Wrapping your Okpa: the Enugu delicacy.

Wrapping your okpa after mixing can be a huge task especially if you are trying it for the first time. You can find out how to make the okpa here before worrying about wrapping it.

Okpa wrap can be banana/plantain leave, transparent nylon bag(waterproof) or the metal/rubber container. Anyone you decide to use or whichever is available to you, the taste is relatively same as long as it is mixed well. The wrapping techniques are gotten from All Nigerian Recipe.

Click on the links to view images.

• How to wrap Okpa with banana leaves (Method common in Enugu State, Nigeria)
  • Place 2 sheets of banana leaves on a flat surface.
• Fold one end to meet the other (vertically). 
• Roll up the open end like a mat till you have enough fold to prevent a leakage.
  • Gather one end together and tie it up securely with the string.
  • Stir and pour the mix into the bag.
  • Tie up the other end and it is ready to go into the pot of boiling water.
  • Roll up the open end like a mat till you have enough fold to prevent a leakage.
  • Gather one end together and tie it up securely with the string.
  • Stir and pour the mix into the bag.
  • Tie up the other end and it is ready to go into the pot of boiling water.

How to wrap Okpa with banana leaves (method common in Anambra State, Nigeria)

1. Place 2 sheets of banana leaves on a flat surface.
2. Fold it into 2 (horizontally). 
3. Roll up one the open end like a mat till you have enough fold to prevent a leakage.
   Pick it up and place the pointed end in the cup of your palm.
   Stir and pour the mix into the bag.
   Fold the other end like a mat and gather the only open endtogether and tie it up securely with the string.
   And it is ready to go into the pot of boiling water.

How to wrap Okpa with plastic bags (if you do not have banana leaves) 
You can simply scoop the okpa mix into plastic bags, tie it up and place in the pot of boiling water but this is how to get the classic Okpa shape when using plastic bags.

1. Double the plastic bags and tie the end with a string.
2. Stir and scoop the mix into the bag. 
3. Tie it about half way up the bag.
   Stir and scoop the mix into the second half of the bag.
   Tie again and it is ready to go into the pot of boiling water.

Hopefully with these steps you will be able to join our fellow foodies in Enugu to share in the goodness of Okpa.