How to Prepare Delicious Ewedu Soup

Ewedu soup is one of those Nigerian Yoruba soups prepared with ewedu leaves, also known as jute leaf. This leaf has some amazing health benefits. 

It is popularly enjoyed with amala either made with elubo ogede or elubo isu, often alongside gbegiri and stew. The leaves are usually cooked and blended or pounded before lightly seasoned.  Ewedu soup is loved for its smooth, slightly slippery texture and fresh green taste.

If you have always wondered how to prepare ewedu properly, here is a simple step-by-step guide.

Ingredients 

For a basic pot of ewedu, you will need:

• Fresh ewedu leaves
• Water
• Iru (locust beans). See benefits 
• Ground crayfish
• Salt
• Seasoning cube, if desired
• A small amount of potash, if you use it
• Ewedu broom (ijabe) or blender for processing

You can adjust the quantity of each ingredient depending on how much soup you want to prepare.

https://iyalojadirect.com/how-to-prepare-ewa-agoyin/: How to Prepare Delicious Ewedu Soup

Preparation 

Step 1

• Start by removing the leaves from the stalks. Take out leaves that are yellow, damaged or spoiled.

• Wash the leaves thoroughly with clean water to remove sand and dirt. You may wash them more than once because fresh vegetables can sometimes have dirt trapped between the leaves.

• Drain the leaves and set them aside.

Step 2

• Put a clean pot on the stove and add a little water. You don’t need too much water because ewedu soup is not meant to be watery.

• Allow the water to boil and add the ewedu leaves.

• If you use potash, add a very small quantity. Potash can help soften the leaves and give the soup its characteristic texture, but too much can affect the taste and colour of the soup.

• Allow the leaves to cook for a few minutes until they become soft.

Avoid overcooking the ewedu. Cooking it for too long can affect its colour, taste and some of its nutrients.

Step 3

• Once the leaves are soft, you can process them.

• Traditionally, an ewedu broom (ijabe) is used to mash and draw the leaves until they become smooth and stretchy.

If you don’t have an ewedu broom, you can use a blender. Blend the cooked leaves briefly until you achieve the texture you like.

Don’t blend for too long if you prefer your ewedu to have a little texture.

Step 4

• Return the blended ewedu to the pot and place it back on low heat.

• Add your iru, ground crayfish, salt and seasoning cube if you are using one.

• Stir everything together and allow it to simmer for a few minutes so the flavours can come together.

• Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Remember that ewedu doesn’t need heavy seasoning. The goal is to allow the fresh taste of the leaves, iru and crayfish to come through.

Step 5

• Your ewedu soup is ready!

Ewedu is traditionally served with amala and can be enjoyed alongside gbegiri and your choice of meat, fish or other protein.

Conclusion 

Preparing ewedu soup is quite simple when you have fresh ingredients ready to go. From your ewedu leaves to other foodstuff needed for your Nigerian meals, getting quality ingredients is an important part of preparing good food.

At Iyaloja Direct, we make it easier to buy your foodstuff without overspending, wasting time and stressing doing market runs in Lagos.

We help you get the foodstuff you need no matter how little at direct Mile12,  Oyingbo, and Ketu markets wholesale prices and deliver them to your doorstep. 

Send us a WhatsApp message 0817 457 8684 to get started.  Or, visit www.iyalojadirect.com and start shopping.