HOW TO MAKE EWEDU SOUP, A DELICACY FROM THE WESTERN NIGERIA

Ewedu soup recipe - How to make ewedu soup

Ewedu soup is a tasty Nigerian soup popular in the western part of the country and indigenous to the yorubas, a popular ethnic group in Nigeria. It's a mucilaginous and very slimy draw soup made from jute leaves, also known as ayoyo or saluyot leaves (corchorus olitorius). In the average yoruba home, ewedu isn't served alone. It's often served with stew or gbegiri and accompanied by either Amala or Eba (Garri). Personally, i enjoy eating ewedu with peppered buka stew garnished with sharki, fuku, pomo and accompanied with soft amala....Yum!.

How to make Ewedu soup
• Prep time:  15 minutes
• Cook time: 15 minutes
• Total time: 30 minutes
• Region:      Western Nigeria

Things you'd need
• Ijabe (Traditional broom whisk) Or Blender

Ingredients:::

• 1 bunch Ewedu leaves 

• 1 cup water

• 1 tsp. potash

• 1 tsp. locust beans

• Salt to taste

Directions:::

Step 1; Pluck the ewedu leaves from the stem. Rinse the plucked leaves in clean water - Set Aside.

Step 2: In a small pot, add the water and potash and leave to heat up. Once the water starts to boil, add the ewedu leaves and leave to cook for about 7 minutes. Turn off the burner and mash with the broom. Alternatively if you don't have the broom, leave the boiled ewedu to cool a little then pour it into a blender and blend.

Step 3: Pour the ewedu back into the pot and turn the burner to the lowest. Add the salt, crayfish and locust beans. leave it to simmer for 3-5 minutes.

Turn of the burner and serve alongside stew or gbegiri and amala

Eating ewedu soup (green) with buka stew and sharki "Tripe"

Health Benefits of Ewedu (ayoyo or saluyot) leaves

Ewedu leaves are packed with Vitamins A, C and E which fend off free radicals, thereby protecting from cancer and other degenerative diseases. The vitamins also helps in beautifying the body by increasing collagen production thereby keeping the skin firm and young-looking (Click here for the full list of Nigerian leafy vegetables and benefits)

Some of it's benefits in herbal medicine are; 

~ It’s a good source of fiber, low in calories but high in vitamins which makes it good for        weight loss. Serving ewedu without meat or fish only has 97 calories.

~ it is used to control or prevent dysentery, worm infestation and constipation.

~ It is used for pain, piles, and tumors in Ayurveda (an ancient Hindu system of healing)

~ it is used in the treatment of treatment of painful urination known as dysuria associated with cystitis, fever & gonorrhea. The cold infusion is said to restore the appetite and strength.