Okra Soup (Nigerian Okro Soup)
Local name: Ọbẹ̀ Ilá
In short: A bright, lightly slippery Nigerian soup of chopped okra, palm oil, beef, shrimp and dried fish, ready in about 80 minutes and eaten with eba. It takes about 1 h 20 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 20 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 350 kcal
Okra soup is a quick, bright green soup that Nigerians cook on busy weeknights and serve with a soft swallow. Finely chopped okra thickens palm oil, beef stock, shrimp, crayfish and dried fish into a lightly slippery soup that clings to a ball of eba or pounded yam. It cooks fast. The okra goes in near the end, so it stays fresh and green and does not turn dull.
Instructions
- Put the beef, chopped onion, bouillon cube, salt and water in a pot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 40 minutes until the beef is tender. Keep the stock.
- Heat the palm oil in a wide pot over medium heat for 2 minutes. Fry the finely chopped onion for 2 minutes, then stir in the chilies and crayfish and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the beef, the drained dried fish and 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) of the stock. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the chopped okra. Cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring, so the okra stays bright green and does not turn dull and stringy.
- Add the shrimp and spinach and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and opaque. Loosen with a little more stock if the soup is too thick, then taste and add salt.
- Serve hot with eba, pounded yam or amala.
Tips
- For a lighter draw, slice the okra into thick rounds instead of chopping it finely, and add a squeeze of lime juice at the end.
- Frozen chopped okra works well and does not need thawing. Add it straight to the pot and give it an extra minute.
Questions and answers
How do I stop okra soup from getting too slimy?
Cook the okra briefly, for about 5 minutes, and cut it into larger pieces. Keep the pot uncovered while the okra cooks.
What is the difference between okra soup and ogbono soup?
Okra soup is lighter and fresher, with a gentle draw. Ogbono uses ground wild mango seeds for a thicker, silkier and richer soup.
Can I make okra soup with fish instead of beef?
Yes. Use chunks of catfish or firm white fish and add them for the last 8 to 10 minutes so they stay whole.
How long does it take to make Okra Soup (Nigerian Okro Soup)?
About 1 h 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Okra Soup (Nigerian Okro Soup)?
About 350 kcal per serving, with 32 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates and 21 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 350 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 32 g |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g |
| Fat | 21 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
