SOUP RECIPE: Ila Alasepo (Yoruba styled mixed Okra Soup)

SOUP RECIPE: Ila Alasepo (Yoruba styled mixed Okra Soup)

Ila Alasepo  is the Yoruba styled  mixed Okra soup, which means “to cook together”.  The Efiks call it Otong soup, while others might just call it okra with spinach.  In regular Yoruba style, okro is typically served with stew. The fact that the ingredient that would normally go into the stew goes into the soup itself makes this a “lesser’ soup for the affluent Yoruba folk.
 However, it has nutritional value and is very rich in fibre, protein, vitamins k/c, magnesium and a variety of proteins.

                                                       

Ingredients:

• 800g assorted meat(chicken gizzard, beef, goat meat, ponmo, etc.)
• 2 cups chopped okra
• Smoked fish – 2 pieces (washed and pulled)
• Fresh or dried prawns  – 1 cup
• 3 tablespoon blended crayfish
• 1 teaspoon pepper powder
• ½ teaspoon cooking potash(kaun)or Baking soda (optional)
• 3 cups beef stock or water
• 1 stock cube (2 cubes if using water)
• ¼ cup palm oil
• Salt- to taste
• 1 red bell pepper (Tatashe) – finely minced

Use a little water if you are not adding lots of meat to the soup. You can make this even healthier by not putting the palm oil.
 Note: If using baking soda, add it in about 2 minutes before cooking ends.
                                                                                              

Direction:

-  Place a  pot on medium heat , pour in the meat stock (or water), cover and bring to a boil
- Add in the cooking potash if using. Reduce heat to medium. Add in the       prepared meat, fish, prawns, crayfish powder, stock cube, palm oil and            pepper. Combine and leave to simmer for 10-12 minutes.  Stir, taste and adjust for seasoning
- Add in chopped okra and minced tatashe. Stir well to combine the taste.
Allow to simmer for another four minutes. 

Serve  with Amala, Elubo, Pounded yam, Fufu (akpu), Eba (Garri) or Tuwo Shinkafa .