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).
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.
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?
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?
Achu Soup
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:
-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:
Warm oil to get it into liquid form( you may do so on the stove or in a microwave)
Crush limestone using a rolling pin or just purchase the ground one.
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.
Place broth in the blender together with achu spice, oil, limestone and palm oil
Like this! Pulse several times
To get this consistency
Adjust for salt and maggie
Voila achu soup- you may add the meat at the point or serve with meat on the side.
Boil taro until tender( about 45 minutes). Drain water and let it dry out.
Carefully peel away the skin using a knife(sometimes they come off easily without a knife). Cut in medium pieces
Puree taro( cocoyams ) in a food processor into a fine consistency ( do not use any water)
Wrap in plastic paper -serve warm
Esther Homawoo says
I make this dish often, but I would like to know how to warm achy left over. Thank you!
ImmaculateBites says
You can reheat it in the microwave, Esther. 🙂
Edika says
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…
ImmaculateBites says
So happy to hear this . Add a tablespoon or so of the pounded cocoyams to thickened it
Larissa Young says
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!
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Larissa!
Thank you, Glad it worked out well .I really appreciate you taking time out to share your thoughts with us . Happy Holidays
Trinity says
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!
ImmaculateBites says
Do let us know how it works for you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Precious says
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.
ImmaculateBites says
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.
Bertrand says
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.
imma africanbites says
Awesome! I’m so glad you’ll be making it again. Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Enjoy!
eta says
hi Imma thanks for this recipe i will most definitely try it tomorrow thanks
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome! Do let me know how it works out for you. Thanks !
Mira says
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?
ImmaculateBites says
It helps to give the coco yams a soft and smooth texture.
Annick says
What happens if you peel your cocoyams before boiling?
ImmaculateBites says
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 :)!
Bo says
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
ImmaculateBites says
Check out this market here . They do carry it http://tropicalfoodinc.com
Fannie Ngekia says
I need to find limestone. Where can I?
Immaculate Bites says
Hi Fannie! Check out this market here . They do carry it http://tropicalfoodinc.com
Okah says
Thanks, but could you also give us the nutritive value of thus wonderful dish?
ImmaculateBites says
Ill do my best to do a nutritional analysis on this.
Mira says
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
Can’t wait for you to try this, Mira. Please do let me know how it works for you.
Andreas says
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
ImmaculateBites says
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.
Nangah Nadine says
That’s why at my restaurant I use (Nikki. Plantain peels) rather than limestone.