Onugbu (Bitter Leaf Soup) Recipe

Onugbu (Bitter Leaf Soup) Recipe

From: Nigeria

By: Benjamin Obiajulu

Onugbu soup, also known as Bitterleaf Soup, is a popular Nigerian dish that is typically made with a type of leafy green vegetable called "onugbu" or bitterleaf, which gives the soup its distinctive bitter taste. The soup is often made with a variety of meats such as beef, chicken, or goat, as well as spices and other ingredients like onions, pepper, and palm oil.

One of the things that makes Onugbu soup special is the unique flavor profile that is created by the combination of bitter and savory flavors. The bitterness of the onugbu leaf is balanced by the richness of the meats and spices, resulting in a soup that is both flavorful and satisfying.

As Benjamin shares, make sure you wash the bitter leaves at least 2-3 times so that your soup is not overpoweringly bitter!

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  • Prep Time

    Less than 1 hour

  • Cook Time

    More than 1 hour

  • Serves

    10+

  • Meal Type

    Main Dish

  • Dietary Stuff

    Contains Meat

  • Difficulty

    Easy - Common Ingredients & Basic Skills

1 6

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How to Prepare Onugbu (Bitter Leaf Soup)

Ingredients:

2.2 lb red meat
2.2 lb assorted meat (gizzards, intestines, etc)
2 tbsp cocoyam or achi (for thickening)
1 stockfish (usually cod)
2 tbsp salt
5 cubes Maggi seasoning
1 bunch bitter leaves (about 2-3 cups)
3 oz Palm oil
6 fresh peppers

Instructions:

Wash your meats and place in pot. Add maggi and steam.

Wash bitter leaves to avoid bitter taste in soup.

After washing, tie in nylon and steam for 20 minutes to soften.

Pour water into steaming meat to reach level of the meat.

Place Achi in cup and add water to mix.

Add mixed Achi to pot using a spoon.

Cook for 10 minutes. Add palm oil to soup.

Add bitter leaves. Add salt to taste.

Cover and continue to cook on high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook for about 15 minutes.

Add peppers (Add when soup is almost done to retain color of pepper and make more appetizing).

Taste soup and add salt to taste if needed.

Cook another 5 minutes.

Hurray! Your soup is ready.

How to Serve Onugbu (Bitter Leaf Soup)

Benjamin says this meal is best served with Semovita and pounded yam.

Tips for Making this Onugbu (Bitter Leaf Soup) Recipe

To make Semovita: Boil water. When the water is boiled, start adding your Semovita flour and keep stirring till it gels. Serve in a plate.

To make pounded yam: Peel your yam and boil it- cook until soft. Put the yam in a pounder (Called Ikwe in Igbo dialect). Pound till it is soft and the texture is smooth (when pounding, always add little water to make it soft.

What is Onugbu Soup Made Of?

Onugbu soup, also known as Bitterleaf Soup, is a traditional Nigerian dish made with a type of leafy green called bitterleaf as the main ingredient.

It is a flavorful and aromatic soup that is typically made with a combination of vegetables, meat or fish, and spices.

What are the Health Benefits of Bitter Leaf Soup?

Bitterleaf has several health benefits and is often used in traditional medicine. Known for it's strong, bitter taste, bitterleaf may aid in digestion and have anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant properties.

How Do I Wash Bitter Leaves?

Washing bitter leaves multiple times can help reduce the intensity of the bitterness, although it is not possible to completely remove the bitterness.

Some people recommend washing the leaves up to 7 or 8 times to reduce the bitterness, while others find that washing the leaves 3 or 4 times is sufficient. Ultimately, the number of times you need to wash the leaves will depend on your personal taste preference and the bitterness of the particular batch of leaves you are using.

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