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Ofe Achara Recipe

Ofe Achara, also known as Ofe Akwu or Banga Soup, is a traditional soup that originates from the Eastern part of Nigeria. It is a hearty and flavorful soup that is made with palm fruit extract, assorted meat, fish, vegetables, and local spices. This soup is usually served with fufu, pounded yam, or any other swallow of your choice.

To make Ofe Achara, you will need the following ingredients:

  • 500g of Palm Fruit Extract (Banga)

  • 500g of Assorted Meat (Beef, Goat Meat, Cow Tripe)

  • 500g of Fish (Catfish, Tilapia, or any other fish of your choice)

  • 2 cups of Stockfish

  • 2 cups of Crayfish

  • 2 cups of Chopped Ugu Leaves (Pumpkin Leaves)

  • 1 cup of Chopped Utazi Leaves

  • 1 Onion

  • 3 Scotch Bonnet Peppers

  • 3 Cloves of Garlic

  • 1 tablespoon of Ground Crayfish

  • 1 teaspoon of Ground Pepper

  • Salt to taste

For those with allergy concerns, this recipe contains fish and meat, so it may not be suitable for those with allergies to these ingredients. For those who are sensitive to spicy food, you can adjust the amount of pepper used in this recipe to your taste preference.

To make this recipe healthier, you can opt for leaner cuts of meat and use less palm fruit extract. You can also add more vegetables to the soup, such as spinach or kale.

For kitchen equipment, you will need a large pot, a wooden spoon, a blender, and a cooking stove.

Here are the steps to follow to make Ofe Achara:

  1. Wash and season the assorted meat with chopped onions, garlic, salt, and pepper. Then, boil the meat for about 30 minutes until it is tender.

  2. In a separate pot, boil the stockfish and crayfish until they are soft. Then, remove the bones from the stockfish and grind the crayfish.

  3. Blend the scotch bonnet peppers and utazi leaves together.

  4. In a large pot, add the palm fruit extract and enough water to cover it. Boil for about 20 minutes until the extract is soft. Then, mash it with a wooden spoon until it becomes a smooth paste.

  5. Add the boiled meat, fish, stockfish, and blended pepper and utazi mix to the pot with the palm fruit extract. Also, add the ground crayfish and salt to taste.

  6. Allow the soup to simmer for about 10 minutes until the flavors have combined. Then, add the chopped ugu leaves and stir.

  7. Serve the Ofe Achara hot with fufu, pounded yam, or any other swallow of your choice.

Here are the Amazon links to purchase some of the ingredients and equipment mentioned in this recipe:

With these ingredients and equipment, you can easily make a delicious pot of Ofe Achara in the comfort of your home.


In terms of calorie intake, it is difficult to determine the exact calorie count of this dish as it varies depending on the amount of ingredients used and the serving size. However, it is generally considered to be a high-calorie dish due to the use of palm fruit extract and assorted meat. As mentioned earlier, you can make this recipe healthier by using leaner cuts of meat and adding more vegetables to the soup.


Overall, Ofe Achara is a delicious and hearty soup that is enjoyed by many in Nigeria and beyond. With this detailed recipe, you can easily recreate this dish at home and enjoy its rich and flavorful taste.

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