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Cookbook:Iru

Iru
CategoryCondiments

Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Equipment | Techniques | Cookbook Disambiguation Pages | Ingredients

Iru—also called daddawa/dawadawa, netetou or sumbala[1][2][3][4]—is a traditional fermented seasoning made from African locust beans.[1][4]

Production

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To make iru, the harvested seeds must be boiled and pounded to remove the husks.[3][4] They are then placed inside a calabash gourd, wrapped in leaves, and allowed to ferment for a couple days.[3] Finally, salt is added as a preservative,[2][3] and the iru is shaped and dried.[2]

Characteristics

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The fermentation process gives iru a strong, sometimes pungent aroma and deep flavor.[1][2][5] Some describe it as akin to fish sauce or cheese due to its strong savory character.[1][2]

Iru comes in a couple different forms:

  • Loose (iru woro): fermented beans dried loose[3]
  • Balls: rolled into a ball[4]
  • Discs: shaped flat and sometimes smoked[3]
  • Cakes (iru pete): beans mashed into cakes[3]
  • Ground: powdered with no whole seeds visible[3]

Selection and storage

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Dried iru can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container.[6] To prolong shelf life, you can store it in an airtight container in the freezer.[1]

Use

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Iru is commonly used in Nigerian and other West African cuisines to add a rich, savory, umami flavor to soups, stews, and sauces.[1][2][3][5]

Substitution

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If you cannot get your hands on iru, try a similar fermented oilseed product like ogiri or ugba. Some Nigerian cooks use dehydrated stock as a way to add savory flavor, but it cannot properly replicate iru.[7]

Recipes

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References

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  1. ↑ a b c d e f "Iru". www.executivemamaput.com. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f Akerele, Tola (2022-03-03). "West Africa's Best-Kept Secret". Saveur. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i "HOW IRU (FERMENTED LOCUST BEANS) IS MADE". My Sasun. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  4. ↑ a b c d "Dawadawa: The Magical Food Ingredient". LivingTheAncestralWay. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  5. ↑ a b "Insight into the Beneficial Use of Iru An African Condiment from Parkia Biglobosa". International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS). Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  6. ↑ for #OunjeAladun, Omolabake (2021-04-23). "Iru (Fermented Locust Beans). How it is made". Ounje Aladun. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
  7. ↑ Osman-Krinsky, Maya (2020-08-25). "Nigeria's disappearing condiments have resurfaced". Food Tank. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
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