepare Nkwobi at home because it takes a lot of time so they prefer to buy from restaurants and local joints who cooks in large quantity, except in the case where they have many visitor. Nkwobi is best enjoyed with palm wine, beer or any other drink.
7. Ji Mmiri oku Igbo Food:
Ji Mmiri Oku is ji and dried fish pepper soup porridge native to the Igbos of Nigeria.
It is a traditional meal that is usually prepared for new moms, right after putting to bed(traditionally known as the Omugwo time). It is often loaded with hot pepper, which is said to help the new mom heal faster
8. Ukwa Igbo Food:
Ukwa is one of the popular foods eaten by the Igbo people. The seeds are shelled, washed and cooked with crystal soda (akanwu) and water till it is soft enough for consumption. Ukwa can also be cooked with rice or corn.
9. Akidi Igbo Food:
Akidi is a small tiny bean seed which looks reddish or black in color, Akidi is mostly found in the northern part of Igbo land especially in Enugu state. Akidi which is one of the legumes known for it’s high protein content is one of the local food of Enugu people. Akidi can be prepared alone with Ugba and also with Ji, or abacha.
10, Ede Igbo Food:
Ede is also one of the major food consumed by the Igbos, Ede is cooked and eaten in so many ways but the most common way the Igbos eat Ede is by preparing it with vegetable(Ede Agworuagwo or Ede Obibo) Ede Nsuru ,Ede Mmanu or use to prepare soup (Ede ofe/Ede ohe)
11. Ono/Ona Igbo Food:
Ono/Ona is one of the most nutritious of the commonly cultivated yam species. Ona which is rich in carbohydrate, protein, vitamins and minerals when compared with other common species of yam is mostly cooked and consumed with oil, Ugba or any of the Igbo native sauce like Potash sauce.
In the south eastern Nigeria, Ona is also utilized in treatment of diabetic patience and as herb for treatment of various ailments.
12. Agidi Igbo Food:
Adidi is one of the food Igbo people love the most, Agidi is made from corn flour. Agidi is mostly cooked in two way, the white one and the jollof one. Agidi Jollof is mostly eaten as a snack but you can also serve it as a light lunch or dinner
13. Agbala Atui Igbo Food:
Agbala Atui, also know as Iho in some part of Igbo land is a special delicacy made melon seed(Egwusi) After grinding or pounding the Egyusi mixed with some ingredients it’s then wrapped with banana leaves and cooked.
