Iru (dawadawa, fermented locust beans)

ìrú (Yoruba) / dawadawa (Hausa) · fermented locust beans

Flavor and role

A West African seasoning of fermented African locust beans, pungent with deep savory flavor. A small amount goes into soups and stews.

Typical dishes and uses

Egusi soup, ewedu soup, ogbono soup, West African stews

Substitutes

1 tsp iru = 1 tsp doenjang or 1 tsp chopped douchi. Failing that, boost savoriness with a chicken stock cube.

Storage

Dried iru keeps 6 months sealed at room temperature; moist iru keeps 6 months frozen.

Main countries

Nigeria · Ghana · Senegal

Used in this book

Egusi SoupSeared Beef and Smoked Fish Egusi with Scent LeafRestaurant-Style Thieboudienne with Fish Stock and Nététou

Updated 2026-10-10