9jakitchenblog
February 5, 2024

Introduction 🌿🍲

Learning how to make bitterleaf soup is one of the most rewarding experiences for anyone exploring authentic Nigerian cuisine. Bitterleaf soup, popularly known as Ofe Onugbu among the Igbo people, is a deeply rooted traditional soup cherished for its bold flavour, nutritional richness, and cultural significance.

This comprehensive guide on how to make bitterleaf soup walks you through everything you need to know—from selecting the right ingredients to mastering the cooking process—so you can achieve a rich, flavorful pot every single time. Whether you are cooking for family, guests, or content creation, this recipe guarantees satisfaction.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make bitterleaf soup that tastes just like the one prepared by seasoned Nigerian cooks, you’re in the right place.

What is Bitterleaf Soup?🥘

Before diving into how to make bitterleaf soup, let’s understand the dish itself. Bitterleaf soup (Ofe Onugbu) is a traditional Igbo delicacy. Despite its name, the leaves are carefully washed to reduce bitterness before cooking. The result is a rich, slightly earthy taste that blends perfectly with proteins, crayfish, and thickening agents like cocoyam, ofor, or achi.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️🔥

You’ll fall in love with this guide on how to make bitterleaf soup because it is:

Deeply traditional yet beginner-friendly
Rich, hearty, and naturally flavorful
Packed with nutrients and medicinal benefits
Customisable to suit different proteins and preferences
Perfect for swallows like pounded yam, fufu, or eba
Written with clarity for flawless execution

This method ensures your bitterleaf soup is never too bitter, never bland, and always delicious.

Ingredients for Bitterleaf Soup (4–6 servings)🌿🧄🥩

To successfully master how to make bitterleaf soup, gather the following ingredients:

For the Soup Base:

Onubu leaves: 2-3 cups (fresh or dried)
Beef or goat meat: 500g, cut into chunks
Stockfish: 200g (optional, for added flavour)
Dried fish: 200g (optional)
Ground crayfish: 2 tablespoons
Ground pepper: 1 teaspoon (adjust to taste)
Palm oil: 1-2 cups (adjust for richness)
Seasoning cubes: 2-3 (such as Maggi or Knorr)
Salt: to taste
Water: 4-6 cups (enough to cook the meat and make the soup)

Optional Ingredients:

Ogiri: 1 tablespoon (a fermented seasoning for umami flavour). Optional but very important
Periwinkle: 1 cup (optional, for texture)
Assorted meats, such as tripe, chicken, or turkey
Cocoyam paste: 6–8 small corms (for authentic thickening)

Equipment Needed 🍳🔪

You’ll need the following kitchen tools when learning how to make bitterleaf soup:

Cooking pot
Wooden spoon
Blender or mortar
Knife
Cutting board
Bowls for washing ingredients

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Bitterleaf Soup🥣

Step 1: Prepare the Onubu Leaves

The first step in how to make bitterleaf soup is handling the leaves.
The leaves are carefully plucked from the bitterleaf tree to prepare the perfect bitter leaf soup, ensuring only the freshest and healthiest leaves are selected.
The selected leaves are then spread out under the sun for a specific amount of time to wither to a certain extent, allowing them to develop the unique flavour profile that sets them apart from other soups.
Once the leaves have withered to the desired degree, they are gently squeezed to remove the bitterness, leaving only a rich, flavourful essence behind. It is this essence that is used to create the perfect bitterleaf soup, a dish that is both delicious and nutritious.
One secret to making bitterleaf soup taste authentic is washing the leaves thoroughly to balance the bitterness

Step 2: Prepare the Meat

Clean and Cut the Meat: Rinse your beef or goat meat under running water and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Boil the Meat: In a large pot, add the meat, a pinch of salt, and seasoning cubes, along with enough water to cover. Allow it to boil until the meat is tender.
This may take about 30-45 minutes, depending on the type of meat used. Add more water if necessary during the boiling process.

Nigerian bitterleaf soup — **Assorted Meat is essential**

Step 3: Add Stockfish and Other Proteins

Combine with Fish: If using stockfish and dried fish, add them to the boiling meat after the meat is tender. Allow them to cook together for about 10-15 minutes.
Test for Tenderness: Ensure that the stockfish is soft and tender.

Step 4: Add Palm Oil and Seasonings

Incorporate Palm Oil: Add the palm oil to the boiling pot. Start with 1 cup and adjust according to your preferred richness.
Mix in Seasonings: Stir in the ground crayfish, ground pepper, and more seasoning cubes if needed. Allow it to simmer for another 5-10 minutes.

Step 5: Introduce the bitterleaf (Onubu Leaves)

Add the bitterleaf: Fold in the chopped onubu leaves.
If using ogiri or periwinkle, add them at this point for additional flavour and texture.
Final Simmer: Let the soup simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes. You want the leaves to become tender while retaining their vibrant green colour.

Step 6: Adjust for Flavour

Taste and Adjust: After simmering, taste the soup and adjust the salt and seasoning as necessary.
The flavour should be well-balanced, with a rich aroma.

Traditional Nigerian soups — **Bitterleaf Soup**

Tips for Making the Best Bitterleaf Soup💡

To truly excel at making bitterleaf soup, keep these expert tips in mind:

Wash bitterleaf gradually to control bitterness
Do not overcook bitterleaf to preserve nutrients
Use cocoyam instead of thickeners for authenticity
Add ogiri sparingly to avoid overpowering aroma
Always simmer gently after thickening
Let the soup rest briefly before serving for flavour development

Serving Suggestions 🍽️🥢

Bitterleaf soup is best served with:

Pounded yam
Fufu
Eba (garri)
Semolina
Wheat swallow

This pairing completes the traditional experience of how to make bitterleaf soup worth remembering.

Variations 🌍🍲

You can customise how to make bitterleaf soup by:

Using goat meat for a richer taste
Making it seafood-based
Reducing palm oil for a lighter version
Skipping ogiri if unavailable
Adding uziza leaves for extra aroma

Bitterleaf Soup Recipe🍴

Bitterleaf Soup

Bitterleaf soup is a delicious Nigerian dish that is made with bitterleaf, meat or fish, palm oil, onions, crayfish, and seasoning. To prepare it, boil the meat or fish until tender, then add palm oil and onions. After that, add bitterleaf and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Finally, add crayfish and seasoning, and let the soup cook for another 5 minutes. This soup is usually served with pounded yam, fufu, or eba.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 30

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine African/Nigerian

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

Beef/ Chicken/lamb/turkey or your preferred protein cow tripe (shaki) will add more flavour
Washed and squeezed bitterleaf quantity to cover for the pot of soup
Stockfish
Smoked fish
Ogiri Igbo
Periwinkle
Ground crayfish
Ponmo
3 cooking spoon of Palm Oil
Red Onions optional
Cocoyam well pounded
Seasonings
Salt to taste
fresh pepper to taste

Instructions

Preparation before cooking the soup

It's essential to wash bitter leaves to remove any bitterness thoroughly. If needed, clean and squeeze them multiple times. If the bitterness persists (common in store-bought bitter leaves), boil them for 15 minutes and then wash them with cold water.
You can either add cocoyam while cooking the meat so it can cook together to save time or cook the cocoyam separately.

Cooking the Soup

Before cooking, wash your preferred meat (protein) and season it to your taste. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, then add a little water, cover it, and cook until the meat is tender. If you are cooking with cow tripe(shaki), make sure that the tripes curl as a sign that they are done.
Add ground crayfish, ground pepper, and salt. Allow it to cook for an additional seven minutes. Add the bitterleaf.
Note: If the bitter leaves were parboiled to remove the bitterness, add all the ingredients at this stage, including the pounded cocoyam corms.
Cover the pot and cook on high heat until all the cocoyam lumps dissolve. Add more water if the soup is too thick.
Switch off the heat once satisfied that the cocoyam lumps have dissolved.
The delicious Onubu (Bitterleaf) soup you have been waiting for is now ready.

Notes

You can serve Onubu soup with any swallow, but it’s best with fufu. Some enjoy it alone. Click here to order.

Keyword Bitterleaf

Nutritional Information (Approx. per serving)🍊

Nutrient	Amount	% DV
Calories	320 kcal	16%
Protein	26 g	52%
Fat	18 g	23%
Carbohydrates	14 g	5%
Fiber	6 g	24%
Iron	4.2 mg	23%
Vitamin A	680 IU	14%

🔗 Source: SnapCalorie – Bitterleaf Soup↗

Health Benefits And Advice 💚🩺

Understanding how to make bitterleaf soup also means appreciating its health benefits:

Supports digestion and gut health
Helps regulate blood sugar levels
Rich in antioxidants
Supports liver detoxification
Boosts immunity
Beneficial for postpartum recovery

Advice: Individuals with ulcers should moderate consumption due to bitterness.

Note: The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)🙋

Q1: Can I make bitterleaf soup without cocoyam?
👉Yes, you can substitute with ofor or achi powder.

Q2: How long does bitterleaf soup last?
👉It can last up to 5 days in the fridge and 2–3 months in the freezer.

Q3: Is bitterleaf soup healthy for diabetics?
👉Yes! Bitterleaf is known for regulating blood sugar levels, making it suitable for diabetics.

Q4. Can I use frozen bitterleaf?
👉 Yes, frozen bitterleaf works well when properly thawed and washed.

Q2. Is cocoyam compulsory?
👉 Cocoyam is traditional, but can be replaced with yam flour if necessary.

Q3. How bitter should the soup be?
👉 Mild bitterness is ideal and culturally preferred.

Q4. Can I cook bitterleaf soup without palm oil?
👉 Palm oil is traditional, but you may reduce it for dietary reasons.

Q5. How long does bitterleaf soup last?
👉 Up to 3 days refrigerated, or 2 months frozen.

If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like to check out the following Nigerian recipes.

Final Thought 🌿❤️

Mastering how to make bitterleaf soup connects you directly to Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage. This comforting, powerful soup is more than food—it’s culture, nourishment, and tradition in one pot. With this guide, you can confidently prepare bitterleaf soup that is authentic, flavorful, and unforgettable.

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