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Dawadawa

Fermented locust bean seasoning used across the Sahel.

Dawadawa — illustrative ingredient image

About Dawadawa

Dawadawa is a fermented locust bean seasoning used in cooking across the Sahel and parts of West Africa. It is added to soups, stews, sauces, and grain or vegetable dishes for savoury depth, often in small amounts. The name covers traditional fermented bean products rather than one universally standardized preparation.

Its flavour is deeply savoury, earthy, fermented, and sometimes pleasantly pungent. Saltiness, intensity, and texture vary with the bean, fermentation time, drying, and local technique. A firm product can be grated or crumbled into food, while a softer one may dissolve more readily during cooking.

Dawadawa may be sold as compact cakes, balls, blocks, loose pieces, paste, or powder. The beans are fermented and then shaped, dried, or ground according to the preparation. Crumbling or dissolving distributes its seasoning, while adding larger pieces preserves more of its characteristic texture and aroma.

Ingredient type
compound ingredient

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Where dawadawa appears

1 linked foods

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Soups

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for dawadawa

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Dawadawa

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Dawadawa nutrition & diet

Dawadawa nutritional value

African locust bean, fermented (soumbala) — WAFCT 03_042

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the named food form.

Calories
375kcal
Protein
33.1g
Carbs
18.4g
Fat
15.6g

Per 100 g edible portion. Source: Vincent et al., FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019). Carbohydrate is available carbohydrate calculated by difference; square-bracketed fat in the source uses continuous-extraction analysis. Values describe this reference form, not every recipe, cultivar or preparation.

Portions & preparation

Establish which dawadawa product is intended before selecting a reference: fermented locust bean seed, pressed cake, dried granules, powder, or a prepared seasoning. Regional names and processing can differ. Record the edible amount added after any soaking or dilution, and identify salt, spices, oils, or other blend components.

Compare the right form: Match the reference to confirmed fermented locust bean form—seed, cake, granules, powder, or paste—and to the specific brand or recipe.

Diet considerations

Dawadawa is generally plant-derived when it is fermented locust bean, but the identity and formulation should be confirmed because regional products and blends vary. Prepared versions may include salt, spices, oil, fish, meat, or cereal ingredients. Compatibility therefore depends on the exact product and dish.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019) — 03_042 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .