African Salad (Abacha Ncha and Ugba/Ukpaka)

African Salad, Abacha ncha with ukpaka Ugba (African Salad)
Abacha with Ugba and garnishes(African Salad)

Abacha Ncha and Ugba/Ukpaka (African Salad)

African Salad, also known as Abacha Ncha is one of the most popular eastern Nigeria side dishes.

It is made with dried shredded cassava(Abacha) and fermented  oil bean seeds(Ugba or Ukpaka).

One thing I love about this meal, apart from it’s yummy taste, is that you can add a variety of tasty garnishes, to suit your palate.

Here’s how to prepare it.

ingredients for African Salad, Abacha ncha and Ugba ukpaka (African Salad)

Ingredients for Abacha Ncha (African Salad)

  • 300g Abacha (dried shredded cassava)
  • 100g Ugba(Ukpaka), sliced
  • 200ml Palm Oil
  • 2 tablespoonful ground Crayfish
  • 1 teaspoon ground Ehuru(calabash nutmeg)(optional)
  • 1 teaspoon ground Iru /Ogiri(fermented locust bean seeds) (optional)
  • 1 level teaspoon ground Potash(akaun)
  • 1 Stock cube/ powder(seasoning cube)
  • 1 large or 2 small Onion bulbs
  • Chili Pepper/ any hot pepper (to taste)
  • Salt to taste Garnishes/Accompaniments
  • Large dry prawns
  • 4 big Garden eggs(or 2 large Egg plants 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)
  • Boiled Dried fish or Stockfish
  • Kpomo or Kanda (cow skin)
  • Fried Fish(preferably Mackerel/Titus Fish)
  • Onion slices
    –Choose any or combine garnishes to your preference–


                                               Click to play video
     
    –recipe was updated with new pics on June 2016 —

Directions
a. First wash, season and cook the kpomo(slice the kpomo into tiny bits).

b. Soak the dry prawns in hot water to soften them a bit and strain.

c.  If you haven,t done this yet, also cut the fresh fish and fry.
Also shred the boiled dried fish / stock fish.
Then set all aside for later use.

d. Dissolve the ground akaun (potash) in about 3-4 tablespoonful of water and pass through a sieve to remove particles. Set the liquid aside for later use.
e. Rinse the Ugba in lukewarm water, strain and set aside.

f. Place the dry abacha in a bowl and soak in cold water for about 8 minutes until it goes from pure white color to kind of translucent .
Another method is to pour hot boiling water over the dry abacha, stir well and leave to soak for 1-2 minutes.
Then pour the abacha into a sieve and let the water strain .

g. Slice one onion bulb into rings, and dice or pound the other onion bulb.

Now for the preparation ….

1. Pour the palm oil into a clean dry pot , add the potash liquid and mix until the color begins to chage from orange to yellow and the mixture becomes a thick paste.

2. Add  the crayfish, pepper, diced/pounded onions, the ground ehuru(calabash nutmeg), ogiri and stock bube, mix thoroughly until well combined.

3. Now, place the pot on low heat, add the strained abacha and adjust for salt if neccessary. Mix well and put off the heat as soon as the abacha is warmed up.
Tip: don’t leave the abacha for too long on heat, or you’ll end up with ”Abacha pottage” 🙂

African Salad, Abacha ncha and Ugba ukpaka (African Salad)

You can choose to serve  the meal as it is, along with the accompaniments, but if you choose to go further and mix it all in one pot.

4. Then, add the ugba(ukpaka),chopped garden eggs, the cooked dried/stock fish(if using), softened large prawns, and the kpomo. Mix well until all the ingredients are well blended .

5. Finally, add the sliced leaves, stir well and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish the prepared Abacha ncha (African salad), with the onion rings and fried fish…Enjoy!

Abacha Ncha (African salad) is usually served with Palm wine, which is a local Nigerian drink, but you can also enjoy it with any chilled drink of choice.

African Salad, Abacha and Ugba (African Salad)
Dry Abacha
African Salad, Abacha and Ugba (African Salad)
Ugba (Ukpaka)
African Salad, Abacha and Ugba (African Salad)
Garden eggs
African Salad, Abacha and Ugba (African Salad)
Mixed Abacha in a Mortar

African Salad ,Abacha and Ugba, Nigerian african salad

African Salad, Abacha with Ugba (African Salad)
Abacha ncha with Ugba and garnishes(African Salad)

 Abacha ncha with Ugba ukpaka (African Salad)


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Crunchy Plantain Chips

by Nky Lily Lete

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15 Comments

  1. Essy Normal
    May 17, 2020 / 6:37 pm

    Thank you ma, I have learned a lot from you

  2. August 8, 2019 / 5:51 am

    it has been long i ate this dish, after reading this epistle, i now feel like eating it abacha african salad, am going straight to my mum to order for this dish nice writeup…

  3. Halima Yazid
    December 5, 2016 / 6:56 pm

    hey I want to try dis abacha a friend of mine brought it for me but I don't have ugba can I go ahead and make it like dat or should I look for it.can I make myself if yes please how. Tnxs

  4. Abasi uba
    June 4, 2016 / 3:19 pm

    Looks really good.

    • Nky Lily Lete
      June 11, 2016 / 4:35 pm

      thanks Abasi 🙂

  5. Esther Ekwenna
    February 1, 2016 / 4:18 pm

    Love this recipe anyday anytime.

    • Nky Lily Lete
      June 4, 2016 / 1:22 pm

      🙂

  6. lilian
    April 17, 2015 / 9:57 pm

    I noticed mine tasted much better than d ones had eaten. Was it cos I cooked the garden egg. Was told not to cook it next

    • Nky Lily Lete
      April 22, 2015 / 10:35 am

      I'm glad you enjoyed it 🙂

  7. Baskin
    August 23, 2014 / 10:25 am

    Omg, this is one of my fav meal.im yoruba but I'm obsessed wit d's meal. Thanks for sharing this recepie on your blog.I'm definitely trying yamarita today

    • Nky Lily Lete
      September 3, 2014 / 2:53 pm

      I'm so glad to be of help dearie, let me know how it turns out 🙂

  8. p-flav
    July 16, 2014 / 8:32 am

    Looks yummy! Will try this today! So everything is mixed first before placing over heat? Intestering.

    • Nky Lily Lete
      June 11, 2016 / 4:32 pm

      The spices are mixed first