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Home / Types / African / African Dinner

Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video

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Author: Imma Published:2/18/2013Updated:4/02/2021
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Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi leaves) is a healthy satisfying Cameroonian green dish loaded with other protein and aromatics that will make your tastebuds sing for joy. Best paired with any of your favorite starchy sides!

Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves)

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 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!

a bowl of Eru Soup(Spinach/Okazi leaves) served with fufu

Eru soup is made using the creeping planting Gnetum africanum – an evergreen vine that grows wild in the forests of Central and West Africa.

The leaves go 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.

There have been several reports that say these very popular and nutritious leaves are on the extinct list; unorganized cultivating practices and extremely high demand led to this conclusion. It would be a sad day for millions of people if that happens. Let’s hope not!!

a serving of Eru Soup(Spinach/Okazi leaves) with fufu on a white plate

This ever-pleasing meal is very popular in Cameroon and the Bayangis ( a tribe in the southwest 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 this water fufu (fermented cassava dough) or any fufu flour.

Watch How to Make It

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Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
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Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi leaves)

Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi leaves) is a healthy satisfying Cameroonian green dish loaded with other protein and aromatics that will make your tastebuds sing for joy. Best paired with any of your favorite starchy sides!
4.67 from 6 votes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 1 hr 5 mins
Total: 1 hr 15 mins
African
Servings 6 -8 people

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds meat (beef, tripe, cow skin, smoked turkey)
  • 1 ½ pounds dried fish
  • ¼ chopped onion
  • 2-4 cups palm oil , you can use half corn oil and half palm oil
  • ½ cup ground crayfish
  • 5-6 cups dried chopped Ukazi
  • 2 pounds of frozen spinach
  • 2 Maggi/bouillon powder
  • salt and pepper
  • Scotch bonnet pepper optional

Instructions

  • Cut the beef into 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 get soft). 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.
  • While the meat is cooking, soak the dried Okazi/Eru leaves in a bowl of hot water to tenderize the leaves – for approximately 10- 15 minutes. Rinse and drain.
  • Add the assorted meats – beef, cow skin, tripe, and 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.
  • Drain the frozen spinach and add to the pot of assorted meat and fish. Add crayfish and 2 tablespoons of bouillon/ Maggi at this point. Stir and let it cook on medium heat (approximately 10 minutes).
  • Add the 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.
  • Season to taste with salt and more Maggi as needed. ( I usually season my food with salt and Maggie as the dish progresses.)

Tips & Notes:

  • Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
 

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 409kcal (20%)| Carbohydrates: 7g (2%)| Protein: 64g (128%)| Fat: 14g (22%)| Saturated Fat: 5g (31%)| Cholesterol: 180mg (60%)| Sodium: 685mg (30%)| Potassium: 1478mg (42%)| Fiber: 4g (17%)| Sugar: 1g (1%)| Vitamin A: 17785IU (356%)| Vitamin C: 10.5mg (13%)| Calcium: 224mg (22%)| Iron: 4.3mg (24%)
Author: Imma
Course: Main
Cuisine: African
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Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video
Eru Soup (Spinach/Okazi Leaves) + Video

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Comments & Reviews
  1. Agbortoko Arreychuck says

    Posted on 11/5 at 6:16AM

    This is my traditional meal! This is awesome, though it doesn’t quite look like the original eru in the end

    Reply
  2. Karissa says

    Posted on 5/20 at 6:10PM

    I tried making this today but my eru didn’t get soft despite cooking for a very long time. Can you please give me some tips for the next time I make it. The flavor is delicious the texture of the eru is the only problem.

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 5/21 at 9:13AM

      Hi Karissa! Next time add about 1/2 a pound more of spinach. This should help you achieve your desired texture. Happy cooking :)!

      Reply
      • Karissa says

        Posted on 6/1 at 4:51AM

        Thank you for answering, I would like to make this again. If I’m using 1 4oz bag of dried eru do I put 2 lbs of spinach? It’s hard to figure out how many cups the eru is when it’s dried.

  3. oben ojong says

    Posted on 4/30 at 12:18PM

    Always admired the light and airy freshness you bring to your presentation of african/Afro-Caribbean dishes. However, I would like to emphasize that sometimes cultural sensitivity is necessary. As a proud child of the bayangi tribe, I’d like to say this recipe (at least as far as Cameroon is concerned) is pathognomonic to our tribe. It is associated with a long tribal and ancestral history which should be respected. We do not simple “love it.” That being said- I love your blog and will continue to support your work because it is always tastefully and skillfully done. 🙂

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 5/1 at 5:05AM

      Hello Oben!! Thank you so much for your feedback. I have lots of friends and in-laws from Bayangi, so I know exactly what you mean 🙂 !

      Reply
  4. Olivia says

    Posted on 9/14 at 3:24PM

    Good 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…

    Reply
    • imma africanbites says

      Posted on 9/17 at 7:33PM

      Hi, Olivia! Glad I’m able to make you feel at home with my recipes. Hope to visit Germany, one day. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Sassyqueen says

    Posted on 3/8 at 2:55PM

    5 stars
    Wow….! Am so excited, prepared my Eru and Ukazi soup. So beautiful and tasteful. Thank you for uploading it and Happy Women’s Day!

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 3/11 at 7:21AM

      Awesome! Happy Women’s Day to you too!

      Reply
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