Skip to main content

My Kitchen Today: Ofe Owerri


  Ofe Owerri, is made up of two key words
Ofe”  which means soup and “Owerri” which is the capital of Imo state. It is a
 very popular traditional vegetable soup from the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria particularly the people of Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria.
It is usually prepared with four different vegetable leaves, Okazi, Ugu and Uziza or Oha, I will be using the Uziza leaves due to it's availability; dried leaves can be used when the fresh ones are unavailable.
Another major  ingredient used in the preparation of this delicacy is the Cocoyam, which serves as a thickener; particularly the red Cocoyam, alternatively, you can use Achi.
 Ingredients(For a medium size pot of soup)
.8  Fresh Okazi leaves(Thinly sliced and washed)
.10 Fresh Ugu leaves( sliced and washed)
.3-4 Fresh Uziza Leaves (sliced and washed)
.600g Assorted meats such as Beef, Goat meat, Ponmo, Shaki, Cow leg are ideal
.A cup of Palm oil
.3-4 Medium Size Cocoyam (Ede)
.1- 2 Smoked Fish
.2-3 Stockfish/ Stockfish Head (Okporoko)
.3 Tablespoons Ground Crayfish
.1.5 Cup Smoked Prawns
.1 Tablespoon Ogiri
.2 Tablespoons Ground Dry pepper
.Seasoned Cubes
.Salt to taste

Preparation:
.Wash and boil your meats with a large amount of water. Start with the tougher meats like Cow leg, Shaki, Ponmo ;When they’re slightly tender, add beef or other softer meats
The stock from  the meats will serve as the base for your Ofe Owerri, so make sure it is well seasoned. 
.When all the meats are tender, add the Stockfish, leave to cook till soft. This will give you enough stock
.While the meats are boiling, boil the Cocoyam with the skin on, do not add salt, boil till tender. This should take roughly 15 minutes on medium heat…
.When the Cocoyams  are soft, gently peel the skin off and pound till smooth in a mortar. Alternatively, chop them into small chunks, add some hot water then purée in your electric blender till smooth, set aside…
.Soak the diced leaves respectively into warm salted water; If you’re using dried leaves, soak in water hot water for 2 minutes to remove all traces of sand and dirt
.  Soak the smoked fish to remove traces of dirt
.When the meats and fish are all soft, add crayfish, smoked prawns, then add the ground pepper. Leave to boil for 3 minutes, then reduce the heat 
. Add the blended/pounded Cocoyam into the stock in small quantities and stir thoroughly, do not to add too much so as not to ruin your fluid consistency  
.Stir and combine, leave to cook for 2-3 minutes, then add the Palm Oil….
.Add the Ogiri, leave to cook for 3 minutes, ensure the palm oil is well combined. Taste for salt and seasoning, adjust if necessary. Instead of going overboard with spices, try adding more crayfish instead, this will up the taste of your Ofe Owerri really well….
.Now, add the smoked fish, you can shred it and add to the soup if you prefer. Leave to incorporate into the soup for 2 minutes. 
Then add the washed and sliced Okazi leaves, leave to cook for 2 minutes…
Add the Ugu and Uziza leaves, if you’re using frozen Ugu,  switch the heat off and continue to simmer with the residual heat for a further 3 minutes. If you’re using fresh Ugu, leave to cook for 3 minutes, then simmer with the residual heat for 2 minutes…
And it’s ready…
    Ofe Owerri can be consumed with Pounded Yam, Garri (Eba) or any swallow of your choice…Yummy, Yummy😋😋😋
I bet you want to try this husband snatching soup....


 
 











Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Empowered woman

I think being a woman,I mean a real woman is one of the hardest things ever!. You won't agree with this only if you are not a woman,but if you are a woman,then congratulations to you.You are a mysterious being but then again this congratulation goes to the 'real woman'. The real woman is that person that makes everything difficult seem easy.She is a hard worker,faithful friend and partner,a good manager,a home maker,a lover,a confidant,a mother,a sister,a daughter,a visioneer...Someone,may say,"Yea, ok...I'm not a mother or I'm single and so does that make me not a real woman?Of course not!. Age,class,status,beauty or achievements do not define a real woman,but character does. I can't but wonder at the stories we hear these days about women.I marvel at the rate of evil perpetuated by women in our society.Prostitution is old wives tale but when women are involved in armed robbery,kidnappings,terrorism,gang rape,adultery,fraud to mention a few,then by a...
Post a Comment
Read more

How can we share love in a world void of love?

As each day passes,I see that so many people do not understand what sharing love is all about.Just last night,I saw a man,not a boy.I mean a full fledged man beating up a lady just by the roadside as if she were some common thief.On inquiry,I discovered she was his girlfriend.Did I hear you say,what?!!!.mhnnn...the feeling is mutual,but come to think of it,he may have had a reason which he felt was good enough to beat her up.Someone may say no reason is good enough...chapter closed. I remember sharing with you earlier that every person has a reason for every action he/she takes,wether good or bad.If he had beat her to death,he will still have a reason for his action and he would engage the services of a lawyer who will readily defend him in the court of law.That's the kind of world we live in...simply void of love. You know,on television this morning,I just kept hearing the news on rape.In case you are thinking the victim may have caused it for herself,well sorry to diasppoint ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Domestic Voilence in Nigeria heightens in the face of economic hardship-majority of victims are women!

A recent Public Opinion poll conducted by NOIPolls Limited in partnership with Project Alert on domestic violence has revealed an increasing prevalence of domestic violence across Nigeria in recent times as reported by about 8 in 10 (78 percent) respondents. This prevalence is highest in the South-West geo-political zone (86 percent) and lowest in the South-South zone (70 percent). More findings revealed that 54 percent of Nigerians have suffered a form of domestic violence or know someone that has experienced domestic violence in their homes with majority of the victims being women as stated by 75 percent of respondents. Just this week, a man in Aba Abia state allegedly beat his wife into coma for lying to him that she has not been paid her salary after commissioner for finance Obinna Oriaku mis-informed the Abia public on radio that civil servants salary arrears have been paid.
Post a Comment
Read more