Top 10 Most Delicious Igbo Soups In Nigeria

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Igbo-Soups-recipe

The eastern part of Nigeria has always been known for delicacies, with an emphasis on its variety of delicious soups. One unique thing about Igbo soups is the ever presence of vegetables in their soup.

In this article, we will take a look at the top 10 Igbo soups in Nigeria that are enjoyed across all tribes, as well as their ingredients and recipes.

1. Oha Soup

Oha-Igbo-Soup

Oha soup is arguably the most revered Igbo soup to date. Ofe Oha, as it is traditionally called in the Igbo nation, is made from cocoyam (ede) and Oha tree leaves. 

If properly cooked, this soup will have you licking every nook and cranny of your fingers after you’ve finished eating.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Oha Soup

  1. Bigmama Maggi seasoning
  2. Crayfish
  3. Red oil
  4. Pepper
  5. Bigmama goat flavour
  6. Oha leaves
  7. Thickener (cocoyam)
  8. Salt
  9. Onion
  10. Meat

2. Okazi Soup

Okazi-Igbo-Soups

This soup is created using Okazi leaves, Egusi, and “Usu” and is completely nutritious due to the Okazi leaves, which are high in protein and both essential and non-essential amino acids.

Also known as Ofe Owerri, this delectable meal can be served in a variety of ways depending on the state; for example, some choose to prepare the soup with both ugu and okazi leaves, while others prefer to use only okazi leaves. It is one of the most respected Igbo soups in Nigeria.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Okazi Soup

  1. Aachi or ofo powder
  2. Bigmama Maggi
  3. Bitter leaves
  4. Cameron pepper
  5. Chopped uziza or ugu leaves
  6. Dry fish
  7. Ground achi
  8. Grounded crayfish
  9. Meat
  10. Ogiri isi
  11. Salt to taste
  12. Shelled periwinkle (optional)
  13. Sliced okazi (afang leaves)

3. Bitter Leaf Soup

Bitter-Leaf-Igbo-Soups

This is the third best among Igbo soups in Nigeria. It is traditionally called Ofe Onugbo in Igboland. This soup is prepared with bitter leaves. 

Also read: 10 Health Benefits Of Bitter Leaf

Bitter leaf soup is peculiar to the indigenes of Imo State. However, it is enjoyed across the Igbo nation and by Nigerians at large 

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Bitter Leaf Soup

  1. Meat
  2. Bigmama Maggi
  3. 4 cups raw palm nut
  4. Dry fish
  5. Ogiri
  6. Cameron pepper
  7. Grounded crayfish
  8. Ground achi
  9. Bitter leaves
  10. Salt to taste

4. ​​Banga Soup or Palm nut soup

banga-Igbo-Soups

Banga Soup is a popular soup among the Igbo people of Nigeria’s south-eastern and southern regions. It is traditionally called Ofe Akwu.

Banga soup is a traditional Nigerian soup made with palm nut extract or juice and regional spices called Banga spices. 

Also read: Grandma’s Legendary Banga Soup Recipe

It is unique to the Igbo tribe and is typically served with boiled rice or a starchy bolus. Banga stew is also known as Banga soup, Ofe Akwu, or palm nut stew.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Banga Soup

  1. Fresh palm fruits or palm fruits extract
  2. Goat meat
  3. Stockfish
  4. Ice fish
  5. Scent leaf
  6. Locust beans
  7. Onion
  8. Pepper
  9. Crayfish
  10. Bigmama Maggi Cubes
  11. Salt

5. Nsala Soup

Nsala-Igbo-Soups

Speaking of Igbo soups, Ofe Nsala (Nsala Soup) is a wonderful soup famous in Nigeria’s eastern region. It is also known as “white soup” because of its light color, which is due to the lack of palm oil. 

Ofe Nsala is a delectable white soup indigenous to Nigeria’s eastern and riverine regions. Fresh entire catfish are used in this recipe, which gives the soup its distinctive flavor.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Nsala Soup

  1. Chicken
  2. Catfish
  3. Bigmama Maggi
  4. Dry fish
  5. Ogiri
  6. Cameron pepper
  7. Grounded crayfish
  8. Salt to taste

6. Okra Soup 

Okra-Soup 

This is one of the most popular Igbo soups in the east and in Nigeria at large. Okra soup is so delicious and nutritious to eat with semovita, pounded yam, akpu (fufu), and the like.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Okra Soup

  1. Okra
  2. Palm oil
  3. Beef
  4. Meat
  5. Ice Fish
  6. Crayfish
  7. Pepper 
  8. Salt
  9. Onions
  10. Vegetable

7. Ofe Owerri 

Ofe-Owerri-Igbo-Soups

Ofe Owerri is a community symbol for the people of Owerri and their surroundings. They are so proud of this rich and expensive soup that it has inspired songs. 

Preparing Ofe Owerri for your guests is a source of pride because it symbolizes wealth, and you are judged by the quantity and quality of the ingredients used.

Ofe Owerri is a thickened soup made with very finely shredded okazi vegetables that is eaten the same day, so no matter how much you spend, it all goes with that one pot of soup.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Ofe Owerri

  1. ​​Snails
  2. Beef
  3. Stockfish
  4. Dry fish
  5. Cocoyam paste
  6. Palm oil
  7. Fresh pepper)
  8. Crayfish
  9. Bigmama seasoning cubes
  10. salt
  11. Ogiri isi
  12. Okazi
  13. Vegetable

8. Awa soup

Awa-soup

Awa soup is made from the Awa leafy vegetable. It is indigenous to the Nkanu people of Enugu, Igboland. 

I’m curious why the popularity of this soup hasn’t spread beyond the confines of this enclave. Ofe Awa (Awa soup) is delicious, but the vegetable is only available during certain seasons. It is abundant well into the rainy season.

To be honest, Awa soup deserves a special place in the pantheon of Nigerian soups. It’s a special soup made for visiting in-laws.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Awa Soup

  1. Meat
  2. Stockfish
  3. Dry fish
  4. Awa (boiled & squeezed) 
  5. Palm oil
  6. Onions
  7. Egusi
  8. Ogiri
  9. Pepper
  10. Crayfish
  11. Bigmama beef flavour
  12. Salt

9. Ofe Ugba

Ofe-Ugba

Ofe ugba is a specialty of the people of Owerri and Mbaise in Imo State. It is variously known as Ofe ugba, Ugba soup, Ofe Ukpaka, and Okwuru ugba, and is simply okro soup with ugba (Ukpaka, processed oil bean seed), but you don’t just throw ugba into your okro soup and call it Ugba soup; there is a process.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Ofe Ugba

  1. Beef 
  2. Stockfish 
  3. Dry fish
  4. Crayfish
  5. Snail
  6. Cameroun pepper
  7. Bigmama seasoning cubes
  8. Onion
  9. Vegetable
  10. Periwinkle
  11. Palm oil 
  12. Potash
  13. Ugba
  14. Salt 

10. Ofe Ugbogoro

Ofe-Ugbogoro

Ofe Ugbogoro (melon leaf soup) is one of the most delicious Igbo soups. It is one of the most popular one-day Igbo soups that’s super fresh and clean tasting. 

To enjoy Ofe Ugbogoro and take full advantage of the freshness of the vegetables, eat them as soon as it comes off the heat.

Basic Ingredients Used In The Preparation Of Ofe Ugbogoro

  1. Beef 
  2. Stockfish 
  3. Dry fish
  4. Crayfish
  5. Cameroun pepper
  6. Ugbogoro leaf (melon leaf)
  7. Okra
  8. Palm oil
  9. Salt
  10. scotch bonnet (fresh pepper)
  11. Onion
  12. Seasoning cube

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