Igbo bitter leaf soup with oxtail, stockfish, palm oil and ground egusi — a rich, complex Nigerian classic.
Ofe onugbu (bitter leaf soup) is one of the defining dishes of Igbo cuisine in southeastern Nigeria. Fresh or dried bitter leaves (which are washed repeatedly to tame their bitterness) are cooked with oxtail, stockfish, palm oil and sometimes ground egusi seeds in a deeply savoury soup. The gentle residual bitterness of the leaves is what gives the soup its distinctive character and is prized, not avoided.
Serves 6
Season oxtail and pressure cook with stockfish, 1 stock cube and enough water to cover for 45 minutes until very tender. Reserve cooking stock.
Wash bitter leaves repeatedly in 5–6 changes of water, squeezing each time, until the bitterness is reduced to a pleasant level. Squeeze dry and roughly chop.
If using egusi, stir-fry ground egusi in the palm oil for 5 minutes until golden. Add blended scotch bonnet and cook 3 more minutes.
Add reserved oxtail stock, cooked oxtail and stockfish. Add crayfish and remaining stock cube. Simmer 15 minutes.
Add prepared bitter leaves. Stir well. Simmer 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve with pounded yam or eba.
Washing the bitter leaves 5–6 times is necessary — too bitter is inedible, too mild loses the point.
Stockfish (dried Norwegian cod) is essential for authentic Igbo soup flavour — find it in African grocery stores.
The soup should be quite thick — add stock to adjust consistency.
Replace stockfish with smoked mackerel if unavailable.
Add cocoyam paste (oha) as a thickener in the traditional Igbo method.
Refrigerate for 3 days. Reheat slowly — the palm oil separates and re-integrates on heating.
Ofe onugbu is one of the oldest and most ceremonially significant soups in Igbo culture. It is traditionally served at traditional weddings, new yam festivals and important family gatherings.
West African grocery stores stock fresh or frozen bitter leaves. They are different from bittergourd. In Igbo they are called onugbu; in Yoruba ewuro.
Per serving · 6 servings total
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