Ogbono Soup (Nigerian Draw Soup)
In short: A glossy, slippery soup of ground wild mango seeds simmered with palm oil, beef, dried fish and greens, eaten with eba or pounded yam. It takes about 1 h 40 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h 20 min
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 450 kcal
Ogbono soup is made from the ground seeds of the wild African mango, which give it a distinctive silky, stretchy texture. It is cooked in palm oil with beef, dried fish, crayfish and leafy greens, and is popular across southern Nigeria. The soup is traditionally eaten with a swallow such as eba or pounded yam. Stir often and keep the heat low, since the thickened soup can catch on the bottom of the pot.
Instructions
- Put the beef, chopped onion, bouillon cube, salt and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 40 to 50 minutes until the beef is tender. Keep the stock.
- Warm the palm oil in a wide pot over low heat. Add the ground ogbono and stir for 2 to 3 minutes, until it dissolves into a thick, glossy paste that smells nutty.
- Pour in 400 ml (1 2/3 cups) of the beef stock a little at a time, stirring hard so no lumps form. Add the finely chopped onion, chilies and crayfish.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes so the base does not stick.
- Add the beef and drained dried fish. Simmer for 10 minutes more, adding stock a splash at a time if the soup gets too thick to pour.
- Stir in the greens and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until just wilted. Season with salt.
- Serve hot with eba, pounded yam or fufu.
Tips
- Keep the heat low and stir often. Ogbono thickens fast and scorches at the bottom if left alone.
- For extra slipperiness, add 150 g (5 oz) finely chopped okra with the stock. Fresh or frozen okra both work.
Questions and answers
Why is my ogbono soup not drawing?
Old or badly ground ogbono loses its draw, so use fresh seeds. Stirring the powder into warm oil before adding liquid, or adding some okra, also helps.
Can I grind ogbono seeds in a blender?
Yes. Use a dry blender or a coffee grinder in short pulses and wipe the blades between batches, because the powder is sticky.
What do you serve with ogbono soup?
Eba, pounded yam, fufu or amala. The slippery texture suits a firm swallow that you can dip and scoop.
How long does it take to make Ogbono Soup (Nigerian Draw Soup)?
About 1 h 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ogbono Soup (Nigerian Draw Soup)?
About 450 kcal per serving, with 28 g of protein, 5 g of carbohydrates and 35 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 450 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 28 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5 g |
| Fat | 35 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 900 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
