Nigerain Meal; Abacha

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Abacha is a food known mostly to the Eastern people of Nigeria. It is also referred to as African salad locally or cassava noodle internationally. The name african salad originated from the ideology that the meal is made up of most vegetables,and prepared with little heat. Abacha can be eaten as snacks or as a full dish.

This abacha is a byproduct of cassava (shredded cassava) that has been soaked in water then sundried. Recently, this food is no longer reserved for just the igbos, people from other natives have fallen in love with this delicacy to the extent that it is now hawked along our streets to those who can't prepare it.

Well ain't today your lucky day if you are a lover of this dish, I'll be highlighting it's benefits, ingredients and method of preparation.

Ingredients

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There are many ways to which this salad can be prepared, the more ingredients you add, the better the look and taste.

• white abacha
• ugba/ukpaka
• palm oil
• potash/akaun
• seasoning cube
• peper
• salt
• crayfish
• nutmeg
• garden eggs
• garden egg leaf or utazi
• kpomo/cow skin or fried fish

Method of preparation

• soak the white dried abacha in water to soften it.
• grind your potash in little water to dissolve.
• pour your palm oil into a pot of choice, depending on size of dish being prepared.
• pour the potash water into into the oil, then stir till a yellow paste is formed.
  -put in the the seasoning cube with your onions.
• Add your crayfish and pepper, then stir to taste.
• add the ugba/ukpaka with nutmeg into the pot then stir thoroughly.
• if kpomo is being used, it could be put in at this stage.
• finally, add your salt to taste.
  With these done, your abacha is almost ready. what is left is for you to garnish it with the remaining ingredients. The fried fish,garden egg and it's leaf can be used anyhow you so desire.

Benefits of this meal

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The constituents of this meal is sure to be rich in carbohydrates, dietary fibre,protein, oils, minerals and vitamins. Which are all good for our body system.

This meal contains antioxidants and anti inflammatory phytonutrients which are necessary for body growth.

It's consumption helps prevent poor eye sight, because of its vitamins constituent.

Abacha meal contains vit. B3 which aids in co-enzyme formation involved with body's respiratory function.

Cassava as we know is a good source of carbohydrate. This meal helps with the provision of energy.

It's potassium, chromium and sulphur content help reduce the risk of high blood pressure.

If you haven't had a taste of this before, try it today. You won't regret doing so.