How to make bitter leaf soup with achi?
How to make bitter leaf soup with Achi? Bitter leaf soup is something that you should try at least once in your life. Bitter leaf soup is also known as Ofe Onugbu. It`s a favorite dish for a lot of Nigerians. Today you will learn how to prepare Nigerian bitter leaf soup.
Bitter leaf Soup
You should know that this kind of soup can be prepared not only with Achi. You can also prepare this fantastic dish with Ogbono, Ofor, cocoa yam and melon seeds. But today, we will be talking about making bitter leaf soup with Achi. What is bitter leaf soup without bitterness? The name of the soup is misleading. Despite “bitter” in the name – there is no bitterness.
How can you achieve no bitter taste in the soup? You should wash the bitter leaves thoroughly. Do not forget to change water at intervals. It`s important to wash off all the bitterness. People say: “You are not a good cook if your Bitter leaf soup is bitter”! Do not be a bad cook!
Bitter leaf soup ingredients
- Meat (about two kg according to your choice. It can be beef, turkey, pork or chiken);
- Pepper to taste;
- Salt to taste;
- Ground cray fish to taste;
- Achi (pounded);
- Palm Oil (around three cooking spoons);
- Knorr or Maggi (2-3 cubes);
- Bitter leaf (do not forget to wash off bitterness!);
- Assorted Stock fish and Dry Fish;
- Ogiri Igbo (one teaspoon). It`s an optional ingredient, but this traditional seasoning will make your dish much better!
Nota Bene
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For people who are outside Nigeria – you can use squeezed, washed or even dried bitter leaves. You can buy it at the local market in Europe and USA. Still, you need to make the bitter leaves soft again! Use food tenderisers to make the bitter leaves soft. Remember, you cannot allow you bitter leaf soup to be bitter!
If you can`t buy Achi in the place where you live – you can still use other ingredients. If you live in European countries, you will unlikely find something that closely resembles Achi. The best option for you is potato flour. It does not taste bad, but you will probably lose something in terms of traditions.
Ogiri Igbo is an optional ingredient for bitter leaf soup recipe. Yoruba people like to add this seasoning to different dishes. Alas, not everyone likes it. If you wish your soup to taste more traditional, then try to add some Ogiri Igbo.
How to cook bitter leaf soup? – Before you start!
You can`t be a good cook if your bitter leaf soup is bitter. You need to wash off all bitterness from your bitter leaves. If your bitter leaves are still bitter – wash and squeeze them again. You may boil the leaves for ten-fifteen minutes. After that, put your bitter leaves into a bowl of cold water. Wash bitter leaves again. If it does not help – repeat the procedure!
Bitter leaf soup with achi – Cooking directions!
- Your first step is to prepare meat. Boil dry fish and stock fish together until they are well done. This part is very important. Fish also gives a special taste to your soup.
- Wash your meat carefully and put it into the pot with the fish. Continue cooking until it`s prepared. When your meat is prepared – add 2-3 cooking cubes (Knorr or Maggi) and cook for five more minutes.
- Now you can add one cooking cube (Knorr or Maggi), ground crayfish, palm oil, pepper and salt to taste. Now you can add bitter leaves and the Achi.
- Cover the pot and cook everything for ten minutes.
- Your soup is ready!
What meal goes with this soup best?
Specialists like to serve it with Pounded Yam, Cassava Fufu, Amala and Eba. Now you know how to prepare Nigerian bitter leaf soup!
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Source: Legit.ng