Banga Soup is a traditional Nigerian soup made from palm nut fruit extract.
This rich and flavorful soup is popular in the southern and eastern regions of Nigeria and is often enjoyed with starch, eba, pounded yam, or fufu.
Banga Soup is known for its deep, earthy flavor and is typically cooked with a variety of meats, seafood, and traditional spices.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups palm nut fruit (Banga) extract or 800g canned palm nut cream
- 500g assorted meats (beef, goat meat, tripe, etc.)
- 200g stockfish (pre-soaked)
- 200g dried fish (deboned)
- 1 cup smoked fish (optional)
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 3-4 scotch bonnet peppers (to taste, finely chopped)
- 1 tablespoon ground crayfish
- 1 tablespoon Banga spice mix (oburunbebe stick, atama leaves, and other local spices)
- 1 teaspoon ground locust beans (iru) (optional)
- 1 teaspoon bitter leaves (dried bitter leaves, finely chopped)
- 1 small bunch scent leaves (finely chopped)
- 3-4 cups meat stock (from cooking the meats)
- Salt and seasoning cubes to taste
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Meats and Fish:
- Wash and season the assorted meats with salt and one seasoning cube.
- In a large pot, add enough water to cover the meats and cook them over medium heat until tender, about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Add the pre-soaked stockfish and dried fish during the last 15 minutes of cooking to absorb the flavors.
- Set the cooked meats and fish aside, reserving the stock.
2. Extract the Palm Nut Juice:
- If using fresh palm nuts, wash them thoroughly and boil them in a pot of water for about 30 minutes until soft.
- Drain the water and pound the palm nuts gently in a mortar to extract the oil. Add warm water and strain the extract into a bowl. Repeat this process until you’ve extracted enough juice. Set the juice aside.
- If using canned palm nut cream, skip this step.
3. Cook the Banga Soup Base:
- Pour the extracted palm nut juice or canned palm nut cream into a large pot and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
- Allow the palm nut extract to cook and thicken for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent it from burning.
4. Add the Meat Stock and Meats:
- Pour the reserved meat stock into the pot, stirring well to combine with the thickened palm nut extract.
- Add the cooked meats, stockfish, dried fish, and smoked fish to the pot. Stir well to ensure everything is evenly distributed.
5. Add the Spices and Vegetables:
- Add the ground crayfish, Banga spice mix, and locust beans (iru) to the pot, stirring them into the soup.
- Add the chopped beletete leaves or dried bitter leaves, allowing them to cook and release their flavor into the soup.
6. Final Simmer and Seasoning:
- Allow the soup to simmer on low heat for another 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. The soup should thicken and the flavors should meld together beautifully.
- Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and additional seasoning cubes as needed.
7. Add the Scent Leaves:
- Add the chopped scent leaves to the soup in the last few minutes of cooking. Stir well and let the leaves wilt slightly while retaining their vibrant color.
8. Serve the Banga Soup:
- Once the Banga Soup is ready, remove it from the heat. Serve it hot with your choice of side, such as starch, fufu, pounded yam, or eba.
- Enjoy the rich, aromatic, and deeply flavorful taste of this traditional Nigerian dish.
Tips for the Perfect Banga Soup:
- Banga Spice Mix: The unique flavor of Banga Soup comes from the traditional Banga spice mix. You can find pre-mixed Banga spices in Nigerian markets or prepare your own using a combination of oburunbebe stick, atama leaves, and other local spices.
- Vegetable Choices: While scent leaves are traditional, you can substitute them with basil or other aromatic herbs if they are unavailable.
- Consistency: The soup should be slightly thick but not too watery. Adjust the amount of meat stock and palm nut extract to achieve your preferred consistency.
Nigerian Banga Soup is a comforting and deeply flavorful dish that embodies the richness of Nigerian culinary traditions.
With its aromatic spices and hearty ingredients, this soup is sure to warm your heart and satisfy your taste buds.
Enjoy!
