OGBONO SOUP: DRAW SOUP

Ogbono Soup or Draw Soup, is a popular Nigerian soup recipe made with Ogbono Seeds (wild African bush mango seeds).

This is one of the first soup given to kids when trying to introduce them to Nigerian soup

Ogbono soup has a mucilaginous (slimy) texture, similar to okra soup. I like to cook mine with vegetables,and sometimes combine it with melon(egusi) seeds to get what is called Ogbono with egusi soup But it is also common to see Ogbono soup cooked without vegetables. So whatever choice you make, here's an easy recipe for you to try...Enjoy.

watch the video recipe here

 Ogbono soup ingredients

•  2 handful of Ogbono Seeds OR 3 handful ground Ogbono powder

• Assorted Meat and Fish: (could be a mixture of any of these :Beef, cowfoot, Shaki(tripe),Ponmo(cow skin) DryFish  & Stock Fish)

• 2-3 Cooking spoonful Palm Oil

• Vegetable :Spinach OR Pumpkin leaves(ugu) OR Bitter leaf(onugbu)..or a mixture of bitter leaf and Ugwu 

•Crayfish(as you like it)

•1 Onion bulb

•2 bouillon cubes (Maggi, Knorr or any brand you have)

•Chilli Pepper or scotch bonnet(atarodo) (to taste)

• salt (to taste)

Cooking Directions for Ogbono soup

If you bought Whole ogbono seeds, Grind them thoroughly using a dry mill or a good  blender or coffee grinder.

** Wash , season and Cook the assorted meat , dry fish &stock fish with onions, stock cube and salt to taste.Cook until tender.

**Slice the vegetables,Grind the pepper and set aside

 Here we go!!!!

 * Pour the red palm oil into a clean dry pot. Set on low heat, you can add minced onions if you like(adding onions is optional). 

*Put off the heat and add the ground Ogbono. Dissolve the ogbono by pressing with the back of your spoon ,stirring constantly .

*Now, put back on low heat,add a little water or meat stock, and leave to boil for a minute. You will  notice that it has become thicker and has a slimy  texture(it has started to ''draw'') .

Stir the soup constantly to avoid burning at the bottom. If it's too thick you can add more of the meat stock or water ,then add the cooked dry fish, stock fish, assorted meat , stock cube, pepper, the ground crayfish ans salt to taste. 

 Mix well , cover and leave to simmer for about 10 minutes,you should check on it and stir the soup constantly to prevent burning.

*At this stage , you will notice the change in the aroma of the soup. Stir and add the shredded spinach or ugu (fluted pumpkin leaves) 

Simmer for 1-2 minute and put of the heat.Now your Ogbono soup is ready.

Ogbono soup is usually served hot with any Nigerian bolus meal, such as Eba, Amala, Fufu, Pounded Yam, Tuwo masala, Semolina...Enjoy!