Asa iwa (fermented cassava paste)

Asa iwa (fermented cassava paste)

Main dishes

A traditional Nigerian dish: fermented cassava, mashed, wrapped in leaves, and steamed.

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Asa iwa is a traditional dish from the Efik and Ibibio people in southeastern Nigeria. The cassava is first fermented for one to two days, then the paste is salted, wrapped in leaves, and steamed. The entire process takes approximately 2 hours, spread over two days.

Ingredients and directions

  • Prep time2 hr
  • Cook time1 hr
  • Resting48 hr
  • Total51 hr
  • DifficultyHard
  • Cooking methodsteam

Ingredients

6 people
  • $7.64
  • $0.04

Directions

Fermentation

  1. Peel the cassava and wash it thoroughly. ≈ 8 min
  2. Cut it into medium-sized pieces and place them in a large, clean container. ≈ 8 min
  3. Completely cover them with water, place a lid without sealing it, and let them sit at room temperature for 1 to 2 days. ≈ 3 min
  4. Check daily: cassava is fermenting when it’s soft and gives off a slight sour smell. ≈ 3 min
  5. Remove it from the water and rinse it quickly. ≈ 2 min
  6. Grind or pulse it into a smooth paste, then sift it if you want to remove any fibers. ≈ 2 min

The preparation

  1. Press the dough to remove excess water. ≈ 3 min
  2. Add a pinch of salt and mix well. ≈ 4 min
  3. To soften the leaves, quickly pass them over a flame or in hot water. ≈ 3 min
  4. Place a portion of dough on each sheet and seal tightly. ≈ 3 min
  5. Place the packages in a steamer.
  6. Pour the water under the griddle and cook for 45 to 60 minutes, until the dough is firm.
  7. Take the packages out and let them sit for a few minutes before serving.

Before you start

Ingredients

  • 2 kg of cassava
  • sufficient water
  • 1 teaspoon of salt, or to taste
  • 12 large, fresh leaves for wrapping (plantain or banana leaves)

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