Nigeria · Nigeria

Ofe Onugbu (Nigerian Bitter Leaf Soup)

Name: Ofe Onugbu (Nigerian Bitter Leaf Soup)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 110 min
Total time: 130 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Nigeria
Ingredients: bitter leaf 200 g; beef, cubed 400 g; tripe, cleaned 200 g; dried stockfish 50 g; ground egusi (melon seeds) 100 g; ground crayfish 30 g; onion, chopped 100 g; palm oil 80 ml; chili pepper 2 pieces; fine salt 8 g; ogiri (fermented seed) 15 g; water 1.5 l

A rich soup of bitter leaf simmered with assorted meats, egusi and stockfish.

130 minutes · 6 servings · Moderate

Ofe onugbu is the Igbo bitter leaf soup, and the bitterness is entirely intentional — it is balanced by palm oil, meat stock and the egusi or ogbono added to thicken it. Sliced offal and dried fish are standard, so the pot is a place where nothing is wasted. Green egusi leaves or spinach can be folded in for body, and the flavour usually deepens if cooked in advance.

Ingredients

bitter leaf200 g
beef, cubed400 g
tripe, cleaned200 g
dried stockfish50 g
ground egusi (melon seeds)100 g
ground crayfish30 g
onion, chopped100 g
palm oil80 ml
chili pepper2 pieces
fine salt8 g
ogiri (fermented seed)15 g
water1.5 l

Directions

1
Simmer beef, tripe and stockfish 60 minutes.
2
Stir in palm oil, egusi and crayfish; cook 15 minutes.
3
Add bitter leaf, onion, pepper, ogiri and salt; simmer 10 minutes.
4
Adjust seasoning; rest 5 minutes before serving.

Source: WorldBite Editorial · WorldBite Proprietary Editorial Content