Ọtọng Soup - Efik Style Okra Soup

Ọtọng soup is a delicious and nutritious soup that is native to the Efik tribe of Nigeria. It is a popular soup that is made with a blend of vegetables and seafood, including fish, shrimp, and periwinkles. The soup is thickened with okra and flavored with a variety of herbs and spices. Here is a recipe for preparing Ọtọng soup, Efik style.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of fresh okra
• 1 pound of fish (tilapia, catfish, or any other firm white fish)
• 1 pound of shrimp
• 1 cup of periwinkles
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons of palm oil
• 2 tablespoons of ground crayfish
• 1 tablespoon of ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons of ground ehu seeds
• Salt to taste
• Water

Preparation

• Clean the fish and cut it into small pieces. Rinse the shrimp and periwinkles in cold water and set them aside.
• Wash the okra and remove the stems. Chop the okra into small pieces and set it aside.
• In a large pot, heat the palm oil over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and fry until they are translucent.
• Add the chopped okra and fry for 5 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
• Add enough water to the pot to cover the okra and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10 minutes until the okra is tender.
• Add the fish and shrimp to the pot and let it cook for 5 minutes.
• Add the periwinkles, ground crayfish, ground pepper, and ground ehu seeds to the pot. Stir to combine and let it simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
• Add salt to taste and stir.
• Reduce the heat and let the soup simmer for 5-10 minutes.
• Serve the soup hot with a side of fufu or pounded yam.