Nigerian Amala: Another Alternative to Fufu

 If you love the Nigerian Fufu, you will love Amala. Amala is another popular Nigerian food that’s native to the Yoruba in the western states of Nigeria. It’s eaten the same way as the popular Nigerian Fufu. This popular delicacy is made out of yam flour or cassava flour or even unripe plantain flour. This delicacy is usually readily available in the local restaurants in cities like Lagos and Ibadan.

To prepare them, the yams or plantains are peeled, sliced, dried, and crashed into flour, also known as elubo. Amala typically looks brownish even though raw yams are white and raw plantains are light yellow but changed color after then are dried and ready for grinding to flour.

Types of Amala

Yam flour (Amala Isu) 

This is amala made out of yam and is the most common type of amala. Yam can be consumed in different forms including baked, boiled, roasted fried, but can be dried and then convert into flour for amala isu, a great alternative to the Nigerian Fufu.

Cassava flour (Amala Lafun) 

This is amala derived from cassava and made into flour. Lafun simply means dried cassava flour.

Plantain flour (Amala Ogede)

This is also known as Elubo Ogede made from the low carbohydrate plantain flour. It’s usually preferred by people diagnosed with diabetes.

How to eat Nigerian Amala 

Amala is a swallow you can eat the way you eat Fufu but it’s a bit softer than Fufu. Unlike Fufu which you can make into small balls, dip into soup and swallowed, Amala does not have a texture that allows you to make into balls. Just grab a small “ball,” dip into your favorite Nigerian soup, and swallow. Amala goes perfectly with Bitter leaf or Jute leaf soup, Okra soup, Spinach stew, and Ogbono soup. However, it tastes exceptionally better Ewedu and Okra soups. 

Popular Nigerian soups that go great with amala

Okra Soup

Nigerian Okro soup is made from okra vegetables, and it’s rich in proteins and healthy fat. The soup can be prepared with a mixture of palm oil, shrimps, goat meat, fish and African spices, and simmered to perfection. The rich Soup is famous in Nigeria and also in a host of other West African countries like Ghana, and Cameroon. Okra soup is delicious and nutritious that will make want more Amala because the draw texture makes you Amala easy to swallow.

Ewedu Soup

Ewedu leaf is a green vegetable used for preparing a Ewedu soup. The soup is a versatile vegetable soup eaten you can eat as a side dish with various other Nigerian cuisines. Ewedu soup will make your swallowed Amala run very smoothly—making you wanting more.

Ogbono Soup

This soup is also great for Amala. It is prepared from the bush mango seed—a wild variant of mango, with a combination of red palm oil, onions, stock, seasoning cubes, leafy vegetables such as spinach, pumpkin leaves, or bitter leaf, and assorted meat and fish such as beef, tripe, shrimp, and crayfish.

Egusi Soup

Egusi soup, the most globally popular Nigerian soup in 2021, is made from melons, commonly found in West Africa. The seeds are dried and ground before making into delicious soup. These seeds are rich in fat and protein, and add these essential nutrients into West African Cuisine. Nigerian Egusi soup is thickened with the ground melon seeds along with leafy vegetables of choice and will make eating Amala the best Nigerian meal you even had.

Bitter Leaf

Bitter Leaf is a very healthful Nigerian soup. It is a famous Nigerian traditional soup. This soup dish is primarily native to the Eastern Nigeria but it’s available at every Nigerian restaurant. “Bitter” leaf will not taste bitter when cooked the right way.

Finally

Amala is one of the best alternatives to fufu and one of the best African foods you can find in Nigeria. Try it with one of the fufu soups for a great experience. 

So stop by Keobi if you live in or near Albany, New York or order online your Nigerian Amala swallow. If you’re visiting the Capital District, make #keobirestaurant your one stop destination for all your food needs. Look for us on the lively and historic Lark Street in Albany. We are becoming one of the topmost ethnic restaurants in Upstate NY and we are sure you’d find a variety of menu items that’d make your stay worthwhile.