How to Make Okra Soup | Draw Soup - A Delicious West African Dish

Okra soup, also known as draw soup, is a popular and nutritious dish from West Africa. It is made with okra, a green vegetable that has a slimy texture and a mild flavor. Okra soup is often cooked with meat, fish, palm oil, and spices, and served with a starchy side dish like fufu, eba, or pounded yam.

Okra soup is easy to make and can be customized to your taste and preference. You can use any type of meat or fish you like, such as chicken, beef, turkey, or smoked catfish. You can also add other vegetables like spinach, kale, or pumpkin leaves to make it more colorful and healthy.

In this article, we will show you how to make okra soup | draw soup in a few simple steps. You will need the following ingredients:

• 500g of okra
• 500g of meat or fish of your choice
• 4 cups of water or stock
• 1/4 cup of palm oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 habanero pepper, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 tablespoons of locust bean (iru) or fermented fish (ogiri)
• 2 tablespoons of ground crayfish
• Salt and seasoning cubes to taste
• A handful of spinach or other leafy greens (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the okra

Wash the okra and chop off the ends. You can either slice the okra thinly or grate it with a grater. The thinner you slice or grate the okra, the more slimy the soup will be. If you prefer a less slimy soup, you can cut the okra into bigger chunks.

Step 2: Cook the meat or fish

If you are using meat, wash it and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Season it with salt and seasoning cubes and boil it in a pot with water until tender. Reserve the stock for later use.

If you are using fish, wash it and season it with salt and seasoning cubes. You can either boil it in a separate pot or fry it in oil until golden brown. Set aside the fish and reserve the stock or oil for later use.

Step 3: Make the pepper mixture

Blend the onion, habanero pepper, and red bell pepper together in a blender or food processor until smooth. You can add some water if needed to make the blending easier.

Step 4: Cook the soup

Heat the palm oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the locust bean or fermented fish and fry for a few minutes, stirring frequently. Add the pepper mixture and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the ground crayfish, salt, and seasoning cubes to taste. Stir well and cook for another 5 minutes.

Add the okra and stir well to combine with the sauce. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the okra is soft and slimy.

If you are using spinach or other leafy greens, wash them and chop them roughly. Add them to the soup and stir well. Cook for another 5 minutes until the greens are wilted.