Ewedu Soup is a leafy, gelatinous, and healthy green soup from Nigeria’s best dishes made with versatile, nutritious, and medicinal Jute Leaves. If you love Okra Soup, you will also enjoy this dish for its slippery texture. It’s a one-pot recipe with earthy and smokey quality to go with a swallow of solid foods like Fufu!
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This is certainly going to be one of your favorite African dishes!
How to Cook Ewedu Soup
Make the perfect Ewedu Soup by checking out this tried and tested recipe my family loves.
Ingredients
Take a look at these simple ingredients you need to make this soup.
Jute leaves
Fresh jute leaves can have a mildly bitter taste. But when cooked and seasoned with Ewedu ingredients, they release a refined and luscious flavor. It also gives the soup a viscous and okra-like consistency that will leave you wanting more.
According to CottonBag, aside from their culinary potential, these leaves are also helpful for your eyes, bones, and skin. These are also commonly used for stews and vegetarian dishes for a kick of flavor and nutrition.
Locust beans
Locust beans are popular ingredients in African cooking because of their rich taste and distinct aroma. Like the jute leaves, these beans are common condiments for soup recipes.
These are also my go-to beans for Egusi Soup!
Egusi
Egusi is blended melon seeds usually used as a soup thickener in African dishes. It also pairs well with leafy green vegetables for powerful flavor and irresistible texture. If you don’t have this in stock, then you can use ground almonds or almond flour or omit it from the recipe.
Meat liquid stock
Improve the taste of the jute leaves by adding meat liquid stock to give it a smoky taste. This ingredient enriches the overall quality of the recipe for a unique flavor.
Seasoning
For the seasoning, use sea salt and a knorr cube (or all-purpose seasoning) because these will be enough to balance the flavors of the soup. You can also customize the dish with your preferred spices and condiments.
Water
Neutralize all of the ingredients by incorporating some water. It also helps with the texture for better consistency.
With these ingredients, you can already cook homemade Ewedu Soup from scratch. This recipe is about simplicity, but you can trust that the flavors can take you to an Africa of your own!
Directions
After this recipe, you’ll be enjoying the tastiest Ewedu Soup ever.
- Pluck the jute leaves, leaving the stem and stalk.
- Rinse the leaves with cold water.
- You can finely chop the leaves with a knife or blend them with water. Use the ice break option on the blender.
- Boil water and assorted meat liquid stock in a pot.
- Then, add the blended jute leaves and the optional locust beans.
- Season the soup with Knorr cube, and sea salt and stir with a spoon.
- Cover and leave to cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the egusi and cook for another 5 minutes before serving.
Make this Ewedu Soup for your next dinner or occasion, and your guests will surely thank you. The flavors and consistency are unparalleled, and you might cook this recipe repeatedly!
Tips
Buying and Storing Ewedu Soup Ingredients
Jute leaves
Selection. Jute leaves are readily available in African/Asian shops, supermarkets, and grocery stores. Make sure to buy ones without wilted leaves, discoloration, or rotten areas. They should be in a healthy green color and crisp texture.
Storage. In an article by Low Carb Africa, jute leaves are best stored when dry. Wrap them in tissue paper and refrigerate them in a resealable bag for up to two weeks. For blended or chopped jute leaves, seal them in freezer bags to extend shelf life.
Locust beans
Selection. Locust beans are sold in packages in grocery stores. The containers should be sealed to ensure freshness.
Storage. Fresh locust beans will last several weeks in the fridge and longer in the freezer. Once dry, you can place them in a container and a cool and dry area.
Blending melon seeds
Prepare homemade egusi or lemon seeds by putting the melon seeds in a blender until smooth and powdery. Place the contents in an airtight container to store. You can also use a food processor.
If you don’t have a blender, use a food processor or mortar and pestle until you achieve the right texture.
How to make assorted meat liquid stock
Take your Ewedu soup to a new level by making a liquid stock of assorted meat at home. I highly suggest using beef organs such as tripe and abodi to make the stock.
- Cook the meat with onion and garlic.
- Then, season the broth with curry powder, salt, thyme, and stock cubes.
- Let it cook for 30 minutes or until tender.
- Separate the meat from the liquid stock.
Use the meat for other recipes and freeze the stock in ice cubes for better storage.
Ewedu Soup Variations
Since this soup doesn’t need meat or fish, you can cook variations by customizing the seasoning. For instance, you can use crayfish powder, paprika, chili flakes, or mixed herbs for a burst of flavor.
Moreover, if you don’t have fresh jute leaves, you may opt for frozen ones. The meat liquid stock can also be substituted with chicken liquid stock or bouillon-infused water.
Recommended Tools
- Pot: Cook the soup in a pot.
- Blender: You can blend the leaves in a blender.
- Knife: Finely chop the leaves using a knife.
- Chopping board: Prepare the leaves on a clean chopping board.
- Spoon: Stir the soup and ingredients with a spoon.
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How to Serve Ewedu Soup
Ewedu Soup can make an excellent appetizer for dinner parties. You can pair it with the following:
It can be served any time of the day as long as you consume it in moderation. When it comes to drinks, you can balance their flavor and refresh yourself with juices such as:
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Consume room temperature soup within four hours for the best quality and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ewedu soup made of?
Ewedu soup traditionally has ingredients like jute leaves, egusi, locust beans, salt, herbs, and spices. The key ingredient is fresh jute leaves to give them a genuine flavor and consistency.
What is ewedu leaf called in English?
Ewedu leaves are also called jute leaves in English. It’s a leafy green vegetable with a gelatinous and slimy quality similar to okra.
How do you eat Ewedu?
It can be consumed independently, but it is best paired with a swallow or solid foods like fufu, amala, eba and pounded yam. You can also enjoy it with stews for an enriched taste.
What is the benefit of Ewedu soup?
Ewedu soup helps with weight loss, skin, bones, blood pressure, and brain function. Thus, leafy green soup is loaded with nutrients you can ensure will be good for your health.
Ewedu Soup (VIDEO)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 bunch jute leaves (ewedu)
- ½ cup liquid stock
- 1 tsp locust beans
- 1 cube knorr stock
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp blended melon seeds (egusi) (optional)
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
Prepare the jute leaves.
- Pluck the jute leaves, leaving the stem and stalk
- Rinse the leaves with cold water.
- You can finely chop the leaves with a knife or blend them with water.
- Use the ice break option on the blender.
Cook the soup.
- Boil water and assorted meat liquid stock.
- Then, add the blended jute leaves and the optional locust beans.
- Season the soup with Knorr cubes and sea salt.
- Cover and leave to cook for 5 minutes.
Add the egusi
- Incorporate the egusi and cook for another 5 minutes before serving.
- If you don’t have or prefer adding egusi, you can already serve the soup.
Video
Notes
- You can finely chop or blend the jute leaves for the soup.
- The melon seeds can be blended using a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle.
- You can season the soup with other condiments for better flavor.
Nutrition
