One of the many reasons why the southern region of Nigeria should be proud of itself is the region’s culinary specialties. They are the people that came up with Banga Soup in addition to Owo Soup. Owo soup is a proud product of the southern and southernmost parts of Nigeria. It is adored not only for its delectable taste but also for its health benefits.
Owo or owho soup is something that can only be experienced by those who have traveled to specific regions of Nigeria. In Warri, Delta State, I had the opportunity to try owo soup, which I found to be delicious. There are a lot of individuals who adore this soup, and they have every reason to do so.
Because it is a traditional Nigerian soup, it must be consumed in one swallow. Because of this, owo soup is traditionally consumed alongside starches such as yam, eba, or fufu.
Because we care about your health, in addition to providing you with intriguing information on owo soup, this post will also discuss the positive effects that owo soup can have on your body.
How to prepare owo soup
The recipe for Itsekiri Owho soup is not overly complicated, and it may easily be adapted to fit your preferences. Also, Owho soup is not complete when served without starch or hot Garri as an accompaniment; accordingly, why not combine Owho soup with starch and have it for lunch or dinner?
The best part is that you almost certainly already have the majority of the components for this soup stored away up in your kitchen.
Owo Soup Ingredients
- seasoning cubes
- 1 tablespoon ground crayfish
- Salt to taste.
- Potash (Akanwu)
- Beef
- Dry fish
- ½ tablespoon of pepper
- 2-3 handful of Garri or starch for thickener
- 3 cooking spoons of palm oil
Steps by steps on how to prepare owo soup:
- Boil your fish or meat stock.
- Two tablespoons of potash should be combined with a small amount of water, then set aside.
- Pour the tiny container with the palm oil.
- Gently pour the potash water into the palm oil while stirring it in order to thicken and render the palm oil yellowish orange.
- Make sure to season the meats and stockfish before cooking them.
- Here, you have the option to utilize garri; to make it soft, combine it with water from the meat and fish stock. After a few minutes, add the palm oil and potash mixture to the boiling beef stock (instead of garri, some people use powdered starch here).
- Cook the soft garri dough in small lumps by adding them to the pot.
- Make sure to keep monitoring to see whether the garri lumps have broken down and the soup is not frothing.
- Stir continuously until there are no lumps.
- Serve hot with starch, eba, fufu, or yam.
Health Benefits of Owo Soup
The ingredients used to make owo soup determine its health advantages. As you can see, potash and palm oil are the main components of owo soup. So, the ingredients used to produce owo soup will determine its nutritional value. Because it is made using potash, it contains a lot of potassium. Fish, which is rich in omega-3 acids, and chili peppers, which are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, are both ingredients.
It is advantageous for the nervous system
Potash is made up of potassium salt and potassium carbonate. It is hence particularly potassium-rich. Due to the fact that potash is a key component, owo soup is also high in potassium.
Having a diet high in potassium helps support the maintenance of normal nerve function.
Beneficial to the heart
In potash, there is potassium, a crucial element for the body. Potassium is essential for a healthy heart because it moves through cells in a manner that keeps the heartbeat regular.
A diet high in potassium may lower blood pressure by facilitating the body’s removal of extra sodium.
It guards against osteoporosis
A disorder known as osteoporosis is characterized by weak, hollow, and porous bones.
Low calcium levels, an essential element that supports the maintenance of strong bones, are a contributing factor in osteoporosis.
A potassium-rich meal, however, may help prevent osteoporosis by lowering the amount of calcium that is excreted in the urine, according to scientific studies.
Lessens hydration retention
When the body accumulates too much fluid, water retention occurs.
For a long time, potassium has been utilized to treat water retention. Even scientists in the medical field have hypothesized that a high potassium diet can aid in reducing water retention by boosting urine production and lowering sodium levels in the body.
Is owo soup beneficial for losing weight?
Owo soup is extremely calorie-dense. Owo soup is eaten with starch, yam, eba, or fufu and has 400–450 calories per serving on a plate.
Thus, owo soup can be very fatty and is not the best food for weight loss.
To lose weight, eating in moderation would be preferable—I’m not saying you can’t have owo soup.
Owo soup and pregnancy
You are already aware of how high in potash owo soup is. There have been numerous rumors regarding potash and pregnancy. The truth is that pregnant ladies shouldn’t consume too much potash.
Potash may have negative health effects, particularly during pregnancy, according to Mrs. Iyabode Alabi, a dietician and former head of the department of dietetics at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to some reports, potash’s capacity to promote uterine contractility even makes it possible to trigger abortion in early pregnancy.
This is not to imply that pregnant ladies shouldn’t eat owo soup; I have observed them doing so. However, pregnant women should avoid potash. Consequently, a diet rich in potash should be severely restricted during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Owo soup is a delectable Nigerian dish with certain health advantages. However, it needs to be ingested sensibly and in moderation.
