What it is
A steamed pudding made from ground bambara nut flour mixed with palm oil, pepper and water, then tied in leaves or poured into containers and steamed until firm. It sets bright orange from the palm oil and is denser than moi moi.
Key ingredients
- Bambara nut (okpa) flour
- Palm oil
- Ground pepper
- Onions
- Salt
- Water
- Banana or plantain leaves
A list of what goes in, not a recipe. Quantities and method vary by household.
How it is eaten
Unwrapped from its leaf and eaten hot by hand, on its own or with pap, bread or a cold drink.
Cultural significance
Okpa is Igbo and above all a food of Enugu and the Nsukka area, where it is the classic breakfast bought hot from sellers in the morning and where its association with the city is strong enough to be a local joke about identity. Bambara nuts are grown in the Middle Belt and north, where the same crop is known as gurjiya.
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