5 Easy Secrets for Bold, Flavorful Family Meals, everytime! DOWNLOAD
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups

Immaculate Bites

African and Caribbean Recipes Made Easy

  • Recipe Index
  • Collections
  • Recipe by Cuisine
    • African
    • Caribbean
    • Southern
    • Mediterranean
    • French
    • Italian
    • Mexican
    • Puerto Rican
  • Recipe by Type
    • 59 Mins or Less
    • Healthy Options
    • Comfort Foods
    • Spices & Seasonings
    • Sauces
    • How To’s
    • One Pot
    • Picnics and Cookouts
    • Baking
      • Breads
      • Cakes
      • Cookies
      • Savory
  • Recipe by Category
    • Beverage Recipes
      • Juice Recipes
      • Non-Alcoholic
      • Alcoholic
    • Mains
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Vegetarian
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinner
    • Instant Pot
    • Lunch
    • Pasta
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Slow Cooker
    • Soups
Home / Collections / Healthy Options

Palaver Sauce/Soup

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
Author: Imma Published:5/12/2014Updated:3/14/2022
FacebookTweetPin51YummlyEmailShares51

Palaver Sauce/Soup – a sumptuous and healthy African cuisine made with greens, smoked meat, egusi and crayfish and other aromatic spices and seasonings. An exotic, flavor and nutrient-packed stew that you’d love!

Palaver soup

Palaver sauce is a favorite in many West African Cuisine- Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Nigeria. I remember the first time I tasted this soup it was at an African party. I could have sworn it was bitter-leaf soup , without the bitter-leaves- but it wasn’t.

So as we were eating the question arose …. why is it call  ” Palaver sauce”? In order to satisfy my curiosity . I did some research and  according to Wikipedia, “the stew was first made, with long, ropey greens, and people would start quarrels by slapping each other with the greens from their stew. Another is that the spices used in the stew mingle together like raised voices in an argument” Some say, it was cooked to settle an argument .

What I know undoubtingly  is that palaver is synonymous  with, trouble, anxiety or worry . I am going to leave it to the historians to knock themselves out.

Palaver Soup There are so many various ways of making this sumptuous meal. No palaver here, because you can adjust the vegetables to suit your environment. Egusi seeds and greens (African greens, collard greens, cocoyam leaf or spinach are the foundation of this soup- the rest is up to you.)

In this recipe, I used smoked fish, meat (you can sub with smoked turkey, chicken or ham hock) Palaver sauce The only trouble with this soup is finding egusi.. for those living abroad. Your best bet would be African stores  or you can order them online. Can you make it without egusi? Of course, no one would take you jail for that. I have done so several times. Enjoy

Looking for more recipes? Follow on…
My Newsletter
Palaver Sauce/Soup
Print

Palaver Sauce

Palaver Sauce/Soup – a sumptuous and healthy African cuisine made with greens, smoked meat, egusi and crayfish and other aromatic spices and seasonings. An exotic, flavor and nutrient-packed stew that you’d love!
No ratings yet
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 1 hr 5 mins
African
Servings 5 -6

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds Meat Beef shanks, Oxtail cut in bite size pieces
  • 1 pound Smoked fish chicken or ham hocks
  • ¼- ½ cup palm or canola oil I used half and half
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 2 tomatoes sliced
  • 2 teaspoons garlic minced
  • ½ cup ground crayfish
  • ¾ cup ground egusi
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2-3 pound fresh vegetables kale, collard greens, spinach

Instructions

  • Boil beef, ham hocks with salt, Maggi and onions and boil until tender depending on the choice of meat. You should have about 2-3 cups of stock from the meat and smoked fish (if using any). Reserve the rest or freeze it.
  • While beef n is cooking, slice tomatoes, onions and mince the garlic.
  • Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions. Sauté the onion until it is translucent, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, and pepper, to taste.
  • Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, garlic, smoked fish, crayfish. Add the beef pieces; press to submerge. Then add ground egusi with chicken stock bring to a simmer.
  • Add vegetables; let it simmer for about 2 minutes.
  • Serve warm with boiled plantains, fufu or accompaniment of choice.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 476kcal (24%)| Carbohydrates: 21g (7%)| Protein: 72g (144%)| Fat: 13g (20%)| Saturated Fat: 2g (13%)| Cholesterol: 193mg (64%)| Sodium: 353mg (15%)| Potassium: 2118mg (61%)| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Sugar: 2g (2%)| Vitamin A: 18600IU (372%)| Vitamin C: 228.9mg (277%)| Calcium: 319mg (32%)| Iron: 5.1mg (28%)
Author: Imma
Course: Main
Cuisine: African
Tag Us On Instagram!Did you make this recipe? I love hearing how it turned out! Tag me on Instagram @ImmaculateBites and be sure to leave a rating below!
Follow on Instagram
Nutrition Facts
Palaver Sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 476 Calories from Fat 117
% Daily Value*
Fat 13g20%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 193mg64%
Sodium 353mg15%
Potassium 2118mg61%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 2g2%
Protein 72g144%
Vitamin A 18600IU372%
Vitamin C 228.9mg277%
Calcium 319mg32%
Iron 5.1mg28%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Palaver sauce
Palaver sauce
Palaver sauce
Palaver sauce
Palaver sauce

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments & Reviews
  1. Winnie says

    Posted on 12/9 at 8:40AM

    Can you substitute ground pumpkin seeds for the egusi

    Reply
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Posted on 12/11 at 5:35PM

      Personally I haven’t tried doing so . Maybe another reader can help out .Thanks

      Reply
  2. Amalia says

    Posted on 5/15 at 12:06PM

    I have got to make this for my dad. He loves palaver sauce>

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Southern
  • African
  • latin fusion
  • comfort food

favorites...

a bowl of gumbo dish with a spoon to scoop it out

Gumbo Recipe (Plus Video)

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese with evaporated milk

Southern Baked Mac and Cheese

Easy Homemade Bread

Basic Homemade White Bread

best thanksgiving desserts

Caramel Cake

Footer

Recipe by Type

  • African
  • Caribbean
  • Southern
  • Mediterranean
  • French
  • Italian

Recipe by Category

  • Dinner
  • Desserts
  • Breakfast
  • Breads + Cakes
  • Pasta
  • How To’s

FOLLOW ALONG

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Immaculate Bites

  • About Imma
  • Subscribe by Email
  • Contact

Site Resources

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2022 · African Bites · All Rights Reserved · Website by Anchored Design

Opens in a new window Opens an external site Opens an external site in a new window

Subscribe & Receive A FREE Recipe Book!

    Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

    Email sent!