A Delightful Journey into Ofe Nsala: A Traditional Nigerian Soup

A Delightful Journey into Ofe Nsala: A Traditional Nigerian Soup

Ofe Nsala, also known as white soup, is a culinary treasure from Nigeria. This year alone, it has become a mainstay in my diet, surpassing even my previous favorite.

Within Igbo land, ofe nsala holds a special place as a cherished delicacy. While I adore the vast array of Nigerian cuisine, some dishes resonate with me more deeply. (For instance, melon soup (ofe egusi) will always hold a top spot in my heart.

Its versatility allows it to blend beautifully with many other Nigerian soups, including ofe nsala. Sometimes, I even create a delightful combination of the two!)

One unique aspect of ofe nsala is its lack of palm oil, setting it apart from soups like pepper soup and ewedu soup. This delicious dish can be prepared with either plain beef or a medley of meats. In my rendition, I opted for chicken.

Ofe Nsala reigns supreme in the southern and eastern regions of Nigeria, particularly among the Efik and Igbo people.

These communities are not only known for their masterful preparation of this dish, but also for their fervent enjoyment of it.

So, if you find yourself partnered with someone from these areas, consider surprising them with a comforting meal of pounded yam and ofe nsala tonight.

To embark on this culinary adventure, here’s what you’ll need:

Ingredients (serves approximately 12):

• Preparation time: 80 minutes
• Yam (6-8 medium pieces)
• Ground crayfish (1 cup)
• 3 seasoning cubes
• 1 teaspoon Uziza seeds
• 1 cup chopped Uziza leaves
• Dried or smoked fish (2 medium pieces)
• Snails (Optional)
• 1.3KG / 3lb Chicken
• Small quantity of Dawadawa
• Handful of chopped Utazi leaves
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Crafting the Ofe Nsala

1. Preparing the Thickener: Begin by peeling and boiling the yam. Once cooked, traditionally it would be pounded with a mortar and pestle. This pounded yam serves as the base for thickening the ofe nsala.
2. Flavorful Blend: Combine the crayfish, uziza seeds, and dawadawa in a grinder to create a flavorful powder. Wash and chop the uziza leaves for later use.
3. Cleaning the Snails (Optional): For those using snails, you can wash them with lemon juice to remove the slimy film. Interestingly, some Nigerian recipes incorporate snails with the slime intact, even keeping the shells on! (A prime example is the mouthwatering Ijaw dish, Keke Fieye.)
4. Parboiling the Chicken: Parboil the chicken with the necessary seasonings: 2 stock cubes, salt (1 teaspoon), half a cup of sliced onions, and half a teaspoon of ginger or garlic. (You can even follow along with a video demonstration!)

Building the Broth

• In this version, I used chicken. However, feel free to substitute with a combination of assorted cuts of beef.
• Parboil the chosen meat for roughly 7 minutes, until tender enough to eat. Then, add the hot-water-washed dried fish. (If using a stronger dried fish like mangala, you can incorporate it earlier.)
• Pour in approximately 3 cups of water, either cold or boiled.

The amount of water required can vary depending on the thickener used and the number of people you’re preparing for.

• Continue boiling the mixture for another 7-10 minutes, ensuring both the meat and fish are fully cooked. Now, add the ground crayfish/uziza seed/dawadawa mixture, along with ground red pepper. Remember to taste the pepper before adding it, as the uziza seeds already pack a punch.

Bringing it All Together

• Take a moment to assess the flavor of your soup. If needed, add a seasoning cube or some salt to enhance the taste.
• Gently incorporate the pounded yam.

Adjusting the Consistency

• You can add half of the pounded yam initially and observe the soup’s consistency for the next five minutes. If it requires further thickening, add the remaining yam bit by bit. It’s important to find a consistency that suits your preference. I favor a lighter ofe nsala, as I find it more enjoyable in terms of taste.

The Final Touches

• Once you’ve achieved the desired thickness and the pounded yam is well-dissolved, add the chopped uziza and utazi leaves. Utazi leaves are used sparingly in white soup to introduce a subtle hint of bitterness.

Serving Up Delight

Allow the soup to simmer for a few minutes before serving this delectable ofe nsala with pounded yam, fufu, or eba. Enjoy this heartwarming and flavorful journey into Nigerian cuisine!

Video For Nsala Soup (white soup)

Here is a simple video for making the popular white soup, although we are gonna come out with a better video soon. This would give you a clue as to what the soup really looks like.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eat right with Fitmeal mentors foods (@fitmeal_mentors)

I would like to see your comment below, do you like this delicious Nigerian soup?