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Irú (Yoruba) or Dawadawa (Hausa) or Eware (Edo) or Sumbala (Bambara) or Narghi (Fula) is a type of fermented and processed locust beans (Parkia biglobosa) used as a condiment in cooking. It is similar to ogiri and douchi. It is popular throughout West African cuisine. It is used in cooking traditional soups like egusi soup, okro soup (ILA), Ewedu soup, and ogbono soup.

Iru production

The fabrication process involves boiling, cleaning and then packing away to ferment. This fermentation process gives it a pungent smell. Salt can be added to the finished product to facilitate storage life.

This condiment is traditionally sold in balls or patties that can be kept for several months at a time in the case of the best quality.

Yorubans make two types of Irú:

• Irú Wooro is used mostly in vegetable soups like Efo Riro, Egusi soup, Ofada sauce, Ayamashe, Buka stew, Obe ata, Ila Asepo, etc.
• Irú pẹ̀tẹ̀ is used in making ewedu and egusi soup.

During fermentation, the reducing sugar content increases, and the total free amino acid content initially decreases; in the end, however, there is a large increase in free amino acid content.

Names and variations

Names and variants in several different languages of the region include:

• Manding languages: sunbala, sumbala, sungala, sumara Sumbala (or in French transcription soumbala) is a loan from Manding.
• Hausa: dawadawa, daddawa
• Pulaar/Pular: ojji
• Yoruba: iru
• Serer, Saafi, Wolof: netetou
• Krio: kainda
• Susu: Kenda
• Zarma: doso mari
• Dagbanli: Kpalgu
• Mooré: Colgo
• Konkomba language: tijun, tijon

See also

• List of African dishes

References

1. "Dawadawa: The Magical Food Ingredient". LivingTheAncestralWay. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
2. Petrikova, Ivica; Bhattacharjee, Ranjana; Fraser, Paul D. (Jan 2023). "The 'Nigerian Diet' and Its Evolution: Review of the Existing Literature and Household Survey Data". Foods. 12 (3): 443. doi:10.3390/foods12030443. PMC 9914143. PMID 36765972.
3. Abaelu, Adela M.; Olukoya, Daniel K.; Okochi, Veronica I.; Akinrimisi, Ezekiel O. (1990). "Biochemical changes in fermented melon (egusi) seeds (Citrullis vulgaris)". Journal of Industrial Microbiology. 6 (3): 211–214. doi:10.1007/BF01577698. S2CID 24595120.

v t e Condiments
List of condiments List of common dips List of syrups
Sauces	Agre dulce Agrodolce Aioli Barbecue sauce Bigarade sauce Brown sauce Buffalo sauce Cheese sauce Alfredo sauce Caruso sauce Cheddar sauce Cheez Whiz Fondue Mornay sauce Nacho cheese Chili sauce Chimichurri Cocktail sauce Colo-colo Crema Caruru Dabu-dabu Fish sauce Fritessaus Fry sauce Garum Gastrique Gravy Hot sauce Latik Khrenovina Lechon sauce Marie Rose sauce Mayonnaise Kewpie Kielecki Miracle Whip Mignonette sauce Mild sauce Monkey gland sauce Mumbo sauce Oyster sauce Peanut sauce Pearà Pesto Pistou Remoulade Salsa golf Salsa verde Satsivi Steak sauce Tartar sauce Tatbila Teriyaki sauce Tiparos Tkemali Tomato sauce Vincotto XO sauce Zingara sauce
Dips	Ajika Baba ghanoush Chile con queso Duck sauce Duqqa Garlic chive flower sauce Guacamole Hogao Honey dill Hummus Muhammara Nam chim Nam phrik Nước chấm Skyronnes Sweet chili sauce Toum Tzatziki Zhug
Pickles and preserves	Amba Atchara Cheong Chutney Green mango chutney Curtido Encurtido Fruit preserves Gari Horseradish Ljutenica Pepper jelly Piccalilli Pickled cucumber Pickled fruit Relish Chicago-style relish Sauerkraut Kimchi Sumbala Taba ng talangka Tomato jam Watermelon rind preserves
Spreads and pastes	Ajvar Anchovy paste Bagoong Biber salçası Beurre Maître d'Hôtel Chili paste Chrain Coconut jam Fish paste Gochujang Liver spread Kyopolou Maafe Malidzano Meat extract Bovril Murri Nut butter Palapa Pindjur Roe Caviar Sahawiq Tapai Wasabi Yeast extract Marmite Vegemite Zacuscă
Oils and liquids	Chili oil Halford Leicestershire Table Sauce Mustard oil Olive oil Patis Perilla oil Ponzu Salmoriglio Sesame oil Soy sauce Soup soy sauce Sweet soy sauce Toyomansi Syrup Worcestershire sauce Tonkatsu sauce
Spices and powders	Asín tibuok Chipotle Crushed red pepper Gomashio MSG Nutritional yeast Paprika Popcorn seasoning Salt and pepper Tekka Za'atar
Salads	Carolina style Coleslaw Kachumbari Kachumber Salsa Pico de gallo Salsa criolla
Dressings	Blue cheese dressing French dressing Ginger dressing Green goddess dressing Italian dressing Louis dressing Mayfair salad dressing Ranch dressing Russian dressing Salad cream Tahini Thousand Island Vinaigrette Wafu dressing
Ketchups	Banana ketchup Curry ketchup Fruit ketchup Mushroom ketchup
Mustards	Dijon mustard Honey mustard Karashi Kasundi Mostarda Spicy brown mustard Creole mustard Sweet mustard Tecuci mustard Tewkesbury mustard Turun sinappi Yellow mustard
Vinegars	Apple cider vinegar Balsamic vinegar Balsamic vinegar of Modena Black vinegar Kaong palm vinegar Malt vinegar Nipa palm vinegar
List articles	Accompaniments to french fries Brand name condiments Chutneys Fish pastes Fish sauces Indian condiments Indonesian condiments Japanese condiments Mayonnaises Mustard brands Hot sauces Pakistani condiments Philippine condiments Pickled foods
Accoutrements	Cruet-stand Sachet Salt and pepper shakers Squeeze bottle

• Food

• Fermented foods
• Condiments
• Nigerian cuisine
• Yoruba cuisine
• Umami enhancers