Nigerian soups are renowned for their unique flavors, setting them apart from soups found in other parts of Africa and the world. Each region in Nigeria boasts its exclusive soup, while staples like the delectable okra soup and egusi are enjoyed throughout the country.
These soups are traditionally paired with fufu or swallow, creating a truly satisfying dining experience. For tourists and newcomers to Nigeria who may be unsure of which Nigerian delicacy to try or have trouble recalling the different soups in Nigeria, this guide is here to help. This article is also recommended for those curious about the top 20 and most popular Nigerian soups.
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Afang soup is a popular Nigerian delicacy among the Efik and Ibibio regions in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It is made with waterleaf, okazi leaf, Kpomo (cow skin), and Periwinkle.
Banga soup is a delicacy popular in the eastern part of Nigeria. It is made with palm fruit extract and garnished with scent leaf or bitter leaves for extra flavor.
Okra soup is one of the most popular Nigerian soups. It is so popular that it has become hard to tell which area of the country the soup originates from.
Check out our previous post for the easiest okra soup recipe ever!! Keep an eye out for our recipe for making white okra soup and other delectable recipes for Nigerian dishes.
The generous use of vegetables and proteins in the vegetable soup makes it highly nutritious and enjoyable. A typical vegetable soup contains waterleaf, ugu (pumpkin leaf), Nigerian Spinach (Ale efo), and bitterleaf. The soup is also packed with proteins like meat, fish, kpomo (cow skin), and crayfish.
Efo Riro is also a vegetable soup. It is called Efo riro by the Yoruba people of western Nigeria.
Although this is native to the Akwa-Cross natives, Edika Ikong Soup is a Nigerian soup enjoyed throughout the country.
The Edikang Ikong soup is a delicious Nigerian delicacy made with vegetables like Ugu and water leaves. You can enhance its taste by garnishing it with assorted proteins, including Periwinkle and Kpomo.
If you’re interested in learning our take on the recipe, please leave a comment or send us an email. We’d be happy to share it with you!
This soup is one of the staples in Nigeria, prepared with melon seeds and served with or without vegetables like Ugu (pumpkin leaves), Uziza leaves, and bitter leaves.
This soup is called Ora or Oha soup. It is made with leaves from the African Pterocarpus soyauxii. Oha soup originates from eastern Nigeria and is eaten with Nigerian fufu and assorted proteins like shaki, dry fish, and stockfish. It is considered one of the best comfort foods in Nigeria.
Pepper soup is a flavorful and spicy mix. There are different types of Nigerian pepper soups to try, such as catfish pepper soup, beef pepper soup, cow tail pepper soup, dry fish, and chicken pepper soup.
Bitterleaf soup, popularly called Ofe Onugbu, is made with bitterleaf, goat meat, and powdered cocoyam as a thickening agent.
Read On: How to prepare bitterleaf soup (Ofe onugbu)
This delectable dish, Yam/coco yam soup, is popular among the Igbos from eastern Nigeria as Ofe Nsala. This Nigerian soup is better when garnished with assorted seafood, especially catfish.
This is a staple in Nigerian homes and restaurants. The Ogbono soup recipe is simple and versatile. You can use goat meat to elevate the taste and aroma of this Nigerian delicacy. Besides smoked fish and vegetables, lumps of Egusi can garnish this soup.
The Egusi soup recipe is almost the same as the Groundnut soup recipe, except that groundnut (peanut) soup is cooked with peanuts instead of egusi (melon). Groundnut soup also appears like Egusi soup. Most times, Egusi is added to groundnut soup to make it thicker.
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Pounded yam and Okoho soup is the traditional food of the Idoma people, and they are widely enjoyed in Benue State, north-central Nigeria. Popular garnishes are egusi and an impeccable collection of proteins.
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This is yet another one out of the list of Nigerian soups that is widely enjoyed. It is also known as Gbegiri Soup!! Keep an eye out for our Gbegiri Soup recipe.
Dry Okra soup, also known as Ijangada. This soup recipe is the same as the recipe for Okro soup. You can choose to cook your Dry Okro soup with chicken, beef, or any protein of choice, although dry okro soup tastes better with dry fish and simple ingredients. This Nigerian soup requires palm oil, although it is not compulsory!!
Mahogany seed is known to Enugu indigenes from Eastern Nigeria as Ofe Akparata. However, it is also known to the Idoma people from Benue State as Ukpo. It is garnished with vegetables and egusi. To eat Ofe Akparata the Nigerian way, you need to pair it with pounded yams or Akpu.
Read On: How to cook yam porridge (Asaro recipe) with vegetables
Nigerian cuisine offers a variety of draw soups, with okro soup and ogbono soup being the most popular choices. However, for thickness and consistency, Okoho soup takes the lead. Another well-loved draw soup in Nigeria is Edikang Ikong.
The endless list of soups in Nigeria contains some of the most natural and plant-based meals. It’s important to note that Nigerian cuisine is among the healthiest food options available. A typical Nigerian soup contains only one factory-processed ingredient, the seasoning. All other ingredients are plant-based and preserved through natural methods such as drying, roasting, fermentation, and salting. Additionally, no artificial chemicals are used in preservation. Besides the seasoning, all other ingredients are organic and locally sourced from farms.
Our method of preservation ensures that we add no synthetic chemicals to our food. The only form of preservation done to our food is sun drying, fermenting, smoking, and roasting. Some other most common ingredients preserved include:
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Casava is one of the most popular Nigerian foods. It is versatile and a staple in the Nigerian kitchen. Cassava is locally processed in the rural parts of Nigeria to make foodstuffs that can go several months, even years, without spoiling. As long as they are properly stored.
Some of the incredible by-products of cassava include:
As mentioned earlier, a good majority of the soups enjoyed in Nigeria are plant-based, and most of the proteins are also fresh. Some soups contain ingredients like yams, groundnuts, and cocoa, which are notorious carbs. So, if you are looking for a way to enjoy more vitamins and proteins in your diet, you can go for dishes like Okro soup, vegetable soup, and Edikang Ikong soup. Also, the best Nigerian soups pair well with a list of vegetables. Consider including them in the soup.
Another way to ensure you get the right amount of nutrients in your meal is by being mindful of the fufu or swallow you pair with your soups. A typical Nigerian soup is rich in proteins, fiber, and minerals, while a typical Nigerian fufu is a pure carbohydrate. The fufu called starch is proof of this theory.
Instead of eating eba (garri), Akpu, cassava, or pounded yams. You can pair your soup with any of the fufu with minimal carbohydrates and other food classes to balance the excess carbohydrates.
Some of the low-carb Nigerian fufu include:
Find the most comprehensive soup recipes for Nigerian dishes. Beginners can easily follow these recipes.
Mariam Emily Adama is a copywriter, SEO strategist, and digital marketer passionate about using words to inform, inspire, and influence. With over seven years of experience writing for global brands and managing digital campaigns, she brings a data-driven yet creative approach to content creation. When she’s not writing or analyzing trends, Mariam enjoys exploring new cultures, reading, and documenting stories that celebrate African excellence.
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