The 10 Most Popular Igbo Foods (2022)

The Igbos are one of the Nigerian’s three major ethnic groups, and they have their own beliefs, customs, traditions, and also music, but we are not looking into that today.

Today we will be talking about their foods, and their women are referred to as masters of the kitchen in their culture, legumes, vegetable, maize, cocoyam, cassava, and yam are among the original traditional diets, and different dishes are associated with Igbo people’s main style of cooking, such as Oha, Nni Oka, Nni Akpu, Nni Ji, Onugbu, Okazi, Achi and others.

However, not only Igbos but all Nigerian tribes, enjoy this type of meal. Cooking and eating Igbo food is very simple, and also soups are at the heart of Igbo cuisines, Egwusi, Nsala, Ofe oha are some of the most popular soups and they also have white pepper soup, their basic diet is yam, they eat it boiled or pounded with soups.

Furthermore, if you know someone from the Igbo ethnic group or you’re dating or married to an Igbo man, here are some of their favorite foods.

Are you ready! let’s get started with the process of listing them.

1. Oha soup – African Rosewood plant

Oha Soup is a delectable soup recipe from Nigeria’s eastern region. It’s one of those traditional Igbo soups that you can’t get enough of. The leaves of the African Pterocarpus soyauxii/Pterocarpus mildbraedi tree, also known as Oha leaves, are used to make this rich and healthy soup.

2. Ofe Onugbu – Bitter Leaf Soup

This bitter leaf soup (also known as Ofe Onugbu) has a lot of flavorful meats, fish, and cocoyams in it. When you’re in the mood for something warm, make it, serve it with your favorite swallow, and tuck in.

3. Nkwobi – Cow feet

Nkwobi is a spicy Nigerian dish made from cow feet. It is a popular eat-out meal found in Nigerian restaurants and beer parlors that appears sophisticated but is very simple to cook with common components.

It is typically served in high-end restaurants. It’s just roasted cow feet with a spicy palm oil paste on top. Nkwobi is frequently confused with Isi Ewu, although the two are not the same player.

4. Abacha – African Salad

The Igbo tribe of Eastern Nigeria’s Abacha and Ugba, often known as African salad, is a cassava-based delicacy. Abacha is cassava that has been dried and shredded, whereas Ugba is a fermented African oil bean seed.

Cassava is used to make abacha, which originated in Enugu. Abacha can be served as an appetizer or a main course, but it is most commonly offered to welcome guests before they are served the main course. Depending on the town or residence you visit, abacha might be made in a variety of ways. In Enugu, no festivity is complete without Abacha on the menu. Abacha can be made in a variety of ways, but it tastes best when served with fresh palm wine.

5. Okpa – Bambara groundnut

Okpa, also known as king’s feast or lion’s food, is a traditional Eastern Nigerian Igbo dish that originated in Enugu. Okpa is produced with Bambara flour, which is obtained from the Bambara nut. Okpa is simple to make because it only requires a few ingredients and cooks in 45 to 50 minutes. Okpa, which is usually wrapped in banana leaves or thin white nylon bags, may be purchased almost anyplace in Enugu, as sellers sell it at almost all of the state’s cafes and parks. The greatest way to eat okpa is with it. Coke, Pap, soaking Garri, or tea are all options.

Read Also: Top 10 Most Popular Yoruba Foods (2022)

Top 10 Most Popular African Dishes (2022)

6. Agidi- Corn Jellos

Nigerian Agidi or Eko is Nigeria’s Jello sort of. It is made with corn flour. The process is very similar to how to make Ogi but with a slight difference. Agidi or Eko tastes so good with hot Akara or Pepper Soup.

7. Ji Mmiri oku – Yam Pepper Soup

Ji Mmiri Oku is a Nigerian yam and dried fish pepper soup porridge that originated with the Igbos.
It’s a traditional dinner served to new mothers shortly after they’ve been put to bed (traditionally known as the Omugwo time). It’s frequently laced with hot pepper, which is thought to speed up the healing process for new mothers.

8. Ukwa – African Breadfruit

Ukwa is a typical fruit that can be eaten. It is linked to other exotic fruits such as breadnuts, jackfruit, figs, and mulberries, and belongs to the Moraceae family. It’s popular in Nigeria, for example, where it’s served as the main course.

9. Okra Soup

Okra soup is a thick Nigerian soup made with okra, meat or fish, palm oil, smoked catfish, and Nigerian traditional spices, it is one of the simplest and most affordable Nigerian soups, I recall making a tiny pot of okra soup with only approximately 300 nairas in my pocket (300)

This soup is very excellent when made with fresh fish.

10. Ji – Yam

Ji (Yam) is one of the most important and widely consumed foods among the Igbos. Ji can be prepared and eaten in a variety of ways, but the Igbos’ preferred method is to prepare it with vegetables. Other ways the Igbo eat their yam are Ji Ahrur Ahu, Ji Olulu/Orulu Ji Abubo, and Ji Mmanu. The procedure is called Igwo Ji or Ibio Ji, and the vegetable Yam is named Ji Agworo Agwo.

Summary

Here is a summary of the list of the top 10 Igbo Foods.

1. Oha Soup – African Rosewood plant
2. Ofe Onugbu – Bitter Leaf Soup
3. Nwobi – Cow feet
4. Abacha – African salad
5. Okpa – Bambara groundnut
6. Agidi – Corn jellos
7. Ji Mmiri oku – Yam Pepper Soup
8. Ukwa – African Breadfruit
9. Okra Soup
10. Ji – Yam