Soups & Stews

Ofe Nsala (White Soup)

Name: Ofe Nsala (White Soup)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients: 900 g catfish steaks (cleaned by the fishmonger); 200 g white yam (peeled and cubed); 2 tbsp ground dried crayfish; 1 Scotch bonnet pepper (crushed); 0.5 tsp ogiri okpei (commercially prepared; optional); 1 tsp finely sliced utazi leaves (start with less if strongly bitter); 1 stock cube (optional); 1100 ml water; to taste salt

A light catfish soup with yam for body and a restrained touch of bitter utazi. Ofe nsala is often called white soup because it is prepared without palm oil. Flo Chinyere describes it as a soup that can welcome a familiar guest at short notice. Nigerian recipes vary between fish, chicken and meat; this version puts catfish and a small amount of yam at the centre. Cultural context: This is an Igbo catfish-and-yam version. Efik afia efere is a related white-soup tradition with its own seasoning; the names should not erase that distinction.

Pale Ofe Nsala with cooked grey-skinned catfish steaks and sparse fine utazi leaf slivers.

20 minPreparation

40 minCooking

4Servings

What you’ll need

4 servings

900 g catfish steakscleaned by the fishmonger
200 g white yampeeled and cubed
2 tbsp ground dried crayfish
1 Scotch bonnet peppercrushed
0.5 tsp ogiri okpeicommercially prepared; optional
1 tsp finely sliced utazi leavesstart with less if strongly bitter
1 stock cubeoptional
1100 ml water
to taste salt

Let’s get cooking

1
Simmer yam in 400 ml water for 15–20 minutes until soft. Lift it out and pound or mash to a lump-free paste; retain the cooking water.
2
Place fish in a wide pot with the yam water and remaining water. Add pepper, crayfish, ogiri and the stock cube.
3
Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 10 minutes without vigorous stirring.
4
Add yam paste a little at a time. Simmer 8–12 minutes, gently shaking the pot, until the yam disperses and the fish is cooked through and flakes easily.
5
Add utazi and simmer 2 minutes. Season and serve with pounded yam. Remove any bones while eating.

A little kitchen wisdom

Use a wide pan so the fish can sit in one layer. Stop adding yam when the broth lightly coats a spoon; it should remain pourable. Timing: active preparation 20 min; cooking 40 min; additional passive time 0 min; conservative planning allowance 60 min. Some stages may overlap. Recipe status: Research draft; not kitchen-tested. Allergens and checks: Fish; Crustaceans (crayfish); Check stock cube and fermented seasoning labels

Recipe notes & sources

Research draft; not kitchen-tested

Also known as: Nsala soup

This is an Igbo catfish-and-yam version. Efik afia efere is a related white-soup tradition with its own seasoning; the names should not erase that distinction.

Allergens: Fish, Crustaceans (crayfish), Check stock cube and fermented seasoning labels

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Soups & Stews

Soups & Stews

Ofe Nsala (White Soup)

20 minPreparation

40 minCooking

4Servings

What you’ll need

4 servings

900 g catfish steakscleaned by the fishmonger
200 g white yampeeled and cubed
2 tbsp ground dried crayfish
1 Scotch bonnet peppercrushed
0.5 tsp ogiri okpeicommercially prepared; optional
1 tsp finely sliced utazi leavesstart with less if strongly bitter
1 stock cubeoptional
1100 ml water
to taste salt

Let’s get cooking

1
Simmer yam in 400 ml water for 15–20 minutes until soft. Lift it out and pound or mash to a lump-free paste; retain the cooking water.
2
Place fish in a wide pot with the yam water and remaining water. Add pepper, crayfish, ogiri and the stock cube.
3
Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 10 minutes without vigorous stirring.
4
Add yam paste a little at a time. Simmer 8–12 minutes, gently shaking the pot, until the yam disperses and the fish is cooked through and flakes easily.
5
Add utazi and simmer 2 minutes. Season and serve with pounded yam. Remove any bones while eating.

A little kitchen wisdom

Recipe notes & sources

Research draft; not kitchen-tested

Also known as: Nsala soup

This is an Igbo catfish-and-yam version. Efik afia efere is a related white-soup tradition with its own seasoning; the names should not erase that distinction.

Allergens: Fish, Crustaceans (crayfish), Check stock cube and fermented seasoning labels