Okazi Soup

Description

Okazi Soup (Ukazi Soup) is the Igbo version of the Efik’s Afang soup.This delicious Nigerian soup is made up of a mixture of vegetables(Afang /Okazi leaves and water leaves or spinach or lamb lettuce), assorted fish, meat, spices and a soup thickener, which can be either achi, ofor, ukpo or Egusi.

Ingredients

• 2 handful ground Achi Or Ofor Or Ukpo(Egusi /melon seeds can be used as a substitute)
• 500 gr beef or assorted meat
• 100 gr Smoked fish
• Stock fish (optional)
• Shelled Periwinkle(optional)
• 2 tablespoonful ground crayfish
• Fresh pepper or ground dried pepper (to taste)
• Water leaves(optional)
• Afang Leaves(okazi/ukazi leaves)
• 500 ml Palm oil
• salt to taste

Steps

1. First cook the assorted meat and stock fish, Clean the dried fish and set aside.
2. Grind the achi or egusi seeds(melon seeds), add some warm water in it, mix well, and set aside.
3. Slice the water leaves(if using) and Okazi leaves and set aside.If you are making use of dried Okazi leaves, you can pound or blend it.
4. Heat up the palm oil, add some chopped onion , fry a bit and then add the mixed egusi.
5. Stir the mixture continuously until the egusi begins to bubble a bit.
6. Now add some meat stock, mix thoroughly, cover and leave to boil for 5 minutes. (if using achi, this is the time to add it)
7. After 5 minutes, add the stock cube, pepper and ground crayfish.
8. Mix well and then add the cooked meat, stock fish and dry fish. You can add periwinkles at the stage , if you have some. Cover and leave to cook for 2 minutes.
9. Next , add the Okazi leaves, leave to simmer for 5 minutes and then add the water leaves.Add salt to taste , simmer for 2 minutes and your Okazi Soup is ready. Enjoy!

Okazi/Ukazi soup is usually served hot with Eba, Pounded Yam, Fufu, Semolina, Amala, Wheat meal, Tuwo Masara or any Nigerian Bolus meal.