5 Nigerian Soups That Draw
Published by Efe on 9th May 2022
There's nothing like a hot, delicious bowl of soup to make you feel better on a cold day, and Nigerian soups are some of the best in the world! These soups are packed with flavour and nutrients, and they all have unique health benefits. In this blog post, we will discuss five popular Nigerian soups that draw --- thick and slimy --- and their health benefits. We will also provide instructions on how to prepare them so that you can enjoy them at home! Get your ingredients for these soups here.
Soup is a popular dish in Nigeria, and different types are enjoyed by people of all ages. Nigerian soups are typically made with a variety of vegetables, meats, vegetables, and spices, and they can be either thick or thin. Some soups are even slimy, or as it is called in Nigeria, draw. Since they are packed with so many ingredients, they are known to have so many nutrients, covering almost, if not all the classes of food.
Some of the draw soups we will be discussing in this blog post are Ogbono soup, Ewedu soup, Okra soup, Dried Okro soup, and Dried Baobao Leaves soup.
Ogbono soup
Ogbono soup is the most popular out of all the Nigerian draw soups. It originated from the western parts of Nigeria, but it is now enjoyed by people all over the country. The soup gets its name from the main ingredient, which is Ogbono seeds. These seeds are also known as African mangoes or bush mangoes, and they are very nutritious.
They are a good source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals, and they have been shown to improve digestion and help with weight loss. The soup is thick and slimy, and it is usually served with any swallow. Ogbono soup is a very nutritious soup, as it is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is also said to be good for the skin and hair.
How to make Ogbono soup
Ingredients
To prepare Ogbono soup, you will need:
- Knorr chicken cubes
- Onions
- Fresh pepper
- Crayfish
- Smoked fish
- Stockfish (optional)
- Locust beans (iru)
- Pomo
-Red palm oil
-Beef, goat meat, or chicken (optional)
-Vegetables (optional)
-Salt to taste
Instructions:
Before boiling the beef, goat meat, or chicken, soak the Ogbono seeds in water for about 30 minutes to soften them. Blend the softened Ogbono seeds with a little water to form a paste. You can get your already ground Ogbono seeds here, so you just mix in little water to get your paste. Once the beef, goat meat, or chicken is cooked, set a pot on medium heat and add the blended Ogbono seeds, crayfish, locust beans, smoked fish, Knorr cubes, and onions. Stir until the mixture begins to thicken. Add the palm oil and continue to stir. After about 15 minutes, add the beef, goat meat, or chicken and any vegetables you like. Allow the soup to cook for another 20 minutes or until the meat soaks in its juices. Check for salt and add if need be. Serve with any swallow of your choice.
An alternative way to cook it
The bitter leaf way
Wash your bitter leaf thoroughly and put it aside; you may want to make it a little, so the bitter taste from the bitter leaf does not overshadow the main taste of the soup. Follow the above recipe step by step, but at the point, before you check for salt, add the washed bitter leaf and let it simmer a bit, then check for salt. Serve with any swallow of your choice.
Ewedu soup
Ewedu soup is another popular Nigerian soup that is made with Ewedu leaves.
This soup originated from the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria, but it is now enjoyed by people all over the country. The leaves are boiled and then blended into a smooth paste. It is viscous and slimy. It has many health benefits. It is said to be good for the skin, hair, and nails. The leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals, and they have been shown to improve vision, boost immunity, and help with weight loss.
Ewedu soup is usually served with Amala (a type of Yam flour), Gbegiri (a bean soup), and Stew. It can also be served with Rice, Pounded yam, or any other swallow of your choice.
How to make Ewedu soup
Ingredients:
To prepare Ewedu soup, you will need:
-Locust beans (iru)
-Salt
-Water
Instructions:
Boil the Ewedu leaves until they are soft enough to blend. Blend the leaves into a smooth paste, or get your already blended and frozen ewedu from here. Add the blended leaves to a pot of boiling water. Allow the soup to cook for about 15 minutes or until it thickens. Add the locust beans and check for salt; add if the need arises. Serve with Stew, Gbegiri, or both, alongside fufu, amala, eba, or any other swallow of your choice. Enjoy!
Okra soup
Okra soup is another popular Nigerian soup that is made with Okra (ladies' fingers). This soup is enjoyed by people all over the country but originated from the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. The soup is thick and slimy, and it is usually served with any swallow. Okra soup is a very nutritious soup as it is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is said to be good for fertility and also good for the skin.
How to make Okra soup
Ingredients:
To prepare Okra soup, you will need:
-Okra (ladies' fingers)
-Beef, goat meat, or chicken (optional)
-Onions
-Fresh pepper
-Crayfish
-Smoked fish
-Stockfish (optional)
-Knorr cubes
-Palm oil or groundnut oil
-Locust beans (iru)
-Pomo
-Salt
Instructions:
Cut the okra into small pieces and set them aside, or get your already ground okra here. If using beef, goat meat, or chicken, cook until tender and set aside. In a pot on medium heat, add the palm oil or groundnut oil and allow it to heat up. Add the onions and fresh pepper and fry until the onions are translucent. Add the beef, goat meat, or chicken, and stir. Add the Knorr cubes, smoked fish, stockfish, and crayfish. Stir and allow the mixture to cook for about 15 minutes. Add the okra pieces and cook for another 15 minutes or until the soup thickens. Add salt to taste. Serve with any swallow of your choice. Enjoy!
Alternative ways to cook it
The vegetable way
Wash your vegetables and put them aside. Follow the above recipe step by step, but at the point, before you check for salt, add the washed vegetables and let it simmer a bit, then check for salt. Serve with any swallow of your choice.
The plain way
The above recipe requires oil, but this does not because it is cooked plain and then stew is added alongside at the point it is being served. To prepare Okra soup this way, you will need:
-Okra
-Locust beans (iru)
-Salt
-Smoked fish
-Water
Instructions:
Slice the okra and put it aside. Add the sliced okra to a pot of boiling water. Allow the soup to cook for about 15 minutes or until it thickens. Add the locust beans and the smoked fish, and add salt. Serve with Stew alongside fufu, amala, eba, or any other swallow of your choice. Enjoy!
Dried Okra Soup
Dried Okra Soup is a variation of the popular Nigerian soup that is made with dried okra. This soup is enjoyed by people all over the country but originated from the Hausa people in northern Nigeria. The soup is thick and slimy, and it is usually served with any swallow. Dried Okra soup is a very nutritious soup as it is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is said to be good for fertility and also good for the skin.
How to make Dried Okra Soup
Ingredients:
To prepare Dried Okra Soup, you will need:
-Dried okra
-Beef, goat meat, or chicken (optional)
-Onions
-Fresh pepper
-Crayfish
-Smoked fish
-Stockfish (optional)
-Knorr cubes
-Palm oil or groundnut oil
-Locust beans (iru)
-Pomo
-Salt
Instructions:
Soak the okra in water overnight. If using beef, goat meat, or chicken, cook until tender and set aside. In a pot on medium heat, add the palm oil or groundnut oil and allow it to heat up. Add the onions and fresh pepper and fry until the onions are translucent. Add the beef, goat meat, or chicken, and stir. Add the Knorr cubes, smoked fish, stockfish, and crayfish. Stir and allow the mixture to cook for about 15 minutes. Add the okra pieces and cook for another 15 minutes or until the soup thickens. Add salt to taste. Serve with any swallow of your choice. Enjoy!
Dried Baobab Leaves soup
Dried Baobab Leaves soup is a variation of the popular Nigerian soup that is made with dried baobab leaves. This soup is enjoyed by people all over the country but originated from the Hausa and the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria. The soup is thick and slimy, and it is usually served with tuwo (rice flour) mostly but can also be eaten with any other swallow. Dried Baobab Leaves soup is a very nutritious soup as it is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals. It is said to be good for fertility and also good for the skin.
How to make Dried Baobab Leaves Soup
Ingredients:
To prepare Dried Baobab Leaves Soup, you will need:
-Dried baobab leaves
-Beef, goat meat, or chicken (optional)
-Onions
-Fresh pepper
-Crayfish
-Smoked fish
-Stockfish (optional)
-Knorr cubes
-Palm oil or groundnut oil
-Locust beans (iru)
-Pomo
-Salt
Instructions:
Soak the baobab leaves in water overnight and then blend. If using beef, goat meat, or chicken, cook until tender and set aside. In a pot on medium heat, add the palm oil or groundnut oil and allow it to heat up. Add the onions and fresh pepper and fry until the onions are translucent. Add the beef, goat meat, or chicken, and stir. Add the Knorr cubes, smoked fish, stockfish, and crayfish. Stir and allow the mixture to cook for about 15 minutes. Add the blended baobab leaves and cook for another 15 minutes or until the soup thickens. Add salt to taste. Serve with any swallow of your choice. Enjoy!
Are there more ways to cook these soups?
Yes! The thing about Nigerian soups is that you can tweak their recipes anyhow you want. however, for the draw soups, you would have to be careful when tweaking the recipes, because the draw soups are not just delightful because of how they taste, but their thickness and sliminess add to the delight, making the whole experience of eating them more enjoyable.
Precautions to take when cooking draw soups
Do not cover the pot while the soup is cooking, and leave the lid to cover the pot halfway after the meal is cooked
Covering the pot while a slimy soup is being cooked could make it lose its slime due to so much heat. The same goes for after the soup is done cooking; leaving the pot open for vapour to escape does not only preserve the slime but also negates the risk of the draw soup getting sour quickly.
Avoid using so much water to cook
Adding too much water when cooking soups that draw would make it lighter, and eventually, it will lose its slime. Draw soups are enjoyed best when they are thick and slimy.
Add little hot water to the soup if it is too thick
When the soup is too viscous, it makes it hard to stir. Although some people like their draw soup to be very thick, if you don't, it is advisable to add a little hot water to it while it is still cooking. This will loosen its viscosity a little.
Allergies to watch out for
Draw soups contain some ingredients that might be allergens to some people. These include but are not limited to:
-Crayfish
-Dried baobab leaves
-Iru (locust beans)
-Pomo
If you are allergic to any of these ingredients, please avoid soups that contain them. If you must eat them, please ensure that you consult with your physician first. Thank you!
Where to get the ingredients to cook these soups
The ingredients to cook these soups can be found in most Nigerian markets. However, if you live outside of Nigeria, you may have to purchase them online from an African food store.
Here at niyis.co.uk, you can get quality and affordable Nigerian draw soup ingredients, among other grocery items. Do not hesitate to contact us for more inquiries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, soups are a staple in Nigerian cuisine. They are enjoyed by people all over the country, and recently, all over the world, and are usually made with a variety of ingredients. The most popular soups are the draw soups, which are thick and slimy.
These soups are usually made with different exciting ingredients that are packed with amazing nutritional benefits. There are many other variations of these soups that you can make, depending on your preferences. When cooking these soups, it is important to consider some precautions.
Additionally, there are some allergens that you should be aware of so they do not trigger your allergies, should you be allergic to any of them. If you are allergic to any of these ingredients, please avoid soups that contain them.
Lastly, do not forget to check out amazing ingredients here at niyis.co.uk, to make your Nigerian draw soup in the comfort of your home.
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