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The Soups of Edoland

Are you tired of eating the same old boring soups every day? Do you crave a little excitement in your life (or at least in your taste buds)? Well, my friend, you’re in luck because we’re about to dive into the world of soups in Edo State, Nigeria – where every spoonful is an adventure!

In Edo state, soup is not just a meal, it’s a way of life. It’s the glue that holds families together, the fuel that powers athletes and bricklayers, and the comfort that heals the broken-hearted. And let me tell you, these folks take their soup seriously. So seriously, in fact, that there are more types of soup here than there are stars in the sky (okay, maybe not that many, but you get the point).

But don’t worry, you don’t need a degree in soupology to enjoy these dishes. Whether you’re a seasoned soup connoisseur or a newbie with a spoon, there’s a soup for everyone in Edo state. So buckle up and get ready for a soup-tastic adventure – your taste buds will thank you!

6 Soups of Edoland

Owo Soup

Now, ask any Edo person and they will tell you they don’t play with Owo. They enjoy a simple and delicious soup like this one. When compared to the owo (or Owho) of the Urhobo people in southern Nigeria, the soup has a very different flavor. It is made with potash (Okawu or kan), smoked fish, and palm oil. In order to give it a thick texture, potash is used. It is typically served with unripe plantains, cocoyam, or yam. If you jam a good bowl of Owo soup and hot yams, you will be sharing that testimony for months to come.

Black Soup

The Ishan (Esan) are particularly fond of this soup. ‘Omoebe soup’ is the name used locally to describe this nourishing soup. The bitter leaf and other vegetables, including scent leaf (Effirin), are combined to make the soup. These vegetables combine to give the soup a dark hue. This rich soup is typically served with pounded yam, eba (although I’ll advise against it), and fufu.

Corn Soup

The native soup of the Afemai people of Edo State is corn soup. Locally, this food is known as omi ukpoka. It consists of corn mixed with smoked salmon and a leafy green. It is typically served with a swallow, such as pounded yam, fufu, or eba. Beware, the soup is delicious and could cause to lick your fingers like a fool.

Egusi Soup

Another soup that Edo residents don’t play with is egusi. The melons are deep-fried to create this delicious dish, which brings out all of the flavors and gives it a smoky flavor. In most cases, the type of vegetable used to make egusi—the Edos particularly enjoy it with bitterleaf, though other times ugwu is used—tells the part of the country where it is cooked. This soup goes excellent with pounded yam, Santana, Eba, and everything swallow you can think of.

Groundnut Soup

The Etsako people of Edo State consider this to be a mouthwatering dish. Locally, the groundnut soup is known as omisagwe. It combines a variety of ground meats, including chicken, beef, or mutton, with tomatoes, onions, and ground nuts (usually peanuts). The soup is typically served with starch, pounded yam, fufu, or garri (Eba). It is particularly delicious when it is thick, as such, it is one of those soups that gets better as you keep reheating leftovers.

Ogbono Soup

Ogbono is a unique soup that is a staple in Edoland. This soup has a variety of ingredients, including stockfish, dry fish, crayfish, Dawa Dawa, pepper, and palm oil. In either case, it is really tasty and hard to resist. If vegetables are used, they are put sparingly so that the taste will be more noticeable. Any swallow of your choosing can be your partner.

Did we miss any important soups, let us know in the comments.

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Nicholas Abiebhode

Hi, Nicholas here. Been writing for as long as I can remember. Love musicals and MMA. You can find me on Twitter and IG @nicholausian

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