What Is Iru And What Is It Used For?

Yes, IRU is called Locust beans (the english name) and its used as a traditional spice to add flavour to foods. Usually, they are sold in leaves and salted for preservation. The best ones are from the village where they are free from sand and are fresh.

They are ground with pepper for vegetable soups but some leave them like that without grinding them. They are also ground with onions and pepper with smoked fish and fried as stew for white rice which is simply delicious.

Not only do they add taste to the foods, they are good for the eyesight as well.

I think it's called UGBA in igbo.

@ GRAgirl

[quote(second question.,. is there anywhere i can buy snails for cheaply in London?)]
Deptford or Peckham

Iru is great, always love it in those days and i look for it everywhere in the soup,

I have seen some hausa women and Tivi making dawadawa using Soya Beans.
I think Iru can be made from soya beans too (because i watch the process they used back then, leaving the soya bean to be fermented).

The IRU is seeding (the yoruba way, while the Tiv will blend it in groundstone and use their hand to mold it flat or round)

The smell is funny but the taste is great.

I have a friend who instead of using maggi, used Iru instead. Heard before the advent of maggi, that's what they use. I don't know but
it taste great in Ogbono, okra soup or Efo soup.

I love IRU anyday.