Swallow: The Different Types Of Nigeria Swallow

It’s widespread in traditional Nigerian settings to hear of the array of starchy dishes called swallow.

Nigerian swallows are traditional side dishes vital to the nation’s cooking culture. 

They are usually served alongside stews and soups.

These starchy, hand-molded doughs are typically used to scoop up and enjoy the rich, thick, flavorful tastes of Nigerian soups. 

In Nigeria, the word “swallow” is frequently used to refer to starchy items that are cooked into a thick paste and served with different soups.

The method of eating gives this dish its nomenclature; to eat it, you use your fingers to take a bit of the paste, dip it in soup and swallow.

Other common names for swallow include ilo ihe (an Igbo word), okele (a Yoruba term). 

In this article, we will look at the various kinds of swallow in Nigeria alongside how to prepare them just in case you want to try one of them out (which you should soon): 

Garri || Utara

Garri is produced from cassava tubers that have been peeled, rinsed, and pulverized.

It is then allowed to ferment for a few days to soften the roots and lower the presence of cyanide.

When the fermentation period is up, it is fried to remove any remaining moisture. 

Garri is the most popular swallow option in Nigeria for various reasons, the most notable of which is its ease of preparation. 

Garri made for swallow is called Utara in Igbo and Eba in Yoruba.

To prepare garri for soup, add boiling water and stir to produce a stiff dough. Then, serve alongside any Nigerian soup. 

Fufu || Akpu

Fufu is often distinguished by its pungent stench.

It is made from the moist paste of fermented cassava. Like the garri mentioned above, it is accomplished by soaking the cassava for a few days.

This helps soften the roots and reduce the presence of cyanide. 

Once the fermentation process is finished, the dough is heated until soft and crushed/pounded until smooth, firm, and elastic, with a consistency akin to dough.

It can now be eaten with any Nigerian soup. 

Pounded yam

Nigerians consume a variety of yam dishes, one of which is pounded yam. 

It is made from cooked white yam.

The cooked white yam is crushed into a smooth, firm, semi-stretchy dough. 

Yam is a good source of carbs and is high in calories.

Once the desired consistency is obtained, it can be served with any Nigerian soup. 

Amala

This swallow is popular in the south-west among the Yoruba.

There are two variations of Amala

Amala Isu: It is prepared from yam flour.

Amala Lafun: It is prepared from cassava flour (the processing differs from that of garri and fufu)  

Amala can be consumed with any soup.

Wheat

Wheatmeal is a light brown swallow derived from whole grain wheat milled to powder.

Like all wheat-based products, a wheat meal is high in protein and fibre.

Wheat meal flour is combined briskly with hot water to make a stiff, elastic dough free of lumps, which is then served with soup.

Wheat meal is trendy among diabetics and those on a weight loss diet.

Semovita or Semolina

Semovita is made from milled Durum wheat.

Nigerian swallows like Semovita are relatively simple to prepare, making them an excellent alternative to more labour-intensive dishes like pounded yam and amala.

To make Semovita for eating, the flour is tossed into hot water and thoroughly mixed to make a lump-free, stiff, elastic dough.

It can be served with any soup of choice. 

Tuwo Shinkafa

Local rice is used to make Tuwo Shinkafa, and occasionally, rice flour is used as a quick fix.

Rice is usually boiled until tender, then mashed in the pot until smooth.

It is a meal popular in the northern parts of Nigeria.

It is typically served with Northern Nigerian soups like Miyan Taushe, Kuka, and others.

Tuwo Masara

This is made from maize (corn) flour.

Depending on the colour of the corn used to make it, it could be white or yellow.

It’s also common in Northern Nigeria and is accompanied by soup.

Plantain Swallow

Plantain swallow is made with unripe plantain; it’s made from plantain flour or pounded unripe plantain

although it’s from unripe plantain, the appearance and taste are different

This swallow is one of the most popular swallows taken by diabetics because of its high protein content.

Plantain flour swallow is made by drying unripe plantain and milling the dried plantain into flour,

To prepare for consumption, the flour is stirred into boiling water and vigorously mixed to form a stiff, elastic dough without lumps.

The final product is usually a dark brown dough.

On the other hand, pounded unripe plantain swallow is made by boiling unripe plantain and pounding it into a fine, smooth dough.

This is served with any Nigerian soup.

Starch (Usi)

Made from wet cassava starch, starch (Usi) is typically sold caked up like Pap.

It’s white and has a distinct scent.

Its popular among people in the Niger Delta region in Nigeria.

To prepare the swallow, you’ll need a pan, preferably a nonstick pan with a handle, so you can easily manipulate the starch as it’s cooking.

Making starch requires much skill, as does learning to cut and consume it properly. 

Oat Swallow

This is made by milling or blending oats into flour.

The flour is stirred into boiling water and mixed to form a stiff, elastic dough without lumps.

It’s served with any soup.

Kpukpuru

This is another swallow made from cassava. Although it’s not very popular, it’s common in the rural areas of southwest Nigeria.

It can be prepared like garri by pouring boiling water into it and stirring, or prepared like semovita whichever way is preferred.

It has a smooth texture like semovita or fufu.

Potato Swallow

Recently, potatoes, referred to as Irish potatoes in Nigeria, have been processed into flour and used to make swallow, which can be served with any soup.

Potatoes can also be pounded like yam to make pounded potato swallow.

Some recipes also call for sweet potato swallow.

Other Types of swallow

The List can be endless;

Some of the swallows mentioned above can also be mixed together. For example, cassava and corn flour, cassava and plantain, and oat and wheat flour can be mixed together to make swallows.

You can get innovative with yours, whatever your preference is.

Some vegetables have recently been used to make swallows. Examples are:

• Eggplant
• Cauliflower
• Cabbage

Did we miss out on any swallow? Do share in the comment box below.

I hope this article has been helpful.