There is a popular saying in Nigeria that the way to a man’s heart is through his belly. When it comes to food made by the Igbos in Nigeria, however, both male and female; old and young; rich or poor open their hearts up to the amazing delicacies.
Here are five Igbo native dishes that leave us biting our lips every time we taste them.
1. Ofe Oha
Ofe Oha, a popular soup in Igbo land is made from cocoyam (ede) and the leaves of the oha tree. Oha soup isn’t exactly a go-to kind of soup because the main ingredient, Oha leaves, is a seasonal one.
Traditionally, the leaves are shredded by hand and not with a knife or any other sharp object because rumour has it that if the leaves are chopped with a knife, the soup will end up bitter. If prepared well, this soup sees you licking every nook and cranny of your fingers when you’re done eating.
2. Ofe Nsala
Ofe Nsala soup or White Soup is a tasty, fast and easy soup recipe that has its origins in the riverine areas of Nigeria. This recipe calls for fresh whole Cat Fish, which gives this soup its unique taste.
It is a very rich fresh fish soup and the Efik people have their own version of White Soup, it’s known as Afia Efere. Ofe Nsala is known as white soup because Palm oil is not used for the preparation, unlike other traditional soups.
3. Ofe Akwu
Ofe Akwu is a popular Igbo soup called Banga by the Southern parts of Nigeria. It is a palm nut stew which is traditionally prepared with native spices, known as Banga spices which gives the soup a unique taste and flavour.
It is the Igbo version of the all-too-popular Banga soup. It is a very rich soup made with Palm-nut extract/juice. Ofe Akwu is mostly served with boiled rice, unlike the Delta version which is mainly served with Starch or other swallows.
4. Ofe Okazi
This soup is made from Okazi leaves, Egusi and “Usu” and totally healthy because of the Okazi leaves which is a rich source of protein and both essential and non-essential amino acids.
5. Ofe Owerri
Ofe Owerri, is a delicious traditional soup made with all sort of assorted meat named after the capital of Imo state, Owerri. “Ofe” means soup and “Owerri” is the capital of Imo state in South-Eastern Nigeria.
Ofe Owerri is usually prepared with four different vegetable leaves, Okazi, Ugu and Uziza, Oha, although Uziza, which is quite aromatic and Oha aren’t as popular as Ugu and Okazi.
