Afang Soup (Spinach and Okazi leaves) – slimy-textured soup loaded with chunks of protein and spices and seasonings. A healthy way of adding more greens to your table. Best paired with your favorite starchy side.
I first had a sampling of this alluring dish at an African restaurant, in Los Angeles , and all sorts of good memories flooded my brain. I instantly took a fondness for this soup . It reminded me of eru (a soup that is cooked in Cameroon using the same ingredients). This one is slippery , and oh so tasty!
Afang Soup is of Nigerian origin–a much-celebrated recipe from the efik ethnic group in the southern part of Nigeria –and often served at ceremonial occasions such as weddings, child birth and to honored guests. It has spread its wings throughout Nigeria and has been embraced in neighboring countries.
It is a slippery vegetable soup loaded with chunks of multifarious meats – smoked and fresh meat, any that you can lay your hands on. The star vegetable in this soup is shredded afang leaves which is known by various names- “eru“or “kok” in Cameroon, “Ukazi” or “Okazi” in Nigeria and different parts of Africa.
Traditionally the leaves are sliced thin, then pounded with mortar and pestle and mixed with waterleaves to achieve the slimy consistency. Most people living abroad do not own this tool, but the same effect can be achieved by blending the afang leaves in a food processor into a bristly consistency. Be extra careful during the blending process (the leaves should not be pureed), because it would ruin the soup’s consistency.
Okazi leaves are not available in major supermarkets. So, if you are living abroad you can locate these leaves in most African stores and even online. Swap the water leaves for spinach it would not hurt. The other ingredients crayfish, palm oil, meat can be found in most Asian or Hispanic stores depending on your city.
Afang soup is generally eaten with pounded yam or any sort of fufu or eba and is best served warm.
Watch How To Make It
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Afang Soup
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Ingredients
- 1-2 pounds of meat tripe, cowskin, meat
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 2 maggie cubes or 2 tablespoons bouillon
- 1/2 pound smoked fish
- 1/2 cup crayfish
- 1-2 cups of red oil
- 5 cups okazi leaves
- 6 cups fresh waterleaves I used spinach
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Soak the dried okazi leaves for about 10 minutes or more, wash and drain the water.
- In medium–sized sauce pan boil meat, season with salt, pepper, and Maggie, and onions until tender (approximately 20-40 minutes depending on the choice of meat). You can shorten this process in half by using a pressure cooker. Reserve the stock
- Boil the cow skin and tripe together or you may do so separately until tender. Drain the water from the cow skin, and tripe.
- In a large pot combine all the meat and smoked fish with about 1- 2 cups of the stock.
- If using smoked fish, pick out the bones and cut it chunks, add to the pot of meat. Cook for about 3-5 minutes.
- Pulse the okazi leaves in a blender or food processor with a little bit of water to make it pliable.
- Repeat the same process with the chopped fresh spinach.
- Stir in the oil, Maggie and crayfish. Cover and let it simmer for a couple of minutes -3-5
- Add the okazi leaves to the pot, stir, then include the spinach.
- Mix everything together and let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Adjust for seasonings salt, pepper, and Maggie.
- Serve warm with eba.
Tips & Notes:
.Feel free to include periwrinkle in this meal - am not a big fan
.If you really want it slimmy blend one okra with the spinach
Nutrition Information:
Marvel says
I tried it and it came out finger licking good
I loved this recipe so much
Thank you
Imma says
You are more than welcome. And if there’s a recipe you’d love to see, please let me know. Thanks:)
Judith says
I don’t have a blender or mortar, how can I go ahead with the okazi pls
Imma says
If you don’t have an electrical appliance to chop the okaze, you can dice it with a knife. I like fast, so I use a food processor. Hope that helps:)
Mbonu Oluchukwu says
I didn’t see you add waterleaf in the video. Is it optional? I saw it in the recipe.
Immaculate Bites says
Hi Mbonu! I used spinach for this 🙂
Omolola says
Well done ma…this look sumptuous. But is it a must I blend the akazi leaves?.
Thanks in anticipation for your reply.
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Omolola! No problem, you can use the okazi leaves without blending. It will still taste great. Thanks for stopping by 🙂 !
Emelia ini nelson says
Thank you very much o…..I tried it for the first time this evening and my husband liked it so well…..thanks to u o. Am grateful
Imma Adamu says
You are welcome. Thank you for coming back here to let me know.
Anna says
I will be trying this tomorrow to surprise my boyfriend who is from Akwa Ibom! I’m excited!!
ImmaculateBites says
He is going to love it .
All the best!
word says
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Usman nafisat says
Nice one am sure gonna try this.
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you. Thanks,
Owate says
I tried the cooking the Afang soup and it came out brillantly
ImmaculateBites says
Fantastic! Thanks for letting me know Owate.
Katherine says
Nice recipe, keep it up ma
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks!
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ImmaculateBites says
Thanks for alerting me Dooney. Will be contacting you soon.
Michelle says
I love your site, the pictures are beautiful!
Edith Achebodt says
Just the thought of this with eba! eeeeeh, will try this!
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