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Let me tell you about my love affair with Afia Efere, also known as White Soup. This delicious Nigerian dish from the Efik people totally stole my heart!
Now, despite the name, don’t expect this soup to actually be white. It gets this rich, brown color from the main ingredient – the uyayak pod. This aromatic fruit gives white soup (Afia Efere) such a unique flavor that I can’t get enough of it.
What I love most is just how simple, yet flavorful this soup is. It’s just a tasty broth made with meat like goat or fish, seasoned with those uyayak pods, little crayfish powder, and uda pods (negro pepper). That’s it! No palm oil like other Nigerian soups.
What Is the Difference Between Afia Efere and Ofe Nsala?
It’s kind of similar to Ofe Nsala from eastern Nigeria with that pounded yam thickener giving it a thick texture. But Ofe Nsala is more complex with extra seasonings like utazi leaves and ogiri seeds that you won’t find in Afia Efere. Also, the major ingredient uyayak pod is not added in Ofe Nsala.
Nutritional Benefits of White Soup (Afia Efere)
- Immunity booster: Afie fere contains properties that help in developing the body’s immune system. This can go a long way in preventing unwanted diseases in the body system.
- It has also proven to be helpful for women who just went through pregnancy. It helps in contrasting the uterus after a woman’s delivery. It also helps wash away stale blood in the womb.
- It is spicy and can drive away cough and catarrh.
- Contains omega-3 fatty acid.
- Contains vitamins E and C.
Honestly, no matter where you’re from, you need to try this soup! The aroma alone will have you hooked. And the taste? It is a perfect combination with pounded yam, fufu, or just by itself. It’s that good! One spoonful and you’ll be an Afia Efere lover like me.
White Soup ( Afia Efere)
Ingredients
For Pap
- 1 medium stewing chicken cut into stew sizes
- 1 uyayak Pod(divided)
- 3 tbsp dry pepper(divided)
- 3 tbsp dry grounded crayfish(divided)
- 1 large dry fish(wash and soak to soften)
- 4 pieces boiled yam pieces mashed with a mortar and set aside
- 1 seasoning cube
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Break the Uyayak pod into two, grind half into fine powder then pour in some water. Pour the mix through a fine mesh sieve and set aside.
- Place chicken into a soup pot with two tablespoons of crayfish, two tablespoons of dry pepper, salt and the seasoning cube. Let the meat cook in its own juices.
- Once the stock starts to dry up, pour some water to the level of the meat and check for seasonings.
- Once the meat is tender, pour the sieved liquid from the Uyayak pod into the meat stock and drop the other half into the pot. Add in the dry fish and the yam mash and stir to combine. Cover and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Once the soup thickens to your desire, add the remaining dry pepper and grounded crayfish, stir and set aside.
- Serve with Pounded yam or Akpu(fufu)