Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi leaves) – healthy satisfying Cameroonian green dish loaded with other protein and aromatics that will make you sing for joy. Best paired with your favorite starchy sides!
Nothing delivers flavor and finger-licking goodness with little fuss and even less time than Eru soup. When I decided to start a cooking blog, the first recipe that crossed my mind was eru. It was at the top of my list of recipes to make, for the blog, because I have been cooking for a very long time and if there is any dish that I how to cook really well, it’s Eru. So it would only feel natural to start with it.
I kept putting it off, in favor of other new recipes – baking up a storm in the kitchen. After making it this weekend, it reminded me of why I cook it often -my taste buds danced with joy. Wow! I can’t believe I had not made this in two months!
Eru soup is made using the creeping planting Gnetum africanum – an evergreen vine which grows wild in the forests of Central and West Africa. The leaves goes under different aliases; Okazi, Eru, Mfumbwa and Ukase depending on the region and country. Eru leaves are not readily available in stores; you can only buy them at African and Online stores. The soup gets its name from the leaves –eru soup. This meal is very similar to Afang soup (okazi leaves soup featured here)
There have been several reports that say; these very popular and nutritious leaves are on the extinct list; unorganized cultivating practices and extreme high demand, let to this conclusion. It would be a sad day for millions of people if that happens. Let’s hope not!!
This ever-pleasing meal is very popular in Cameroon and the Bayangis ( a tribe in the south west province in Cameroon ) love it . Most people are tempted to use an excessive amount of oil while preparing eru. I have made this several times with very little oil and is quite tasty. If you want healthy eru, cut back on oil and you can eat this meal frequently, guilt free.
Serve this soup with water –fufu (fermented cassava dough) or any fufu flour.
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi leaves) - healthy satisfying Cameroonian green dish loaded with other protein and aromatics that will make you sing for joy. Best paired with your favorite starchy sides!
- 2 pounds meat (beef, tripe, cow skin, smoked turkey)
- 1 1/2 pounds dried fish
- ¼ chopped onion
- 2-4 cups palm oil , you can use half corn oil and half palm oil
- 1/2 cup Ground crayfish
- 5-6 cups Dried chopped Ukazi
- 2 pounds of frozen spinach
- 2 Maggi/Bouillon
- Salt and pepper
- Scotch bonnet pepper optional
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Cut the beef in bite size chunks, season with salt, Maggi, and onions and cook until tender. Do the same with cow skin ( they are tough so they take a longer time to to get soft) in a . Use very little water while cooking the meat because eru does not need a lot of water . However, make sure you have at least 2 to 3 cups of stock from the beef. to use in cooking this dish.
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While the meat is cooking soak the dried Okazi/Eru leaves in hot water in a bowl to tenderize the leaves for approximately 10- 15 minutes. Rinse and drain
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Add the assorted meats - beef, cow skin, tripe a dried fish/ turkey to a large stock pot with at least 2 cups of stock. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
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Drain the frozen spinach and add to the pot of assorted meat and fish. Add crayfish and 2 tablespoon bouillon/ Maggi at this point stir, let it cook on medium heat (approximately 10 minutes).
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Add shredded Ukazi/Eru leaves, and red oil. Stir again thoroughly making sure all the contents in the pot blend together .Simmer for another 10 minutes, add stock /water if needed . The fragrant smell that erupts from the dish lets you know it is time to eat.
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Season to taste with salt and more Maggi as needed. ( I usually season my food with salt and Maggie as the dish progresses .)
Olivia says
14 Sep, 2018 at 3:24 pmGood evening from Germany. Thanks so much for publishing your receipe, I just tried it this evening and I am looking forward to the week-end. Though from Cameroon, I grew up outside the country and tried eru in Germany for the first time. It was love at first taste. My hubby and children love it and I’m looking forward to impress my guests. Many thanks and lots of love…
imma africanbites says
17 Sep, 2018 at 7:33 pmHi, Olivia! Glad I’m able to make you feel at home with my recipes. Hope to visit Germany, one day. 🙂
Sassyqueen says
8 Mar, 2018 at 2:55 pmWow….! Am so excited, prepared my Eru and Ukazi soup. So beautiful and tasteful. Thank you for uploading it and Happy Women’s Day!
ImmaculateBites says
11 Mar, 2018 at 7:21 amAwesome! Happy Women’s Day to you too!
Aminu Mohammad says
11 Jan, 2018 at 7:23 amOh thanks a lot, now I know how to prepare my favourite dish, I must not go to any restaurant again, I just need to do it myself …
ImmaculateBites says
12 Jan, 2018 at 6:28 amYes, you should. Homemade tastes even better.
Nendirnu says
17 Jun, 2017 at 4:04 amThanx so much ma,i’ve learned alot but i dont know if i can use this soup to eat rice?
ImmaculateBites says
17 Jun, 2017 at 5:00 pmIt’s best with Fufu. However, you can eat with whatever rocks your boat.
Summer says
9 Apr, 2017 at 11:59 amAwesome! I just made it and it came out delicious!!
ImmaculateBites says
9 Apr, 2017 at 1:55 pmAwesome! Glad to hear it worked out well for you.
LB says
17 Dec, 2016 at 7:31 pmImma,
I have been a fan of yours ever since I came across your site last year! I grew up mainly in US but have always loved my Cameroonian food ! Now that I am married to my beloved super duper Cameroonian sweetheart, I am enjoying being forced to learn the dishes I avoided when mama called me to the kitchen (what was I thinking resisting? LOL). I wanted to ask you if you have ever used frozen Ukazi? Thanks for your great recipes. I’ve made the baked jollof rice, coconut rice, and I look forward to making many more dishes.
ImmaculateBites says
20 Dec, 2016 at 6:59 pmAwesome Lb! Thank you so much for reading. AND taking the time to let me know your thoughts. I usually freeze mine if I have excess . And never had a problem with it. Frozen would do just fine. Happy Holidays!!!
Kenny says
25 Oct, 2016 at 9:14 amAs soon as I saw Eru I bookmarked your page. YOU ARE THE REAL MVP. All your dishes look and taste amazing, and I will be making some this weekend for a party. Thank you so much and keep up the awesome work. I will try to make eru without my mom’s help and see how that goes because it is my favorite dish. Cameroon in the house.
ImmaculateBites says
26 Oct, 2016 at 5:24 amHi kenny! Always happy to hear from a Camer. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. YOU are going to nail it!
L says
30 Jul, 2016 at 7:21 pmMy boyfriend is Cameroonian and I’m American. You helped me impress him greatly as this is his favorite dish!!! Thanks so much.
ImmaculateBites says
31 Jul, 2016 at 10:23 amMy Pleasure!! Thanks for giving it a try!
benazir khan says
4 Apr, 2016 at 6:18 pmover a week ago a friend came to my house she too is from cameroon her daughter sent me a surprise and it was the eru i had dinner already prepared for her and i tasted this and it was love at first bite the next morning it was my breakfast with gari and i was eating my fingers i am so happy that this young lady is liking to cook
ImmaculateBites says
5 Apr, 2016 at 8:06 amEru is such a great African dish . Glad you liked it
Pat says
9 Nov, 2016 at 11:05 amI read your recipe for eru. Sounds good and thanks for putting this recipe. However, I do think differently about the onion. Yes I know people have different taste and flavor.
ImmaculateBites says
9 Nov, 2016 at 12:03 pmThanks for the input Pat! I don’t make it any other way. All you get is added flavor with the onions. It’s hardly visibly anyways. To each it’s own.
WENDI says
6 Nov, 2015 at 1:38 amI never though i can cook like a cameroon woman until i married a man from Limbe. I am South African. This food taste so yummy even my family is deserting their own South African meals. Thanks for the easy recipes
ImmaculateBites says
6 Nov, 2015 at 11:12 amCooking like a Cameroonian Lady! You go Woman. Eru is pretty tasty! Glad your family is enjoying your hard work. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.
Miris Medjobuy says
1 Mar, 2015 at 9:25 pmFinally, found the easy way to prepare eru. I use to visit my friend because of the eru his mom makes. Now is time to only call him. Thanks ma’am Imma
ImmaculateBites says
2 Mar, 2015 at 8:01 amMiris it sure is easy to prepare eru. Glad to have saved you a trip.
B says
16 Jan, 2015 at 11:55 amThank you! Thank you! I’ve been looking for this recipe. My fiance is Cameroonian (Mankon) and I want to surprise him sometime soon.
ImmaculateBites says
16 Jan, 2015 at 12:00 pmHe is going to be thrilled with this. Let me know how it works out!
MadameSi says
19 Apr, 2014 at 5:28 pmTrying this dish for the first time for my Cameroonian husband for Easter. Send me your blessings!
ImmaculateBites says
19 Apr, 2014 at 8:45 pmI am sending you some easter love and blessings. He must be a lucky guy to have prepare this soup for him. Wishing you all the best during this easter season. Thanks for stopping by!
Mbianke says
19 Feb, 2014 at 4:24 pmHi Imma, thks for this recipe. Its just do wonderful. I find I like a lot of recipes on ur blog already. Not like I can’t cook well but the traditional style I learnt from mum won’t just do in this part of the world. Now I ve ur blog n ve recommended itto friends. Goahead
Iris says
29 Dec, 2013 at 7:32 pmMy mom had brought me dried Eru over a year ago and I didn’t know what to do with it. I found this recipe and made a quick stop at my local african grocery store and before I knew it I was eating Eru for Christmas! Best Christmas dinner ever! Thanks so much for posting a detailed recipe with detailed instructions! I’m learning to trust my instincts in the kitchen but it helps to have a solid recipe to start with.
Africanbites says
11 Jan, 2014 at 1:51 pmIris , so glad you and your family enjoyed this edu. I had it for christmas too! Thanks for the feedback.
kelsey says
17 Jul, 2013 at 6:00 pmHi Imma, which do you think is best and give a better taste for Eru, frozen spinach or fresh spinach . Thanks
Africanbites says
19 Jul, 2013 at 11:22 amKelsey , I usually use frozen spinach because it is easier for me, but I would go with fresh spinach anytime. What makes eru really tasty is the crayfish, meat stock and beef.
Marlene says
30 Aug, 2016 at 1:47 pmCan I make this without red oil ? I only have canola and olive oil
ImmaculateBites says
30 Aug, 2016 at 4:07 pmI have made it before without red oil. Taste great but lacks the authentic flavor without red oil.
KweenCess says
25 May, 2013 at 7:51 pmOMG THANK YOU! THANK YOU! I have been searching hihg and low for a recipe for eru which has precise measurements for every ingredient! This is a life saver and I thank you!!!! I have also browsed through a couple of recipes and I already like your blog. Keep it up Ma’am, and God bless u!!