HOW TO PREPARE AFRICAN SALAD(with health benefits)

AFRICAN SALAD (ABACHA AND UGBA)

  African Salad, also known as Abacha is one of the most popular Eastern Nigerian meal or snack. It is made with dried shredded cassava and fermented oil bean seeds called ugba.

INGREDIENTS FOR AFRICAN SALAD

   *300g Abacha (dried shredded cassava)
   *100g Ugba(Ukpaka), sliced
   *250ml Palm Oil
   *4 big Garden Eggs(or 2 big Egg plant if you live outside Nigeria)
   *1 tablespoonful finely chopped Garden Egg leaves(You can use thinly sliced utazi leaves or spinach leaves as an alternative)
   *2 tablespoonful ground Crayfish
   *Stock fish
   *Kpomo or Kanda (cow skin) (optional)
   *Fried Fish(preferably Mackerel/Titus Fish)(optional)
   *1 teaspoon ground ehuru(calabash nutmeg) Optional
   *1 teaspoon ground iru /Ogiri. Optional
   *1 level teaspoon Potash (akaun)
   *1 stock cube/stock powder
   *2 small onion bulbs
    *Chili Pepper to taste
   *Salt to taste
    *Water

  PREPARATION METHOD OF AFRICAN SALAD

  ** First wash, Season and cook the kpomo (slice the kpomo into tiny bits) and the stock-fish. Cut the fresh fish into rounds and Fry. Then set all aside

**Dissolve the akaun (potash) in little water and pass through a sieve to remove particles. Set the liquid aside for later use.

**Rinse the Ugba in lukewarm water, drain and set aside.

** Next, place the abacha in a bowl and soak in cold water for about 8 minutes. Put some water to boil, until very hot. Then pour the abacha into a sieve and drain out the water.

**Place the Abacha back into the bowl and pour the boiling water on it, stir a little and quickly, pour the Abacha into the sieve again, and set aside until the water is properly drained.

**Slice one onion bulb into rings, and dice the other onion bulb.

* Pour the palm oil into a clean dry pot, add the potash water and mix until the color begins to turn yellow and the mixture becomes a thick paste.

*Add  the crayfish, pepper, diced onions, ground ehuru(calabash nutmeg), ogiri and stock powder, mix thoroughly
  
* Next, add the ugba(ukpaka),chopped eggplant or garden eggs, the cooked stock-fish and the kpomo. Mix well until all the ingredients are well blended.

*Finally, add the drained Abacha and salt to taste. Mix thoroughly.

*Place on low heat, until warm. Add the sliced garden egg leaves, stir well and transfer to a serving plate.

*Garnish the prepared African salad, with the onion rings and fried fresh fish.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF AFRICAN SALAD 

1.   It fights certain diseases like the type2 diabetes and obesity.

2.   Its fiber content keeps cholesterol and heart disease under control.

3.   It contains sulfur compounds; chromium and vitamin B6 which helps prevent heart disease by lowering high homocysteine level.

4.   It contains vitamin B3 which aids the formation of co-enzymes involved in cellular respiration.

5.   It provides energy the body needs for its daily activities.