Àmàlà: A Yoruba Staple with Community at Its Core

Àmàlà is one of the cornerstones of Yoruba cuisine in Southwestern Nigeria — a staple food that carries both nourishment and memory. Classified as a “swallow”—a category of soft, dough-like starches eaten by hand with soups and stews—àmàlà is less a single dish than a shared experience. Diners pinch off portions, roll them gently between fingers, and dip them into richly seasoned broths, each bite a blend of starch and flavour that sustains both body and community.