Ogbono soup facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Draw Soup |
|---|---|
| Type | Soup |
| Place of origin | Nigeria |
| Region or state | Igboland |
| Main ingredients | Ogbono seeds, water, oil, leaf vegetables (bitterleaf and celosia), other vegetables, seasonings, meat |
Ogbono soup is a yummy and popular dish from Nigeria, a country in West Africa. It's known for its special ingredient: ground seeds from the ogbono tree. This soup is thick and has a unique, slightly slimy texture, a bit like okra soup. People often enjoy it with traditional Nigerian foods like fufu or pounded yam.
What is Ogbono Soup?
Ogbono soup is a traditional Nigerian meal. It gets its name from the main ingredient, which are the seeds of the ogbono tree. These seeds are ground into a powder. This powder helps to make the soup thick. It also gives the soup a dark color.
The ogbono tree grows naturally in Southern Nigeria. People in different parts of Nigeria have different names for it. For example, the Igbo people call it 'ogbono' or 'ugiri'. In the Nupe language, it's 'pekpeara'. The Bini people call it 'ogwi', and the Efik people say 'uyo'. The Yoruba people call it 'oro'.
Key Ingredients
Besides the ground ogbono seeds, water, and palm oil, ogbono soup has many other tasty ingredients. It often includes different kinds of meat or fish.
Common seasonings are chili pepper, onions, and a special fermented bean called iru. The soup also has leaf vegetables like bitterleaf and celosia. Other vegetables, such as tomatoes and okra, can also be added.
You can find many types of meat in ogbono soup. Some popular choices are beef, goat, fish, chicken, shrimp, or crayfish. Sometimes, people also use 'bush meat', which refers to wild animals hunted for food.
How Ogbono Soup is Eaten
Ogbono soup is usually eaten with other staple foods. These foods are often shaped into a ball or lump. They help you scoop up the soup.
Some common foods eaten with ogbono soup include fufu (made from cassava) or pounded yam. The soup's unique texture makes it fun to eat with these traditional dishes.
In some countries, you might even find ogbono soup sold in ready-to-eat packages. These are often found in markets that sell foods from West Africa.
