Ugba (Fermented Oil Bean)
Ugba is fermented oil-bean seed, commonly sliced and used in savory West African dishes.

About Ugba (Fermented Oil Bean)
Ugba is fermented oil-bean seed, prepared as a distinct food rather than an unprocessed bean. The seeds are typically sliced into thin strips after processing and used in savory West African dishes, including salads, soups, stews, and preparations combined with meat or fish.
The sliced seed has a savory fermented aroma and pronounced flavor, with a tender to slightly chewy texture. Fermentation can produce a slippery surface. Freshly prepared and packaged forms may differ in moisture, softness, acidity, and fermentation intensity.
Ugba is commonly sold or prepared as pale to brown sliced strips. It may be incorporated directly after fermentation or mixed with seasonings and other ingredients. Processing leaves the seed sliced and tender; storage or packaging can alter moisture, softness, acidity, and the intensity of its fermented character.
- Ingredient type
- derived ingredient
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Salads
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 ugba (fermented oil bean)
Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.
ugba
ukpaka
Ugba (Fermented Oil Bean)
ugba
Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.
Name not available yet.
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Ugba (Fermented Oil Bean) nutrition & diet
Ugba (Fermented Oil Bean) nutritional value
Representative benchmark: Lentils, dried
Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.
- Calories
- 346.7kcal
- Protein
- 26.2g
- Carbs
- 59.2g
- Fat
- 2.5g
Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.
Portions & preparation
Establish the oil-bean species, fermented seed preparation, and edible sliced portion before comparison. Record whether it is fresh, dried, packaged, salted, boiled, or incorporated into a dish, because fermentation, soaking, cooking, and added oil change the form served.
Compare the right form: Identify the oil-bean species and match fermented seed slices in the specified fresh, dried, cooked, or packaged form; recipe matters.
Diet considerations
Ugba is plant-derived when it is solely fermented oil-bean seed, but identity and preparation should be confirmed. Compatibility changes with palm oil, fish, meat, stock, chili, sauces, or cereal ingredients in the finished dish. Fermented and packaged products require brand or recipe details rather than assumptions.
AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.
Dietary compatibility
- VeganNot established
- VegetarianNot established
- PescatarianNot established
- KetoNot established
- PaleoNot established
- Low-carbNot established
- HalalNot established
- KosherNot 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.
AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.
Sources & review
Nutrition reference: Danish Food Composition Database, Frida 5.5 (2025) — 681 ↗. 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: .