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| Ofe Nsala “Nsala soup” served with Pounded yam |
Nsala soup also known as “Ofe Nsala” by the igbos, “Afia efere” by the Calabar people and “White soup” in English is a very popular delicacy in the eastern and southern parts of Nigeria. It’s is known as white soup because this is one of the major Nigerian soups that doesn’t require palm oil though some people add very little sometimes. It is also one of the easiest one pot soups I enjoy making.
Before making this soup, I’d prepared my mind that I was going all Traditional with the preparation starting from the mouth watering pounded yam swallow which is the perfect side dish for the Soup to the pounding of the local spices such as Ata rodo “scotch bonnet”, Mpkuru uziza seeds, Uda seeds e.t.c. After making this soup, deep within me I knew I had done something right. This was because the whole pot of soup was Used up in one night…lol! The whole Fam kept thanking me even till the next day. This soup would definitely get everyone asking for more.
How to prepare white soup (Ofe Nsala recipe)
By Dobbys Signature
Igbo style white soup. Made without palmoil. Perfect when served hot with pounded yam.
•Prep time: 00:30
•Cook time:00:00
•Category: Soups
Misc: Serve with swallow
Ingredients:
• 1 medium sized Cat Fish
• 500g Beef (Red meat)
• 1 medium sized Dry fish
• 1 small Stock fish (I used the head)
• 1 Red Onion
• 2 Scotch Bonnets “Atarodo”
• 1 tbsp. Peppersoup spice or 1 tbsp. Ground Uda seeds, Ehuru seeds & Mkpuruziza seeds
• 3 Stock cubes, Crushed
• Salt (To taste)
• 2 tbsp. Crayfish, Ground
• 2 cups Yam , pounded – Thickener
• 10 Uziza leaves “False cubeb”
• 2 Small sized Ogiri Okpei
• Ngoloo or Isam (Periwinkle) (As desired)
Instructions:
View the steps Below
Calories per serving: 0
Fat per serving: 0
Ingredients:
• Ngoloo or Isam (Periwinkle) (As desired)
Instructions:
View the steps Below
Calories per serving: 0
Fat per serving: 0
Preparation of the catfish, dry fish & stock fish:
For this soup any type of meat or seafood can be used. For this, i made use of Red beef and sea foods like Stock fish, Dry Fish, White Periwinkles “Ngoloo(igbo)/ Ngongo (Crossriver) and Catfish “.
• To prepare the stock fish and dry fish, soak them both in hot water for about 5 mins till they regain moisture and soften. Remove the bones from the dry fish, Rinse the stock fish and dry fish – set aside.
• To prepare the periwinkles, Remove the eyes and gut of the periwinkles, Rinse – set aside. For this recipe, i made use of just Ngoloo which is the white periwinkles.
• To prepare the catfish, soak in Hot water till all the slime removes (View the full process Here). Rinse severally and set aside- set aside
Preparation of the pepper & onions
If you’ve got a blender, simply blend the onion and pepper together with a little water. But to do it traditionally as i did, you could simply pound the onion and pepper – set aside
Preparation of the leaves & Ogiri
For this soup, you can make use of any type of ogiri such as Ogiri egusi, Ogiri Okpei and Dawadawa. For the Igbos, Ogiri Egusi is mostly preferred because of it’s very strong Aroma but if you don’t have it, you could simply use Ogiri okpei(Igbo) or dawadawa(Hausa). For this, i used Ogiri Okpei which i Simply dissolved in a little amount in water & then set aside.
Preparation of the pounded yam
Learn to make pounded yam from scratch
Learn to make pounded yam in a blender
37 comments
Chei! Dobby oooo! You have to come and do omugwo for me!
Good job, love this
No p nazor :D…Whenever you are ready 😉
Thanks innocent 🙂
Ada oma osite ji si ike.
Wow! This is lovely.
Ofe Nsala and pounded yam is one of my best meal.
I'll make it over the weekend.
Weldone Dobby.
I so much love this soup
Can I replace the yam with cocoyam as a thickner instead?
hahahaha!!! Da' alu :D.
Thanks Genny baby, do let us know how it goes k 😉
you can say that again 🙂
Hi anon!
i really wouldn't advice you to use cocoyam as a thickener because it "Draws" and therefore would make your soup draw a little so the answer would be No. Nsala soup is a thick version of pepper soup which shouldn't draw.
Cocoyam is a good thickner for bitterleaf soup. Dobby, I'm salivating already. You are GOOD. More power to your elbow. My first time visiting this blog and I'm loving it already.
Where have I been? I just stumbled on this blog on wives connection. Dis is my goto blog henceforth. Ur blog is totally awesome. I'll try as much recipes as I can. Pls kindly visit n follow my blog. .. http://www.makeupcubicle.blogspot.com . Ur comments will b highly appreciated.
Awww!!! Thanks Chnenye. Glad to have you here 🙂
Thank you cyndy. Glad to have you here.
When boiling d beef is it necessary to put d pounded yam? Can one just boil the beef the normal way with the curry and thyme n then put the pounded yam later while addin oda ingredients?
Yes you can boil the beef the normal way but with the stock fish and dry fish. The pounded yam can come later.
Chai! This looks so good…Mehn! Your blog is my favourite food blog joor…
Awww!!! Thanks Adaeze 🙂
Please can I cook Nsala soup with achi?
yes achi can be used for thickening but yam is the major thickener mostly used.
Girl you got me salivating!! I've never had this meal before but I'm certain it's delicious!!
Louisa
LA PASSION VOUTEE
http://lapassionvoutee.blogspot.com/
Thanks Louisa 🙂
My first time visiting this blog and I'm loving it already.
Thank you olatunji 🙂
Am salivating already. Pls can I use any other fresh fish apart from cat fish. I don't really like cat fish. But needs to cook this soup urgently for my husband.
Yes you can use any other fresh fish apart from catfish to cook this.
Hi dobby! I just tried this recipe and it came out wonderfully. What better meal to prepare for my hubby on his bday today. Tnx for helping a sister out.
you're welcome Margaret< Thanks for the feedback.
Hello Dobby is ogiri okpei same as dawadawa and can I omit it and use peppersoup spice instead
yes you can.
Dobby u ddnt add oil bt why is the soup looking like there's oil in d picture
Pls do you have a food book where all recipes are written. Pls I need one. Thanks
Pls do you have a food book where all recipes are written. Pls I need one. Thanks
Pls do you have a food book where all recipes are written. Pls I need one. Thanks
Hi Ifeoma, Currently i don't but i'm working on it.