“Garri has been a lifesaver since the time of our ancestors” is a newly coined African phrase mostly said in Nigeria because garri is produced in large quantities.
It is easily found in the local market and small kiosks on street corners, and it’s also one of the most affordable African dishes.
The average African parent always ensures that garri is part of their children’s daily meal plan because they think that garri makes their kids strong and gives them enough energy.
Does Garrii make us strong and give us enough energy? How many calories does garri contain? Well, then, let’s talk about it.
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Garri: What is it?
Originally a traditional South African dish, garri was introduced to Africa by the Portuguese colonizers during the colonial and enslaved person trade eras.
Garri has become a native African dish eaten in almost all African countries. Garri is pronounced differently by different people owing to their ethnicity.
Some people pronounce it as Galli, Kari, or gari, but whatever the pronunciation, we all know that they are referring to the cassava flakes known as gari. Garri is flour made from the roots of cassava.
Garri varieties
Before we discuss the varieties of garri, let’s discuss the types of cassava that could be used in making garri:
Two types of cassava could be used in making garri. We have sweet cassava and bitter cassava. I’ll explain.
The bitter cassava must be processed more extensively due to the high cyanide concentration (up to 400 mg per kilogram). In contrast, sweet cassava roots can be consumed without risk after peeling and thorough heating because they contain less than 50 mg/kg of hydrogen cyanide.
Now there are varieties of cassava flakes called gari. The combinations are white and yellow garri. In Nigeria and Cameroon, there are several different types of yellow and white garri.
Garri-Ijebu is the name given to one type of white garri. The Yoruba mainly make this in Nigeria’s Ijebu region.
White and yellow garri are the two varieties of garri found in Africa. Palm oil is added to the cassava mash before fermenting to create yellow garri.
Alternatively, it can be made with cassava varieties with yellow flesh. On the other hand, white garri is cooked with palm oil.
Garri preparation methods
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Garri Preparation
Garri is prepared in a variety of methods depending on the purpose for which the consumer intends to take the Garri.
Garri can be soaked for consumption, much like your regular cereal, and made into a thick and sticky form known as eba.
1. Making Garri like cereal:
Making Garri like cereal is the easiest way to make Garri. How do you make it this way? First, get a plate( preferably a bowl plate) or a cup.
Next, take the amount of Garri you would like to consume, but please note that unlike your usual cereals, Garri tends to rise or swell in water, so please take a little portion of Garri if you’re not one that eats a lot.
Add some water and drain the shafts that would float; this will likely happen the first time you put it in water. Next, add your water; this time, add your cold water because you won’t be draining the water.
Some people like to add just salt to their Garri, while others prefer to use sugar, milk, groundnuts, coconut, fried or dried fish, or biscuits.
2. Garri as eba:
This is made in a variety of ways. Some people prefer to cook it in hot boiling water over a stove; some prefer adding it to a bowl of hot water, while some prefer adding it first in a bowl before adding the hot water.
Whatever the format used, the Garri is properly stirred until a soft dough-like sticky dish is formed. Garri as eba is eaten with various soups like Banga soup and Afang soup, amongst others.
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How many calories does Garri contain?
Garri, about 99 percent carbohydrates, contains approximately 360 calories per cup of raw Garri. Garri is not just an energy-giving food; it also contains minerals like copper and vitamins.
Conclusion
Our African mothers may not always be correct, but they are right about Garri giving their kids enough energy for the day.
Being almost wholly made of carbohydrates, garri is energy-giving and helps gain weight. If you ever find yourself out of energy and with little cash, take garri as a cereal to replace the lost energy.
However, please don’t make it a habit to take a garri in cereal form as some of the garri in local markets is not well processed and will affect the sight