Afang Soup

Are you craving something rich, earthy, and deeply rooted in West African tradition? Enjoy this leafy green delicacy that's more than just a meal—it's a celebration of culture, comfort, and community.

Course Main

Cuisine African

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 20

Servings

Calories 630kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

1-2 pounds (450-900g) assorted meat (tripe, cow skin, goat, etc.)
½ medium onion, chopped
2 Maggi cubes or 2 tablespoons of bouillon powder
½ pound (250g) smoked fish
½ cup (30g) crayfish
1-2 cups (230-460ml) red palm oil (not the controversial palm oil)
5 cups (150g) dried okazi leaves
6 cups (360g) fresh waterleaves or spinach
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Soak the dried okazi leaves for about 10 minutes, wash, and drain.
In a medium-sized saucepan, boil the meat seasoned with salt, pepper, Maggi, and onions until tender. It takes 20-40 minutes, depending on the cut of meat. You can shorten this process to half with a pressure cooker. Reserve the stock.
Boil the cow skin and tripe together or separately until tender. Drain the water from the cow skin and tripe.
Combine all the meat and smoked fish in a large pot with 1-2 cups of stock.
If using smoked fish, pick out the bones, cut it into chunks, and add it to the pot of meat. Cook for 3-5 minutes.
Pulse the okazi leaves in a food processor with a little water to make them pliable. Repeat the same process with the chopped fresh spinach.
Stir in the oil, Maggi, and crayfish. Cover and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
Add the okazi leaves to the pot, stir, add the spinach, and stir again.
Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Then, adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and Maggi.
Serve hot with eba, pound yams, or fufu.

Notes

Feel free to reduce the amount of oil if you are health-conscious. I made it with only ½ cup of oil, and it still tasted delicious
Feel free to include periwinkle snails. I'm not a big fan, but you might love it
Some people really love the slimier texture. If that describes you, blend one okra with the spinach
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition