Ofe Akwu (Palm kernel soup) recipe by Amaechina Chiamaka Ozioma

Ofe Akwu( Palm kernel soup)

How to prepare delicious Ofe Akwu( palm kernel soup)

Hi everyone.... After a long break from writing recipes I  decided to write a recipe on a special soup made from palm kernel seeds called Ofe Akwu/Banga soup( palm kernel soup).

Ofe Akwu is a delicacy prepared in the South east and South southern region of Nigeria. It is very rich in nutrients especially fats & oil and should not be consumed in excess by Adults and those who are watching their weight like me😁. 

It can be eaten with rice or starch (a special type of swallow). I prefer it with rice and fried fish, it is a suitable dish to try out during this Covid pandemic😉

Ingredients:

Palm kernel seeds( ½paint bucket)

Scent leaves (not too much just enough as a flavouring)

Crayfish

Pepper(Fresh)

Tomato (Fresh or paste)

Stock fish

Meat 

Salt

 Stock cubes (Maggi or Know cubes)

Procedures:

1. Sort the palm kernel seeds picking out the bad ones.

2. Wash the palm kernel thoroughly and put the seeds into a pot, add water then cook till it is very soft.

3. Wash meat, add seasoning and cook till it is tender using another pot.

4. Wash the stock and smoked fish thoroughly and add to the meat so it can soften.

5. When the palm kernel seeds are cooked and tender , you put it down from fire, drain out the water then put the seeds into a mortar and pound it using a pestle lightly ( the aim is not to break the seeds but to separate the flesh of the palm kernel seeds from the seed so as to aid the oil extraction process).

6. After the pounding you bring out the seeds from the mortar in a bowl then use warm water to wash the palm kernel seeds to extract the oil from the seeds. Do not use too much water as it will elongate the cooking process. A sieve is used during this process to extract the oil+water and to prevent the seeds and fibres from entering into it.

7. Put the extracted oil+ water inside a pot then on fire to reduce the water.

8. Blend the tomato, dry and fry using vegetable oil in another pot. Add seasoning while frying( you can use tomato paste instead of fresh tomato).

9. Blend the pepper and crayfish.

10. Add the blended pepper and crayfish to the oil+ water mixture on fire. Add the fried tomato too.

11. Add the cooked meat, stock fish and smoked fish.

12. Add seasoning( maggi, salt or any other seasoning of choice) to taste.

13. Cook the soup till desire texture.

14. Wash scent leaves thoroughly and slice.

15. When the stew is almost ready , add scent leaves and cook for about 10 mins. Ofe Akwu is ready.

16. Serve with Rice( or Swallow) and enjoy😋.

Bon Appetit😉!!!