Category: nigerian food

Hey guys, first thing I want to do is apologize for being MIA. When you get married, your whole life changes! I went from going to school and working (thinking about myself) to now a full-time wife who has think about what her husband will eat Lol. I am so thankful for this new chapter in my life, because of my husband it has given me new recipe ideas and inspiration.

Ofe Nsala (white soup) is One of my all-time favorites Nigerian soup. It’s a white based soup made with fresh fish and uziza leaf. Many tribes in Nigeria make this soup in different versions. As you know I’m front the Igbo tribe, we make this soup with the native leaf Uziza or utazi leaf.

I consulted my sister in-law for some tips on how to make ofe-Nsala, the traditional way. She came all the way through, Thanks Vi-Vi.

I hope you enjoy this authentic recipe, it will surely bring home to your taste buds.

Ingredients

1 large catfish (skin on, chopped into 6-8 pieces)

1/4 c of crayfish

2 Tbsp of pepe soup mix

1/4 cup of uZiza leaf

2-3 pieces of cut yam

2 Tbsp of red pepper

3 Maggi cubes

1 tbsp of ogiri

1 small onion

Stock fish ( I uses a small amount )

1 small dry fish

2 pepe

Prep

Boil yam and stock fish until tender. Mash yam in mortar or blend with small water in blender.

Soak dry fish in warm water

Blend 2 pepe (habanero or scotch bonnet) with small water

Begin

Take the cat fish and place into a large pot. Cover the catfish with water. Begin to season with 1 Maggi cube, onion powder , salt and pepper. Add in 1 small chopped onions. Bring to a boil, cook only for 6-10 minutes. You want to parboil the fish, to make a fish broth. Remove fish from the broth. (your fish should be half way cooked)

Next Add into the broth, the crayfish, ogiri , pepper, Maggie cubes, pepper soup mix, and uziza leaves. Also add in your dry fish and stock fish. Bring to a boil while stirring.

Next add your pounded yam paste, table spoon by table spoon. Continue to cook on medium- high heat while stirring . The pounded yam will melt into the soup. Continue to add more pounded yam to your preference, depending on how thick you want your soup.

Lastly add your catfish back into the soup . Continue to cook on low for about 5-10 minutes making sure your catfish is done.

Enjoy with Pounded yam.

Please drop your questions below.