There are over 200 ethnic groups in Nigeria and many of these cultures have unique delicacies.
In this post, we will highlight some of the soup delicacies of these ethnic groups. Also, you will get to know the ingredients used in preparing them and their health benefits.
Popular Nigerian Soups, Their Ingredients, & Health benefits
Banga soup
Banga soup is made from palm nuts and it is eaten by those in the Southern and Mid-western parts of Nigeria.
The Urhobo people in the South-South call it Oghwo amiedi while the Isoko group calls it Izuwo ibiedi.
There is another soup that is quite similar to Banga, it is called Ofe Akwu which is popular among the Igbo culture. It is also made from palm nuts, but prepared more like a stew and it is meant to be eaten with rice.
The ingredients in Banga Soup include beletete (a flavour), aidan fruit, rohojie, Banga spice leaves called Obenetietien, a stick of oburunbebe, finely chopped onion, ground crayfish, chili pepper or scotch bonnet, and salt.
The soup is mostly prepared using fresh catfish (fresh fish Banga soup) dried/smoked fish or meat and it is usually eaten with cocoyam (taro) pudding called kwacoco. Banga soup can also be combined with Okra vegetable to make a wonderfully delicious dish.
Ceremonially, Banga soup is preferably eaten with a yellow thick starchy paste from cassava starch called “Usi” by the Urhobos as well as their Isoko and Okpe people.
Miyan kuka
Miyan kuka is very common among the Hausa people. It is made from powdered baobab leaves and dried okra.
Miyan kuka is also known as Luru soup is a type of Nigerian dish from the northern part of Nigeria. The soup is made from powdered baobab leaves and dried okra. It is usually served with tuwo shinkafa or dawa.
Ewedu
Ewedu is made with mallow leaves. It is a condiment to other starch-based foods such as Amala. It can also be added with gbegiri, a local Nigerian soup. In Northern Nigeria, Ewedu is referred to as Ayoyo. It is used to cook a sauce called (Miyan Ayoyo) which is commonly served with Tuwon Masara or Tuwon Allebo.
Ewedu leaf is an adequate source of fibre which makes it beneficial in dealing with weight management and may also promote intestinal health by helping with bowel movement.
Edikaikong
Edikaikong is another popular vegetable soup which originates with the Annang, Ibibio and Efik people. The ingredients include stock fish, dried or roasted fish, ground crayfish, waterleaf, fluted pumpkin leaves, palm oil, meat, salt and pepper, periwinkles and onions.
The soup is an excellent source of vitamins and fibre. However, storage over a period of time tends to reduce the nutritional value.
Gbegiri
Gbegiri is a bean-based soup from southwest Nigeria. This soup is best combined with Ewedu and stew.
This bean-based soup is loaded with the B Vitamins which is necessary for healthy brain and nerve cells, for normal functioning of the skin, nerves and digestive system.
Pepper soup
Pepper soup is a light soup made from a mix of meat and fish with herbs and spices. It is one of the few soups in Nigerian cuisine that can be eaten alone and is not used as a sauce for a carbohydrate main dish such as fufu or pounded yam.
It can also be made with nutmeg and chili peppers. It is usually garnished with fish, beef, goat meat or chicken. Pepper soup is often an appetizer at official gatherings however, it is consumed also in the evening at pubs and social gatherings.
Pepper soup is an excellent source of carbohydrates, protein, fat, niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, sodium, calcium, copper, vitamins A, C, E, K and many more.
Afang
Afang is a vegetable soup that is popular among the Efik people, Ibibio people and Ananng people in the southeast of Nigeria.
The ingredients include okazi/afang leaves, water leaves, palm oil, beef, kanda, dry fish, ground crayfish, pepper and salt.
Afang soup contains essential dietary fibre which is good for weight loss and helps prevent constipation.
Corn soup
Corn soup is also known locally as Omi ukpoka and it is made with ground dry corn and blended with smoked fish. Corn is a good source of antioxidant carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin which may promote eye health. It is also a rich source of many vitamins and minerals.
This soup is common among the people from Agenebode in northern Edo state.
Egusi soup
Egusi soup is thickened with ground melon seeds and contains leafy and other vegetables, seasonings, and meat. It is often eaten with amala, pounded yam, fufu, etc.
Egusi is packed with protein, fat and vitamins A, B1, B2, C. Also it contains alpha-tocopherol, a component of vitamin E. This alpha-tocopherol helps to maintain young-looking skin and good fertility.
Maafe
Maafe is popular stew made with groundnuts (peanuts), tomatoes and onions as the base. It can be infinitely varied with chicken, beef or fish and different leafy vegetables for subtle flavours. This soup is packed with fibre and B vitamins.
There is a variant of Maafe which is the rice stew. It is made with goat, beef/chicken and cooked with a tomato, onion, pepper and groundnut sauce.
Groundnut stew
Groundnut stew is made with ground dry groundnuts and vegetables, fish, meat, local seasoning and palm oil by the Etsakor people in Edo state.
Groundnuts are packed with essential vitamins and minerals which include niacin, manganese, vitamin E, magnesium, folate, copper and phosphorus. Also, groundnut is a source of potassium, phytosterols, resveratrol and healthy fats, all of which may benefit health and help prevent chronic disease.
Ogbono soup
Ogbono soup is a Nigerian dish made with ground dry ogbono seeds with considerable local variation. The ground ogbono seeds are used as a thickener, and give the soup a black coloration.
Apart from the ogbono seeds, water and palm oil, the soup usually contains meat, seasonings such as chili pepper, leaf vegetables such as bitterleaf, tomatoes and okra as well as typical seasonings like onions, and iru (fermented locust beans).
Ogbono seeds are loaded with fiber, antioxidants and many other nutrients like iron, potassium, calcium, zinc and vitamins B and C.
Other popular Nigerian soups include:
- Groundnut soup (Peanut soup)
- Ora (Oha) soup
- Edo Esan (Black soup)
- Ofe Owerri
- Achara soup
- Atama Soup
- Efo riro
- Efo elegusi
- White soup which is made with utazi leaves
- Bitterleaf soup (ofe onugbu)
- Miyan taushe