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Ugba salad
Ugba: Igbo fermented oil-bean slices with African eggplant, its leaves and fresh pepper
Ugba, the long, thin slices of fermented African oil bean, are a favourite of Igboland in south-east Nigeria, eaten at village meetings, weddings and as an evening snack with cold drinks in Enugu and Owerri. The slices have a nutty, savoury, slightly funky flavour, and here they are tossed with diced garden eggs, shredded garden-egg leaves, onion, fresh pepper and a little red palm oil. Many cooks add ground crayfish and stockfish; this version is vegan. Suitable as part of a balanced diet, it is high in fibre and plant protein: about 220 kcal and 10 g carbohydrate per portion. The usual mistake is not rinsing shop-bought ugba, which can taste too sharp and fermented; rinse it in warm water first. Chef's tip: warm the palm oil just enough to make it runny, never hot, so it coats every slice.
- Total time
- 22 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp red palm oil
- 1 red onionthinly sliced
- 1 fresh scotch bonnet or chillifinely chopped
- 2 handfuls African eggplant leaves or spinachfinely shredded
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp vegetable stock powder (optional)
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What you'll need
Fresh ingredients (3)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Rinse the 10 ½ oz ugba (fermented African oil-bean slices) in a sieve under warm water and drain well.
3 minStep 2: Warm 2 tbsp red palm oil in a small pan over a low heat for 1–2 minutes, just until runny.
2 minStep 3: In a bowl, mix the ugba with the palm oil, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp vegetable stock powder until every slice is glossy and orange.
2 minStep 4: Add 1 red onion, 1 fresh scotch bonnet or chilli, 4 small African eggplants (garden eggs) and 2 handfuls African eggplant leaves or spinach and toss well. Serve at room temperature as a starter or snack.
2 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 11 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 7 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ugba salad take?
- About 22 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 2 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
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