Etiyung okro soup is my dad’s favorite soup now that he is much older. He likes soups that make his swallows pass through the throat much quicker.I have not spent quality time with my dad who is now in his nineties for some time now. My dad lives in Oron a seaside town in Akwa Ibom state in Nigeria. Naturally sea food are abundant , fresh vegetables are also a common sight in the markets. Many houses have back house vegetable gardens so you may not necessarily need to buy vegetables if your requirement for the soup is small.
Chatting with my dad , I am reminded that old age does come with some eating challenges like weaker dentition, slower digestion etc. My dad now prefers foods that he will not have to do much chewing. Pottages , pounded yam and soup are his favourites . For protein he sticks to fresh fish.
To bring variety to Papa’s now limited food choices I made him Etiyung/ Okro soup with sea fresh fish and eko/agidi (set corn pap) .
This is my inspiration for this soup. I have opted to use Snails in place of fish. The protein option is yours.
Etiyung is also called Ewedu in Yoruba. This resilient vegetable with its vitamin C and iron benefits is also helpful for increasing bowel motion in case of constipation
Papa actually enjoyed my soup and Mma, (as I call my mum )promised to cook this for him again.
Whilst in Oron I did not fail to take opportunity to see the fishing port and enjoy the scenery . The fresh market was not opened but saw a few catches from the young boys.but I bought and took back to Lagos good quantity of dried fish , periwinkles and fresh to last me for some until my next trip to this part.
Visit to Oron was refreshing. I exhaled from the Lagos hassle and bustle.
Recipe for Etiyung Okro Soup
Ingredient
1 medium bunch Etiyung or Ewedu or jute leaves (shredded largely)
3 cups Okro(chopped)
1cup fresh Shrimps (dressed)
4 whole Snails ( cut in halves)
1 tbs chopped onion
2 whole yellow Pepper(chopped)
2 whole red pepper(chopped)
1 cooking spoon Palm oil
1 tablet crayfish seasoning
60cl Water
Salt to taste
Method
1, Season snail with seasoning, salt,onion and chopped red pepper and steam for 5 minutes
2,Add the shrimps, crayfish, crayfish seasoning, remaining pepper, oil , water and salt to taste and boil for about 5 minutes
3, Add the Okro cook for 3 minutes. Do not cover pot, so that the Okro resilience is not broken.
4,Add Etiyung and cook for 2 minutes
5,Serve with Eko/Agidi or pounded yam
Hi IQ,
The food looks absolutely appetizing! Nobody can say no to this meal!
I saw the photo on Facebook and thought I must come and see how you made those cute prismatic Agidis. Did you use ice cube makers for those?
I hope you brought back some crayfish from Oron. I grew up knowing Oron as the Nigerian crayfish capital 🙂
Glad that Papa and Mama are in good health. Bless them.
Hi Flo,
Thank you for the comments. Yes indeed I used iced cubes tray.
This look gr8 can’t wait to get in the kitchen and prepare mine..I need to knw what’s that white looking ball i can see the snails they look delicious…
Hi,Fishertea.
The white balls are the Agidi or eko made from corn pap. All I did was to set it in ice cube tray
I really love how you make preparation of each meal look so simple.
wow . nice webiste
U make our local food seem so exotic. Thanks for giving me fresh ideas on Eko. Would never have cooked ewedu and okra, would sure try it out. Thanks
Thanks, this a new ideas on how to cook okro, am going to try it out today . it also look so simple , nice one , please send in more hope am not asking too much
Wow!I love this will try it soon. your preparation makes the Okro soup more appealing. Please won’t mind if you inbox me more info.
Thanks so much dis is a great recipe. will give it a try soon. wont mind more info.
Hello, please what’s the recipe for agidi?
Agidi Or Eko is basically Ogi that is cooked very thick and poured in a mold to set.
Wowwwwwwwwww, My mouth is already wet, waiting to do justice to this okro soup. Please, more recipe on how to make ikpang as my calabar friends use to call it, hope i hope i got the spelling?.
First of all, I was quite surprised when the recipe called for Ewedu and Okro together and I am not a huge fan of Ewedu. However, upon making this absolutely mouth watering soup yesterday, I was shocked to find Ewedu and Okro work quite well together. My husband loved the soup and wants more!!!
Keep up the good work and I will definitely try other recipes on your site.
God bless.
Hi,Ope. It’s comments like yours that keeps this blog going. Thank you for the feedback . Hmmmm I am sure hubby will see new and interesting stuff emerging from your kitchen.
He sure will. This website definitely has good recipes that I need to learn as I am yoruba and my hubby is ibo and I don’t really know how to cook the soups from his side of town 🙁
Thanks for the good work and keep it up.
Hi IQ, just finished making this soup now, it is delicious. Thanks. Making another one tomorrow as d one i made now was wiped clean.
Hi,Sandra. Greeeaaaat to hear that you got the recipe right. Enjoy your next attempt
What other vegetable can I use nobody likes ewedu in my house
Hi, Bibi. You can use ugwu or bitter leaves with the Okro. Please check my recipe for Otong which is listed under Okro recipes.
I stumbled on this web site. it is amazing what you guys do with our African food. having lived in the USA for fifteen years cooking the same old recipes am excited to try something new. well done!!!!!!!
Hi,Angel. Thanks for the encouraging words. Trust you will try out some of our dishes.
I noticed u don’t fry ur onions for most soup…..just took dat tip away, good job. any special reason for that or just one of ur cooking styles…just curious.
Hi Ng. I have not noticed that I do not fry onion. I guess it’s based on what I cook. For soups I do not see the need to.
what is Etiyung ?
Hi, Emem, Etiyung is also called Ewedu in Yoruba.
hi 1Q,
am glad that you turned your passion to a blessing. it’s my first time on your blog and i have spent a long time reading through the receipes. i love cooking healthy meals and in variety for my family. happy to steal some new ideas from your blog.
keep up the good work. God bless
Hi Roseline the whole idea is help you bring much variety to your meals. Please go ahead and try out as many dishes as you like.
d dish is mouth waterin
Thanks Perpe.
d dish is superb
Yum yum. I see what you did there. By portioning the eko so daintily with the ice tray, we can savor this beautiful dish slowly and hopefully be full on less food by the time we are done.
Hi,Riswas. You got the drift. Lol.
Honestly dis is a nice site….good and well home made meals and new food ideas. I live in Holland and cant find some of the recipe around me but i will try d once i cud. I miss naija so much and Nigerdelta. Thanks for this site…..maybe i shud start an african restaurant here. lol
Hi,Adaugo. I understand the challenge of wanting to cook some indigenous meals and you can’t find the ingredients. Well just substitute as much as you can . Thank you for the nice words about my blog
[…] Where I saw the cute agidis: http://southpawgroup.com/iqfoodplatter/etiyung-okro-soup-agidi/ […]
I want some. good job. I love the cube agidi. I will definately try that out
The food looks apetizing, i wish to have a taste of it.
hmmm! i’m so intrigued by the magnetic site of all the dishes you prepared and sampled here. my mouth is watered already…cant wait to get into my kitchen and try them out.
Hello mam,
i can only get spinach here, wat is Ewedu in a general language and can i use spinach leaf for dis soup. Okro soup is my favourite but i cant get the right leaf to make dis soup.
Secondly, Agidi is not seen here, how can make home made agidi. Advice me ma!
Amazing!!!!!!!!!!! Okro and ewedu together, I’m a Yoruba lady, loved the two very well but never made them together. Can’t wait to experience this great combination
I am one of Your greatest fan. I would like to substitute croaker fish for snails. How do I cook it without breaking the fish?
Hello Taiye. Yes you can use croaker fish. What to do is season the fish with salt,onion and small pepper , steam on low heat , shaking the pot to ensure fish cooks well. You then add the fish to the soup when soup is almost ready.
Hi IQ,
You are simply a genius! The recent moi-moi you prepared with cabbage just left me in awe when i tried mine. It was a very wonderful dish (idea). Please can you tell me how to prepare Ogi (agidi). Thanks a lot.
Wow!!! This site is absolutely amaaazing. I love cooking and am always on the look-out for varieties in Nigerian cuisine. A friend invited me to like your page on facebook and it has been a pleasant surprise. You make everything looks soo easy and appetizing. Please keep up the good work. Will def be a regular here henceforth 🙂
Hello Liz,please follow us on the blog to get update on new posts. Thank you.
Very lovely. Weldon!
Wao, really mouth watering soup I must say, tried it at home and it was off d hook, thank you food platter for this opportunity to give my family a wonderful and healthy dinner,
I just cooked mine ma, I know my hubby will thrill. I put smoked fish and I didn’t see fresh prawn. Had to use the other type. Thank you ma.
Hi Nekky. Enjoy! I am sure hubby will like.
Very inspirational 1 Q, your dish looks stunning…you can promote Nigerian dishes well. Papa & Mm a must be very proud. Wish you all the best
Hi, Larai. Thank you.