The Guide To Essential Nigerian Soups
The typical Nigerian diet is based on three fulcrums; stews, soups and starch-based pottages. Of the three, soups (usually eaten with a starch-based swallow) are an essential part of every Nigerian household’s diet. Our soups are a point of pride: we’re divided on our politics and religion, but we all agree on soups.
Every region in Nigeria has their native soups, but some of those dishes have crossed so many geographical locations that they have become staple everywhere.
For this list though, popularity is not the most important criteria, given the adaptability and appeal of our foods to different palates.
In curating an essential guide to Nigerian soups, the most important factor to consider are universality – soups that can be enjoyed by both Nigerians and foreigners, accessibility of ingredients, and ease of cooking.
In no particular order, here are our picks for the most essential Nigerian soups: both for seasoned denizens of Nigerian food and newbies who want a deeper introduction into our cuisine. We also added links to recipes curated by Nigerian tastemakers who develop recipes and or manage food businesses for a living.
Efo Riro (Stewed Amaranth Leaves)
Photo courtesy of 9jaFoodie
Efo riro is a vegetable stew with a Yoruba name that literally translates to “stirred vegetables”. It’s a quick, one-pot dish: a stew base of tomatoes, ata rodo (scotch bonnet pepper), tatashe (red bell peppers), and sombo (red chilli pepper) fried with palm oil, fish and meat stock and locust beans, in a bed of vegetables.
Even though efo is a soup and is traditionally eaten with swallow, adventurous eaters enjoy it with rice, boiled yams and other starchy sides.
Efo riro might be the easiest Nigerian soup to make. For novices, the traditional amaranthus leaves efo soko (aka Lagos spinach) or efo tete (green amaranth) can be substituted for spinach or other mixed leafy greens. Asides from mise en place, the entire cooking time is under 15 minutes.
Recipe: Here’s a detailed 3-part guide to cooking efo riro by 9ja Foodie.
Egusi (Melon Seed) Soup
Egusi, probably the most common Nigerian soup, often is a non-Nigerian’s initial introduction to Nigerian soups, and for good reason. It is accessible and presents like a relatable sauce.
Every region in Nigeria has a different way of cooking the seeds themselves- with varied results in soup thickness and taste.
One great thing about egusi soup is how adaptable it is. It works with different vegetables (or without any at all), meat or fish-based stock and melon seeds can be substituted for pumpkin, sesame and even almond seeds.
Recipe: Follow Kitchen Butterfly on a mouth-watering journey to Edo-style egusi with her recipe.
Okra Soup
Draw soup is a polarising dish - you either hate it or you love it - and okra is characteristically viscous and slimy, or as people like to call it, “drawy”. Okra soup may not be the best introduction to Nigerian soup for a novice, but it is a close second.
Seafood okra is perhaps the most elite of the variations of okra soups, and maybe the most globally-appealing. But even with tender boiled meat and stockfish, it’s always a hit.
There are two variations of okra soup -with and without ogbono, a seed that thickens and adds a characteristic gelatinous texture to the soup. Like most Nigerian soups, okra soup is not restricted to swallows - it can be a great accompaniment to white rice too if you’re feeling dangerous.
Recipe: For those looking for an adventure, Tobi Smith’s ‘draw soup’ okra recipe comes in handy.
Fish/Beef/Tripe Pepper-soup
Whether or not pepper-soup is soup is hotly debated, but it has the same basic taste profile as any broth-based Nigerian soup so it belongs on this list.
For one, pepper-soup is very adaptable to different diets and proteins like assorted meats and fish. An experienced chef knows that the heat profile of pepper-soup does not depend on “pepper”, but on spices. And so, this can be tuned down or up for different palates.
Recipe: When discussing a soup with such a wide range, Tobi Smith’s pepper-soup fish curry recipe comes to mind, especially now that it won’t stop raining in Lagos.
What's on your essential Nigerian soup list?