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Home / Courses / Soups

5 African Soups

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Author: Imma Published:3/07/2017Updated:4/02/2021
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Soups are popular all over Africa in various forms, in combination with meat, fish, and vegetables. Unlike other cultures, soups are an accompaniment to most starchy side dishes. These are especially prevalent in West African Countries. Here are 5 Traditional African Soups that you will want to make all year round.

Four delicious African Soups to Feed Your Soul
  1. Bitter Leaf Soup (Ofe Onugbu in Nigeria) is a robust soup loaded with assorted meats. But it’s not bitter at allust full of deliciousness. Serve with your favorite poultry.
Bitter Leaf Soup in a white bowl

 

2. Egusi, aka Egwusi  Soup, is an exotic soup enjoyed in various parts of West Africa and goes by different aliases. Egusi is a wild member of the gourd family with very dry skin and bitter flesh but is exceptionally nutritious. This one below has lumps in it. Check out Cabbage Egusi Soup and Egusi Soup recipes, too.

Egusi soup with lumps with fufu in the background.

 3. African Groundnut Soup – So creamy, delicious, and filling, it’s brimming with flavor and comes together quickly. A vibrant stew with a tempting combination of flavors – garlic, ginger, herbs, and, of course, a little bit of spice. Get your rice ready or plantains ready.

Peanut stew and chicken in a pot.

3. Pepper Soup – African pepper soup is a delightfully intense soup popular throughout West Africa, especially in Nigeria, Cameroon, and neighboring African countries. I made this one with chicken, but you can customize it to suit your tastes buds and available spices. Then throw in some plantains for a one-pot meal.

African Pepper Soup with chicken and a Scotch bonnet.

4. Okro Soup – Simple yet delicious and aromatic, this Okro Soup is loaded with spinach, shrimp, and smoked meat. Don’t forget crayfish to make it truly African.

Okro soup in a white bowl with fufu in the background.

5. Cassava Leaf Soup, also known as saka saka or pondu, is a simple yet tasty and substantial soup widely consumed in many parts of Central Africa, especially Sierra Leone and Liberia. This cassava leaf soup has beef, smoked chicken, crayfish, and shrimp. Serve with white rice, and you’re all set!

Cassava leaf soup with shrimp in a white bowl.

Which one is your favorite African soup? I love African Pepper Soup, but try the one that looks best to you. Let me know how it went in the comments below. Enjoy!!

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Comments & Reviews
  1. Casey Israel says

    Posted on 1/24 at 6:12PM

    I love you for this website I can finally get to my roots. All my favorite African dishes in 1 stop God bless you

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 1/24 at 6:15PM

      Thanks so much.

      Reply
  2. DEXTER BROMONE HALL SR says

    Posted on 1/2 at 3:42AM

    Good morning ImmaculateBites,

    I am looking for a recipe called fried Collard Greens. I have discovered bites and pieces but I would like to have the full recipe, can you help me out. Thank you in advance.

    Dexter B Hall

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 1/3 at 4:35AM

      I don’t have any recipe yet. This one comes close – just switch out the cabbage and use collard greens instead

      Reply
  3. Arielle B says

    Posted on 9/1 at 8:26AM

    Bonjour Imma,
    Merci de partager tes petits secrets de cuisine avec nous. Je pense avoir lu que tu as des origines camerounaises. Egusi , c’est quoi chez nous? Le pistache?

    Bon weekend.

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 9/1 at 11:28AM

      Salut Arielle! Oui, c’est du pistache. Merci!

      Reply
  4. Michelle says

    Posted on 8/18 at 1:59PM

    Excellent web site kudos to you!! Egusi soup try it with coconut oil or plain the oil from the egsui is then white egusi soup really nice with rice and eba.. Brilliant keep it up. Buns is similar to puff puff will sent to you the receipe. I try to eat very less of palm oil .Agbono is similar to okra I don’t if you see it in the states at all. Very popular in Nigeria.

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 8/19 at 4:46AM

      Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share!

      Reply
  5. Chiazor says

    Posted on 7/25 at 5:16PM

    Hello,
    Just stumbled unto your blog while searching for a gumbo recipe…I’m so impressed! I’ve never seen anyone that can do southern, carribean, and African cuisine. I was especially pleased to see your puff-puff recipe, it’s the one thing my mom doesn’t make, I can’t wait to try to out. Thank you and keep up the great work!

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 7/26 at 10:20AM

      Thanks for the compliment Chiazor! So glad you are here . Do let me know how it works out for you.

      Reply
  6. Shayla says

    Posted on 5/4 at 5:45PM

    Hello, Do you have any vegan African, Caribbean recipes?…Really looking to make these soups but vegan style…

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 5/6 at 7:59AM

      Hello Shayla! I really don’t have soups but do have some rice recipes . Check it out here https://www.africanbites.com/african-rice-recipes/.

      Reply
  7. Elaine Stanley says

    Posted on 4/7 at 12:45PM

    Ex South African living in California. Thank you for hot cross bun recipes as I remember them. Will let you know as I am making them for my family next week. Pleased with overnight instructions.
    Love all your recipes touch of home.
    Keep up good work.
    Thanks again.

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 4/8 at 6:47AM

      Glad they are working out well for you. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

      Reply
  8. franca says

    Posted on 3/31 at 7:37AM

    love your recipe,. thanks

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 3/31 at 7:41PM

      Thank you so much!!!!

      Reply
  9. Florence says

    Posted on 3/11 at 8:04AM

    Love good food it makes me happy when am eating them

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 3/11 at 9:16PM

      Me too!!

      Reply
  10. Genah alexie says

    Posted on 3/10 at 3:55AM

    Very nice

    Reply
  11. Caroline Mboubog Nkembe says

    Posted on 3/8 at 11:14PM

    Very delicious. I love making pepper soup with fresh fish. Yummy

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 3/9 at 5:48AM

      Me too! Especially during this season.

      Reply
  12. Maureen says

    Posted on 3/7 at 10:50PM

    Wow delicious, will try out the cassava leaf soup, never tasted it before!!!

    Reply

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