Our recipe this week is Bitter Leaf Soup popularly known as “Ofe Onugbu” in Eastern Nigeria. Contrary to it’s name, it is a delicious recipe that has its nutritional benefits to our bodies.
Bitter leaf regulates blood sugar levels and repairs impaired pancreas. It acts as an anti oxidant and helps take care of your kidney and liver, it helps regulate cholesterol levels. It also soothe swollen joints and helps eradicate the pain.
Note that people have different recipes for Bitter Leaf Soup. Enjoy this recipe by Afrolems below.
[Download a meal timetable for the family]
Ingredients
- 1 Pound of Beef
- 1/2 pound of Shaki (Beef Tripe)
- 4 medium pieces of cowfoot
- 2 small stockfish pieces
- 1 small dry fish
- 1/2 cup of crayfish
- 7 small chunks of cocoyam (boiled)
- 1.5 cups of washed bitter leaves (chopped)
- 1.5 cooking spoons of palm oil
- 1 teaspoon of Ogiri (fermented oil seeds)
- Seasoning cubes
- 2 pieces of small yellow pepper chopped (habanero)
- 1 tablespoon of crayfish powder
Method
1. Season and boil all your meats and stockfish.
2. Pound the boiled cocoyam till smooth. If you do not have a mortar and pestle, you can use a blender or food processor to help you grind till smooth.
3. Add the dry fish and crayfish pieces to the pot of meats once they have softened and the chopped pepper and allow to boil for another 5minutes.
4. Add the ogiri into the pot at this stage. Please note that the strong smell of the ogiri will eventually minimize and be masked by the other ingredients.
5. Pour in the palm oil and scoop the cocoyam paste in little balls into the pot. Sprinkle the crayfish powder.
6. Add the washed bitter leaf to the pot and allow to simmer for an additional 3-5 minutes. Serve with any swallow of your choice
