Welcome to Chefsbase. On this page, you will learn how to cook Banga soup in Nigeria, and the part of the country with the best version of the soup.

As I had earlier said, today we will discuss how to make Banga soup (Ofe Akwu) as it is known in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Banga Soup or Ofe Akwu can also be called ‘Palm Fruit Soup’.

This soup is also eaten by people in the Niger Delta area. Here’s how to make Banga soup (Ofe Akwu). Let’s get started! 

Banga Soup Recipe

Gather your ingredients and get ready to learn how to cook a mouthwatering pot of Banga Soup! This traditional Nigerian dish, also called Ofe Akwu, is a rich and flavorful soup made from palm nuts.

It is often served with pounded yam, Garri, or fufu. Follow this simple recipe to impress your family and friends with a real taste of Nigeria.

Ingredients 

1. Beef

2. 1 kilogram of palm fruits or 800 grams of tinned palm fruit concentrate

3. Dried crushed bitter leaves or scent leaves

4. 2 medium onion bulbs

5. Dry fish

6. 2 tablespoons of ground crayfish

7. Locust beans

8. Chili pepper

9. Seasoning cube

10. Salt

How to Cook Banga Soup

To learn How to make Banga soup, follow these steps:

• Before you begin cooking your Banga soup, prepare your ingredients. Extract your concentrated palm oil from the palm fruits, if you are using the palm fruits. If you are using the concentrated tinned palm fruit oil, then, open your tin and keep it aside.

• Place your washed beef in a saucepan, add your dry fish, seasoning cubes, one diced onion bulb and some water. Cook until it is done.

• Wash and cut the scent leaves or use your dried and crushed bitter leaves, depending on your preference. You can, however, choose to cook your Banga soup without any vegetables.

• Grind the crayfish, locust beans, and pepper. Dice the remaining onion bulb and set it aside.

• Place your pot of palm oil extract on high heat and cook until red oil comes up to the surface of the Banga. If your soup is not as thick as you want it to be, then cook until it thickens.

• Add the cooked beef, dry fish and stock to the soup. Also, add your ground crayfish and pepper and simmer for about five minutes.

• Add your scent leaves or dried and crushed bitter leaves to the soup. Add your salt at this point and leave to simmer for about two minutes.

Your Banga soup is ready to eat. But, if you are using tinned concentrated palm fruit, simply add it to your cooked fish and beef with the stock and follow the remaining steps to make your Banga soup.