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Home / Types / African / African Dinner

Achu Soup (Yellow Soup) & Achu

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Author: Imma Published:2/07/2014Updated:5/22/2021
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Achu Soup (Yellow Soup) & Achu –  gloriously yellow, delicate soup prepared mostly in Cameroonian home cooking and fairly common in the Western and North West province. It is always paired with mashed/pounded achu coco (taro).

Achu Soup

If you have been looking for a recipe for Achu soup also known as (Yellow soup ) sauce jaune – here you go…

This has been on my blog to do list forever, but kept putting it off for one reason or another until now. I am starting the New Year with this one- a hometown favorite!

This gloriously yellow, delicate soup can be superb or catastrophic, depending on whether you carry out certain essential points. Traditionally it is made with a collision and fusion of beef or chicken broth, red oil, limestone and a variation of spices.

Achu soup

To be honest, most of the spices I really cannot identify by   name. They are always grouped together –sold as achu spice. That’s how I buy them.

The modern version of this soup is ridiculously easy to make .The liquid fusion can be accomplished using a blender –giving it an added dimension of smoothness; in less than 2 minutes you are done. How cool is that?

Achu soup

This dish is typical of Cameroonian home cooking, fairly common in the Western and North West province. It is always paired with mashed/pounded achu coco (taro). Here ,I used the food processor to blend the achu coco. If you have a mortar and pestle and desire a smooth consistency and perfect texture, then by all means use it! For mortals like us, this is as good as it gets.

Before you pound away … here is a question for you. Is Ok to eat Achu soup with a spoon? Yes or No?

Watch How to Make It

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Achu Soup (Yellow Soup) & Achu
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Achu Soup

Achu Soup (Yellow Soup) & Achu -  gloriously yellow, delicate soup prepared mostly in Cameroonian home cooking and fairly common in the Western and North West province. It is always paired with mashed/pounded achu coco (taro).
4.50 from 6 votes
Prep: 20 minutes mins
Cook: 1 hour hr
Total: 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
African
Servings 3 -4

Ingredients

  • 1-2 pounds of assorted meat beef, tripe, cow skin
  • 6-7 cups stock or/and water
  • 1 tablespoon bouillon powder or maggie
  • 1 tablespoon ground limestone
  • 2 tablespoon ground achu spice
  • 1/2 cup warm red oil
  • 1 hot pepper Scotch bonnet/Habenero
  • 4-5 pounds of Coco yams Taro
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • In medium –sized saucepan boil meat, season with salt, hot pepper, and Maggie until tender (approximately 30-60 minutes depending on the choice of meat). You can shorten this process in half by using a pressure cooker. Reserve the stock (preferably 6 cups or more).
  • Boil the cow skin and tripe together or you may do so separately until tender. Remove cow skin, tripe. Set aside
  • Let the stock come to room temperature before using.
  • While meat is boiling grind limestone and warm
  • In a blender, pulse stock, limestone, oil and achu spice, until all the ingredients have been fully incorporated and it has turned into yellowish color.
  • Adjust salt and Maggie according to taste.

Tips & Notes:

-You can purchase taro in Asian super markets , Indian supermarkets and African stores.
-Achu spice can only be purchased at some African stores- mainly Cameroonian owned)
Make sure your broth is flavorful ( right amount of pepper , salt and maggie)
-A little bit of smoked fish adds another dimension to this dish.
Some people include crayfish -you may do so while boiling the meat
-The key to a good achu soup is the right combination limestone and oil( if soup separates , then add a little bit of limestone and pulse again.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 178kcal (9%)| Carbohydrates: 1g| Protein: 32g (64%)| Fat: 4g (6%)| Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)| Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g| Monounsaturated Fat: 1g| Trans Fat: 1g| Cholesterol: 97mg (32%)| Sodium: 177mg (8%)| Potassium: 608mg (17%)| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Sugar: 1g (1%)| Vitamin A: 188IU (4%)| Vitamin C: 23mg (28%)| Calcium: 10mg (1%)| Iron: 1mg (6%)
Author: Imma
Course: Main
Cuisine: African
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IMG_3395

 

IMG_3390

Warm oil to get it into liquid form( you may do so on the stove or in a microwave)

IMG_3391

Crush limestone using a rolling pin or just purchase the ground one.

IMG_3396

IMG_3379

Boil meat until tender  ( depends on type of meat used ). For a more flavorful achu soup include smoked fish. Remove  meat and reserve broth. Let it cool.

IMG_3400

Place  broth in the blender together with achu spice, oil, limestone and palm oil

IMG_3402

Like this! Pulse several times

IMG_3406

To get this consistency

IMG_3404

Adjust for salt and maggie

IMG_3441

Voila achu soup- you may add the meat at the point or serve with meat on the side.

Taro

Boil taro until tender( about 45 minutes). Drain water and let it dry out.

Taro

Carefully  peel away the skin using a knife(sometimes they come off easily without a knife). Cut in medium pieces

IMG_3438

Puree taro( cocoyams ) in a food processor  into a fine consistency ( do not use any water)

IMG_3466-2

Wrap in plastic paper -serve warm

 

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Comments & Reviews
  1. Kelly says

    Posted on 4/9 at 8:37AM

    Thank you!! Very easy to follow! My first attempt at Achu and yellow soup, My husband approves only thing is my soup isn’t that yellow (more of a dark yellow / brown) and I think a bit too watery, the oil seems to not have mixed into the stock enough? What can I do better next time? Any tips? X

    Reply
    • Imma says

      Posted on 4/11 at 1:34PM

      Thanks for trying the recipe. Sometimes I emulsify it with an immersion blender. That should also lighten up the color.

      Reply
  2. Kathyleen says

    Posted on 9/18 at 8:14AM

    4 stars
    Thanks for the recipe.i did mine but it was a little bit bitter even after seasoning with salt and maggi.Am I missing anything?

    Reply
    • Imma says

      Posted on 9/19 at 9:05AM

      I’m so sorry that happened. I honestly don’t know why it would be bitter. How does your palm (red) oil taste? Sometimes oil gets bitter.

      Reply
  3. Esther Homawoo says

    Posted on 11/20 at 4:14PM

    I make this dish often, but I would like to know how to warm achy left over. Thank you!

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 11/22 at 12:21PM

      You can reheat it in the microwave, Esther. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Edika says

    Posted on 2/6 at 2:31PM

    Thank you!!!! I have loved Achu from childhood but never known how to make it. Now I can! Yay!!!!
    Question: is there a way to make the soup thicker? I tend to think mine is too watery…

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 2/14 at 5:41PM

      So happy to hear this . Add a tablespoon or so of the pounded cocoyams to thickened it

      Reply
  5. Larissa Young says

    Posted on 12/2 at 9:54AM

    Thanks Imma!. Your recipe is perfect!

    This is my first time making achu soup-it came out delicious. It’s my first time making the cocoyam in the blender. I have assisted in the pounding before, but it is a serious workout:-) So I decided to try the blender today. It came out perfect.

    My aunt(the achu expert in the family) will be very surpised when she comes home to my achu this evening.

    My children will be happy with lunch today. Pleasant surprises all around. Thanks again for the recipe!

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 12/2 at 4:37PM

      Hi Larissa!
      Thank you, Glad it worked out well .I really appreciate you taking time out to share your thoughts with us . Happy Holidays

      Reply
  6. Trinity says

    Posted on 10/18 at 10:20AM

    5 stars
    I discovered a lovely shop within walking distance that has achu spice. I love taro so this recipe really spoke to me. The flavors warm you soul. I’m making for friends tomorrow!

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 10/18 at 3:36PM

      Do let us know how it works for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

      Reply
  7. Precious says

    Posted on 7/8 at 4:53PM

    Thank you so much for the information provided. I have always wondered how Achu is prepared. Please, can you help with listing out the Achu spices? I do not have any Cameroonian food shop around and I will really like to know the spices to get from my local market. Thanks again.

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 7/9 at 6:01AM

      Hi Precious! So glad to have you here!
      The achu species are many and sometimes varied. Truth is I know their traditional names, but this may be unfamiliar to many vendors. Your best bet would be to have the Achu Spice mix.

      Reply
  8. Bertrand says

    Posted on 2/16 at 9:40PM

    Thank you very much for taking the mystery ot of this thingfthing for me. First time making yellow soup and it was 100% dope. Its one of my fav dishes and I’ll probably be making it every Sunday. Way easier that I thought.

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 2/17 at 3:06PM

      Awesome! I’m so glad you’ll be making it again. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Enjoy!

      Reply
  9. eta says

    Posted on 4/1 at 4:12AM

    hi Imma thanks for this recipe i will most definitely try it tomorrow thanks

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 4/2 at 7:20AM

      Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you. Thanks !

      Reply
      • Mina Ekole says

        Posted on 5/4 at 10:59AM

        Can I use a pot to pound the coco yam ?

      • Imma says

        Posted on 5/6 at 1:28AM

        If that’s what you have, go for it . Hope it goes well once you try it please share your experience.

  10. Mira says

    Posted on 10/17 at 11:52PM

    Thanks for this. But please I have a worry, what is the role of the local species of bananas added to the cocoayam by some Cameroonians?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 10/21 at 6:06AM

      It helps to give the coco yams a soft and smooth texture.

      Reply
      • Annick says

        Posted on 6/18 at 4:58AM

        What happens if you peel your cocoyams before boiling?

      • ImmaculateBites says

        Posted on 6/19 at 9:26AM

        Hi Annick. Peeling the cocoyams might end up with mushy cocoyams. Leaving the peeling on ensures that it is soft but not too wet. Hope this helps :)!

  11. Bo says

    Posted on 10/9 at 4:51PM

    This was of great help. I am in the US and can’t seem to find limestone. Would you have a suggestion of what company packages it or where to find it?

    B

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 10/14 at 7:05AM

      Check out this market here . They do carry it http://tropicalfoodinc.com

      Reply
      • Fannie Ngekia says

        Posted on 8/17 at 12:35PM

        I need to find limestone. Where can I?

      • Immaculate Bites says

        Posted on 8/17 at 6:34PM

        Hi Fannie! Check out this market here . They do carry it http://tropicalfoodinc.com

  12. Okah says

    Posted on 7/2 at 5:55AM

    Thanks, but could you also give us the nutritive value of thus wonderful dish?

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 7/3 at 4:47PM

      Ill do my best to do a nutritional analysis on this.

      Reply
      • Mira says

        Posted on 10/17 at 11:44PM

        I love this dish do much but fear sometimes think I can’t make it. With this briefing I now believe I can do it. More grace to you

      • imma africanbites says

        Posted on 10/19 at 7:01PM

        Can’t wait for you to try this, Mira. Please do let me know how it works for you.

  13. Andreas says

    Posted on 1/30 at 10:37AM

    Hello Immaculate!

    My wife (western Cameroonian) and me (German) are discussing about the function of the limestone in this soup. Please, could you tell me, what does the limestone do in this dish? What happens, if there is no limestone used?

    Yours thankfully

    Andreas

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 1/31 at 8:27AM

      Hi Andreas!

      I hear you! We’ve have had many discussions centered around this soup and limestone before . Limestone stone helps in emulsifying the broth and oil. You can’t blend water and oil together without some sort of chemical to keep it together.
      And that’s the role of limestone. It helps break down the the oil and broth together to form the yellowish color, inherent in achu soup.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
      • Nangah Nadine says

        Posted on 5/12 at 6:00AM

        That’s why at my restaurant I use (Nikki. Plantain peels) rather than limestone.

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