Description
Afang Soup is a traditional Nigerian vegetable soup made with Okazi leaves, waterleaf, proteins, and aromatic seasonings. Rich, bold, and nutrient-dense, this classic dish from the Efik and Ibibio tribes delivers earthy flavors and hearty comfort, perfect with fufu, pounded yam, or rice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 200g (7 oz) Okazi leaves (sliced or blended)
- 500g (1.1 lbs) waterleaf (or spinach)
- 500g (1.1 lbs) beef, cubed
- 300g (10 oz) cow tripe (shaki)
- 150g stockfish, soaked and deboned
- 200g dried fish, cleaned and deboned
- 200g periwinkle (optional)
- 1 cup (250 ml) palm oil
- 3 tbsp ground crayfish
- 2 scotch bonnet or chili peppers, blended
- 2 seasoning cubes
- Salt to taste
- 1 small onion (optional, for meat)
Instructions
- Prep leaves and fish: Rinse Okazi and waterleaf. Blend Okazi finely. Chop waterleaf. Soak and debone stockfish and dried fish.
- Cook meats: In a large pot, add beef, shaki, onion, seasoning cubes, salt, and water. Simmer until tender (~25 minutes). Add stockfish and dried fish, cook another 10 minutes.
- Add palm oil and crayfish: Stir in palm oil, crayfish, and blended pepper. Simmer 5–7 minutes.
- Add waterleaf: Stir in waterleaf and cook 5 minutes. It will release liquid.
- Add Okazi leaves: Stir in blended Okazi. Simmer 7–10 minutes, adjusting salt and seasoning.
- Finish: Once soup thickens and greens are tender, remove from heat. Serve hot with fufu, pounded yam, or rice.
Notes
- Blend Okazi leaves finely for best texture.
- Cook meats separately if needed—stockfish takes longer.
- Do not add too much water; Afang Soup should be thick.
- Add greens last to retain color and nutrients.
- Season in layers for deeper flavor development.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Nigerian, West African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Afang Soup, Nigerian Recipes, Vegetable Soup Nigeria, Okazi Soup, Authentic Afang Soup