Nigerian Soups are an important part of our diet. For some Nigerians, especially me, not eating soup for an entire week can cause slight sickness and they would start showing withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, there is a wide range of soup options for most people to eat without getting bored.
Usually, the soups you eat and enjoy are a factor of where you grew up and what was popular there but some soups have stood out across cultures, not just because of how great they are but also because of how healthy they are. Let’s check some of them out.
Efo Riro
It’ll be a crime to make a list of healthy Nigerian Soups and not include Efo Riro. The soup is a combination of vegetables and proteins. The soup is usually prepared with pumpkin leaf(Ugwu), waterleaf, palm oil, fish and meat.
Spinach leaves which are a popular ingredient in the soup contain Vitamin K, the nutrient that helps with blood clotting, bone metabolism, and calcium levels in the body.
Nutritional Component of Eden Life’s Efo Riro
Additionally, because it is vegetable-based, Efo Riro is a very good diet option if you are looking to lose weight.
Ogbono Soup
Ogbono is made from the seeds of a fruit called the African mango. The seeds are dried then ground and cooked in palm oil to make the soup. It is known for its thick consistency and slippery nature.
The extra ingredients like stockfish, meat and palm oil make the soup a very tasty and healthy meal. It is also made with vegetables, usually, pumpkin or bitter leaf and the source seeds contain a lot of nutrients including protein, fibre, iron, and calcium.
The proteins give energy and build the body. The fibre aids the digestive system and prevents constipation while calcium gives you stronger bones.
Nutritional Component of Eden Life’s Ogbono
Banga Soup
Banga soup is made from the extracted flesh of the palm kernel fruit. The fruit is boiled and the oil which is used to make the soup is extracted. Banga soup is literally made out of palm oil and carries all the nutritional benefits.
Banga soup contains fats, Vitamin A and E. The palm oil that makes up the soup is an excellent source of tocotrienols, a form of vitamin E with strong antioxidant properties that supports brain health.
Vitamin A is also great for the skin and eyes. It helps to improve vision and give clearer skin.
Nutritional Component of Eden Life’s Banga
Ewedu
Ewedu is usually mixed with gbegiri and eaten with stew. Ewedu is made from jute leaves. The leaves are whipped with a special broom or a blender until they have a thick consistency and then cooked.
Jute leaves are rich in fibre, antioxidants, magnesium, and lots of other vitamins and minerals. The soup is really healthy as it’s literally just made of greens.
Egusi Soup
Egusi Soup is the national anthem of Nigerian soups. Anyone who hasn’t tasted it should have their passport taken from them. The soup is made from the seeds of melon, an oil-rich plant.
Egusi seeds are rich in carbohydrates, protein, fibre, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and many other minerals. The soup is made with a lot of extra ingredients like meat and fish which greatly increases its nutrient components.
Nutritional Component of Eden Life’s Egusi
Eating healthy is as important as eating tasty food. You should always go for meals that contain useful nutrients for your body and mind.
The nutritional experts at Eden Life have got you on that end. All our meals are optimised for taste and health. with delicious meals which have been intentionally curated by nutritional and culinary experts, and & cooked to perfection.
Our meals are balanced, healthy and will provide you with all the nutrients you need in the right proportions.
Order your favourite soups on-demand or get a meal plan here!