HOW TO PREPARE NIGERIAN OGBONO SOUP(with health benefits)

HOW TO PREPARE NIGERIAN OGBONO SOUP

Ogbono Soup or Draw Soup, is a popular in Nigeria made with Ogbono Seeds (wild African bush mango seeds). This is one of the first soups given to kids when trying to introduce them to swallow.
Ogbono soup has a mucilaginous (slimy) texture, similar to okra soup. But it is also common to see Ogbono soup cooked without vegetables.

 INGREDIENTS USED IN PREPARING OGBONO SOUP

 

.•  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 stock cubes (seasoning cubes)
•Chilli Pepper or scotch bonnet(atarodo) (to taste)
• salt (to taste)

 DIRECTIONS FOR COOKING 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.
** Heat up the red palm oil in a clean dry pot until hot. You can add minced onions if you like (adding onions is optional).

**Now, put off the heat and add the ground Ogbono into the hot oil. 
Dissolve the ogbono by pressing with the back of your spoon and 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'').

**Add more of the meat stock or water and leave to boil for 10 minutes; Stir the soup constantly so that it does not burn at the bottom. 
Then add the cooked dry fish, stock fish, assorted meat, stock cube, pepper, the ground crayfish and 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.

  HEALTH BENEFITS OF OGBONO SOUP 

 1.   It helps the circulation of blood in the mucous membrane.

2.   It contains iron which helps in forming hemoglobin that transports oxygen to different parts of the body.

3.   It provides the body with protein and helps repair damaged tissues.

4.   It helps in night vision and increases resistance to diseases.

5.   It aids the production of antibodies that helps protect the body from infections.