…and its Friday!

Ever heard people from Delta state go on about Banga soup and wondered if it really is all that it’s been made out to be?

Well we can categorically tell you that it is indeed all that and some more and today, we’re offering you a chance to savour the richness of Banga soup from the comfort of your homes…so, no, you-can’t-eat-at-joints this weekend, it’ll be you and your well-made plate of soup and starch in front of your TV while nursing a drink of your choice!

This recipe is very similar to Ofe Awku which is native to the Igbos, the Banga soup of the Niger Delta origin however has a few alterations like the ataiko spice, iregeje and ground egusi or chopped okra for thickening. Also importantly, banga soup is ideally eaten with starch as opposed to eba, semo or pounded yam.

So, let’s get cooking!

Ingredients

  • Palm Fruits (Banga)
  • Assorted Meat
  • Dry Fish
  • Salt
  • Seasoning Cube
  • Dry Pepper
  • Ataiko
  • Iregeje
  • Ground Egusi/Chopped Okra
  • Crayfish
  • Nosak Famili Palm Oil
  • Starch

 

Preparation

Wash and boil your palm fruits (banga) for about an hour until it’s soft

Wash, season and boil your assorted meat/chicken

Using a mortar and pestle, gently pound until all the flesh leaves the fruit, exposing the shell of the nut.

With boiling water and a sieve, squeeze the mash to extract the juice and rinse all the juice into a pot, make sure no strands or particles of the palm fruit gets into the juice in the pot. Add a little water and boil for about 20 minutes.

After it has boiled and some of the water has evaporated, add your salt, pepper, seasoning cube, crayfish and ground ataiko and iregeje. Keep boiling

Add your already cooked meat and dry fish

Add your grounded egusi/chopped okra or both for thickening

Boil for a bit and bring down your boiling hot pot of soup

 

How to prepare starch

Dissolve the starch in water (the amount of water depends on the amount of starch you’re making)

Put the dissolved starch in a pot, add a spoonful of Nosak Famili palm oil and put on the fire

Stir until it begins to thicken

And your banga soup and starch is ready.

 

We sincerely hope you enjoy this menu and other food ideas on our blog. Share your thoughts in the comment box or send an email.

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