Christmas Is Here Again

 

Image credit: Foodace 

Hello, below is another recipe you can try out this Christmas, Ofe Nsala!

Ofe Nsala – White Soup is a mouth watering delicacy peculiar to the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. It is a very rich fresh fish soup, traditionally made with Catfish.

Ingredients required to make Ofe Nsala (Nsala Soup).

1. 2 big Catfish
2. Half a tuber of a moderate size white yam
3. Utazi leaves (just a little, 8 leaves)
4. Small piece of ogiri okpei
5. A handful crayfish
6. Habanero pepper
7. Shrimps
8. Seasoning cubes
9. Salt to taste

HINT:

Gangronema latifolium (utazi) is a climbing shrub with broad, heart-shaped leaves that has a characteristic sharp, bitter and slightly sweet.

Ogiri Okpei is a traditional Igbo seasoning.

PREPARE THE INGREDIENTS REQUIRED BY:
1. Pour boiled water  on the pieces of cat fish to remove the slime on the fish as well as toughen them.

 
2. Then quickly use cold water to rinse off the slime.

3. Then place the fresh cat fish in the cooking pot.

4. Peel the white yam and cut into medium pieces.

5. Chop the utazi and pound in a mortar with the pepper, ogiri okpei and crayfish. Just give them a rough pound. Same with if you are using a blender.

How to Cook Ofe Nsala soup.

1. Place the fresh fish in a pot.

2.  Add the pieces of yam.

3.  Add enough water and place on fire to cook. 

When the yam is soft and moist, bring them out and place in a mortar.

4. Add the pounded crayfish, pepper, ogiri okpei and utazi into the pot of fish and continue cooking.

5. Pound the cooked yam in a mortar till smooth and stretchy.

6. Add the yam into the pot of Ofe Nsala in small lumps, cover and continue cooking.

Once the yam dissolves and thickens the soup, the food is ready. 

Ofe Nsala is most preferable eaten with Pounded Yam but if you do not have Pounded Yam, serve with Semolina or Fufu.