Ekwang (or Ekpang Nkwukwo): The Divine Dish From Home
Originating from the Efik and Ibibio people of Nigeria and loved in many parts of Cameroon, Ekwang is a rich, slow-cooked dish made with grated cocoyams, wrapped in tender cocoyam leaves. At its heart are smoked and dried fish, meat, palm oil, and a deep umami flavour. Let's dive in-depth on this with a recipe that fits our living situations in india.
flora's
7/22/20252 min read
Ekwang, or Ekpang Nkukwo, is a traditional Cameroonian and Nigerian dish made with grated cocoyams wrapped in cocoyam leaves and cooked with various meats, fish, crayfish, and spices. It is a popular dish among the Bakweri, Bafaw, Oroko, and people from Cross River and Akwa Ibom States.
The history of Ekpang Nkukwo(Ekwang) dates back to the ancient times of the Efik( Nigeria) and the Bakweris( Cameroon) where it served as a main dish during special occasions and ceremonies. The dish was highly revered and was often served to guests as a sign of hospitality.
If you're wondering how this is possible, well, it is no news that Nigeria and Cameroon are neighbours and share cultural heritage, and trade and migration have also played a huge role in this
I grew up in a big house. and weven witgh that many people, this dish still took a lot of effort and time to make. but t the two amazing things about it is how it bonded us all, we would all gather round in the backyard and clean, grate and wrap tjhe cocoyams while cracking jokes and bonding. no one was excluded from this rituall.
this isnt an everyday dish. it requires time and a lot of effort but it is so worth it.
The transition to India hasn't been the smoothest. In all of my days here, I have had this about 6 times in total because it first of all takes a lot of time, and secondly, the ingredients are available-but-rarely together st thesame time.
SO THEN, HOW DO YOU DO IT??? You ask.
I substitute- sometimes you find cocoyams, and you don't find the leaves. Sometimes you find the leaves but not the cocoyams.
This time was special, though, because i had