This is a traditional soup cooked mainly in the southern part of Nigeria. It is a soup eaten with all swallow types (like Eba, fufu (akpu),semolina, wheat etc. )
Oha soup can also be compared to other soup like bitter leaf soup when it comes to their preparations but the result of their taste is different due to a difference in the vegetable leaves used, which is soft and smooth in taste with no form of bitter taste at all, compared to the bitter leaf.
Oha soup is a mix of fresh cooked pounded Coco yam paste that serve as the soup thickener which gives it a special aroma and a unique taste. it is best advised to boil the Coco yam for 5-10 mins, peel, and pound it smoothly before adding it to the soup on fire.
Oha leaf is really popular in the eastern part of Nigeria. It is a major ingredient used for the preparation of the famous Oha/ Ora soup. It is an uncommon leafy vegetable, and it is not a climbing plant tree, it does not grow from the ground deep soil.
Oha leaves contain minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, zinc and manganese. Oha leaves are rich in fiber, amino acids like glutamic acid, lysine and cysteine while they have low sodium content. They contain vitamins A, C and some B vitamins.
BENEFIT OF ORA LEAVES
- Help the digestive function.
The first ora leave benefits for health is for digestive function. Ora leaves are great in dietary fiber. It helps to improve the digestive function and absorb the nutrient well.
- Prevent constipation.
The dietary fiber in Ora leaves has the capability to prevent constipation. This fiber helps to digest the food well so the food residue can be pushed out of the body easily.
- Control the blood glucose levels.
Ora leaves dietary fiber can absorb and distribute the calorie to be used well in all organs of the body. It will prevent the accumulation of calorie in the blood that can increase the blood glucose level. This is the best diet for the diabetic patients to control their blood glucose at a normal level.
- Help to treat diarrhea effectively.
Ora leaves contain zinc mineral which has the mechanism in repairing and protecting the intestinal mucosa. This mechanism will help the intestine can recover quickly so the diarrhea symptom can be stopped faster.
- Help to treat anemia.
Ora leaves are rich in an iron mineral that helps to treat anemia. This mineral plays the important role in red blood cell formation to create hemoglobin. This health benefit is supported also by its vitamin C which helps to absorb the iron well.
- Boost your immune system.
Ora leaves are rich in vitamin C. This is the best vitamin to boost your immune system. It will keep the antibody stay alert to fight the microbial.
- Help to fight the free radicals.
Ora leaves can fight the free radicals in the body because they contain antioxidant. This substance will prevent your body from any diseases.
- Prevent the cancer cell mutation.
The antioxidant within Ora leaves can prevent the cancer cell mutation. It can inhibit the tumor growth and spread.
- Keep the healthy joint and prevent arthritis.
Another important health benefits of ora leaves is Ora leaves contain manganese mineral which plays the important role in the cartilage formation and lubricating fluid in the joint. This mineral will prevent the joint diseases such as arthritis.
- Help your heart contract normally.
Potassium mineral in Ora leaves is important to maintain the normal contraction of the heart. It will make your heart can contract well and the blood can be pumped to all part of the body effectively.
INGRIDIENTS FOR OHA SOUP
Vegetable: Ora leave
Corms of coco yam
Red Palm Oil
Assorted Beef: Includes best cut, Shaki (cow tripe)
Assorted Fish: Dry Fish and Stock Fish
Chilli pepper
Salt and Crayfish (to taste)
Maggi
Curry
Ogiri Igbo
Cooking Directions
- Boil the shaki (cow tripe), stock fish and dry fish in 1 liter of water till they are well done. First sign of a done shaki is that the cuts will start curling on itself.
- Wash the beef and add to the pot of shaki etc. and continue cooking. When the meat is done, add 2 stock cubes and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add the pepper, Ogiri Igbo and ground crayfish and cook for 10 minutes. Add the coco yam paste in small lumps and then the palm oil.
- Cover the pot and leave to cook on high heat till all the coco yam lumps have dissolved. You can add more water if you feel that the soup is too thick.
- Add the ora (oha) leaves and leave to cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add salt to taste, stir and the soup is ready.
