Introducing how to make oha soup📢
How to Make Oha Soup is a question many lovers of Nigerian cuisine often ask when they encounter this rich delicacy. Oha Soup is one of the most cherished dishes from Eastern Nigeria, deeply rooted in Igbo tradition and culture. Known for its distinct flavour from Oha leaves, this hearty soup is not just food—it is a sentimental symbol of family, celebration, and togetherness.
If you’re curious about how to make Oha Soup the traditional way, this comprehensive guide will cover everything from the ingredients and equipment to nutritional facts and expert tips for perfecting this authentic recipe.
Table of Contents
Why Learning How to Make Oha Soup is Special🥘
Learning how to make Oha Soup connects you to a rich cultural heritage. Unlike other Nigerian soups, Oha Soup is unique because its tender Oha leaves are never cut with knives but torn by hand to retain their natural flavor. When blended with cocoyam paste as a thickener, assorted meats, fish, and palm oil, this soup offers a deeply satisfying and earthy taste that keeps families and guests coming back for more.
Oha Soup Ingredients You’ll Need📝
To learn how to make Oha Soup correctly, gather these essential ingredients:
- Fresh Oha leaves 🌿
- Cocoyam (ede) – boiled and pounded/blended (thickener)
- Palm oil – 1 cup
- Assorted meats (goat meat, beef, cow skin, etc.)
- Stockfish and dry fish
- Ground crayfish – 2 tablespoons
- Ogiri (fermented locust beans – optional but adds flavour)
- Seasoning cubes (to taste)
- Fresh pepper (scotch bonnet)
- Salt (to taste)
- Water or meat stock
Equipment Needed to Make Oha Soup🍳
Before diving into how to make Oha Soup, ensure you have:
- Large cooking pot
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Mortar and pestle (for pounding cocoyam) or blender
- Knife (for meats and other ingredients, not for Oha leaves)
- Bowls for prepping ingredients
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Oha Soup🔪
The process of preparing oha (ora) soup and onubu (bitterleaf) soup is quite similar. Nevertheless, the two soups differ significantly in terms of the main vegetable used. While oha (ora) soup primarily features oha (ora) as its vegetable, bitterleaf (onubu) soup, on the other hand, uses bitterleaf (onubu) as its main ingredient. Despite the similarities in their preparation methods, these soups have distinctly different flavours, and it’s hard to believe they were made using similar ingredients.
Step 1: Prepare the cocoyam
- To start learning how to make Oha Soup, boil the cocoyam until soft, peel, and pound into a smooth paste.
- Alternatively, blend until smooth. This thickener will give the soup its creamy texture.
Step 2: Cook the meats and fish
- Season and cook the assorted meats, stockfish, and dry fish with salt, pepper, and seasoning cubes.
- Allow them to simmer until tender, releasing a rich stock.
Step 3: Add palm oil and cocoyam paste
- Pour palm oil into the boiling stock, then drop in small lumps of cocoyam paste.
- Stir gently until the soup thickens to the desired consistency.
Step 4: Add crayfish and ogiri
- Introduce ground crayfish and ogiri to enhance the traditional flavour.
- Allow the mixture to simmer for a few minutes.
Step 5: Add the Oha leaves 🌿
- Tear the Oha leaves by hand (never cut with a knife) and add them last.
- Simmer for just 2–3 minutes to preserve their freshness and nutrients.
Your Nigerian Oha Soup Recipe is now ready to be served with pounded yam, eba, wheat, semolina, or fufu.
Oha soup served with swallow
Expert Tips on How to Make Oha Soup Perfectly💡
- Always tear Oha leaves by hand to preserve their natural oils and flavour.
- Avoid overcooking Oha leaves, as they lose freshness quickly.
- Adjust cocoyam paste to achieve your preferred soup thickness.
- For a richer taste, combine different proteins like stockfish, cow skin, and goat meat.
Oha Soup Recipe
Oha (Ora) Soup
Ingredients
- 2 kg Beef/ Chicken/lamb/turkey or your preferred protein cow tripe (shaki) will add more flavour
- Stockfish
- Smoked fish
- 1 tbsp Ogiri Igbo
- Periwinkle optional
- Ground crayfish
- Ponmo
- 3 cooking spoon of Palm Oil
- Red Onions optional
- 1 kg Cocoyam or Achi ( Soup Thickeners)
- Oha leaves cut using a knife or shredding with your fingers
- Uziza leaves Chopped
- Seasonings to taste
- Salt to taste
- Water/Stock
- Fresh Pepper
Instructions
- Wash the meat (protein of your choice) and cook it with preferred seasonings. let simmer for 5 minutes, then put a little water, cover and let cook till meat is tender.
- You can either add cocoyam while cooking the meat so it can cook together to save time or cook the cocoyam separately.
- After cooking the meat properly, add 2 cups of water. Then add palm oil and let it cook for ten more minutes. Remove the cocoyam and pound it in a mortar, or blend it using a blender or food processor.
- Add ground crayfish, ground pepper, and salt. Allow it to cook for an additional seven minutes.
- Add the pounded cocoyam paste or achi. Before adding achi to your soup, make sure to dissolve it in a little water. Cook for 3 minutes.
- Add Oziza leaves before adding Oha leaves.
- Allow it to cook for a minute and then switch off the heat.
- The delicious Oha soup you have been waiting for is now ready.
Notes
Nutritional Information (Approx. per Serving)🥗
One cup of Oha soup is around 235.8 grams and contains approximately↗;
- Calories: ~283.0 kcal
- Protein: 18.9 g
- Fat: 14.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Vitamins A, C, and B-complex (from Oha leaves and palm oil)
- Minerals: Calcium, Iron, Magnesium
Health Benefits of Oha Soup
- Antioxidant Properties: The herbs and spices used in Oha soup may have antioxidant properties↗,
helping to combat oxidative stress in the body. - Digestive Health: The soup is often made with ingredients that can aid digestion and support gut health, which is vital for overall well-being.
- Anti-Inflammatory: Many of the ingredients used in Oha soup have anti-inflammatory effects↗,
which can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases. - Hydration: The soup is typically served in a broth, which can help in maintaining hydration.
- Cultural Significance: Beyond its nutritional value, Oha soup holds cultural importance and is often used in celebrations and family gatherings, promoting social well-being.
Incorporating Oha soup into a balanced diet can provide these health benefits while also delivering a taste of rich cultural heritage. Imagine the goodness of Oha soup woven into your daily meals, offering not just a burst of flavor but also a connection to a rich cultural heritage. This delicious dish is more than just a treat for your taste buds; it’s a powerhouse of health benefits that can elevate your balanced diet. Each spoonful is a step toward better nutrition and a delightful way to explore tradition. So, why not savor this culinary gem and nourish your body with the vibrant essence of Oha soup? Your palate and your health will thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)🙋🏽♀️
Q1: What makes Oha Soup unique?
👉The fresh Oha leaves and cocoyam paste thickener make Oha Soup stand out from other Nigerian soups.
Q2: Can I use a knife to cut Oha leaves?
👉No, when learning how to make Oha Soup, tradition emphasizes tearing the leaves by hand to maintain flavor.
Q3: What can I eat Oha Soup with?
👉It pairs best with pounded yam, eba, wheat, semolina, or fufu.
Q4: Can I replace cocoyam with achi?
👉Yes, achi can be used as an alternative thickener, though cocoyam gives the most authentic texture.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you might also like to check out the following Nigerian recipes.
How to make egusi soup (boiled method)
How to make egusi soup (Moulded method)
How to make egusi soup (fried method)
How to make bitterleaf soup
How to make okra soup (ofe okwuru)
How to make fisherman’s soup
How to make ofe Owerri soup
How to make ogbono soup (ofe ogbono)
How to make seafood okra
- 9 Proven Health Benefits of Milk You Need to Know🌟
- Authentic Abacha Recipe (African Salad): A Traditional Igbo Delight with Ngu (Potash)🌿
- Authentic Okpa Recipe (Bambara Nut Pudding): A Nutritious Nigerian Delight🌟
- Adalu Recipe (Beans and Corn Porridge): A Comforting Nigerian Delight 🌽✨
- Boli Recipe (Roasted Plantain): A Complete Guide to Nigeria’s Beloved Street Food
Did you make this recipe? Please do leave a comment and rating on the blog. Tag us your picture on Instagram @real9jakitchen
