The Most Popular Soup in Nigeria, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the soup you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 22, 2024 07:35
In Nigeria, the love for soup spans across all cultures, each bringing their own unique tastes and traditions to the table. Knowing the most popular soup not only aids travelers in making culinary choices but also helps locals celebrate and share their cultural heritage with pride.
This dynamic ranking system lets you have a direct impact on which soups are celebrated nationwide. By voting for your preferred soups, you contribute to a broader understanding of culinary preferences across diverse Nigerian communities. Participate now and see how your favorites fare against others!
What Is the Most Popular Soup in Nigeria?
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145votes
Ask4ugo · CC BY-SA 4.0Egusi Soup is made with ground melon seeds, vegetables, and a variety of meats and fish. It is a staple in many Nigerian homes and is often served with pounded yam or fufu.Egusi Soup is a popular and delicious traditional Nigerian soup. It is a thick, flavorful soup made primarily from ground melon seeds and various other ingredients. The soup is known for its rich and creamy texture, as well as its unique and satisfying taste.- Main Ingredient: Ground melon seeds (egusi)
- Meat or Fish: Typically prepared with either meat (such as beef, goat, or chicken) or fish (such as dried fish or stockfish)
- Vegetables: Commonly includes vegetables such as spinach, bitter leaf, or pumpkin leaves
- Aromatic Spices: Often seasoned with a combination of spices like dried chili peppers, onion, garlic, ginger, and traditional Nigerian seasoning blends
- Additional Ingredients: May contain other ingredients like palm oil, crayfish, stock cubes, and assorted meats or seafood
Egusi Soup in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most delicious food in Nigeria
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular dish in Sierra Leone
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222votes
Xtacywura · CC BY-SA 4.0Ogbono Soup is also known as draw soup, it is made with ground ogbono seeds, vegetables, and meat. It has a slimy texture and is often served with eba or fufu.Ogbono Soup is a popular Nigerian soup known for its rich and hearty flavors. It is made using ground Ogbono seeds (wild mango seeds) as the main ingredient, which gives the soup a thick and viscous texture. The soup is typically cooked with a combination of meat or fish, vegetables, and assorted spices.- Primary Ingredient: Ogbono (Wild Mango) seeds
- Texture: Thick and viscous
- Flavor: Rich and hearty
- Common Proteins: Meat or fish
- Vegetables: Okra, spinach, or bitter leaf
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321votesVegetable Soup is made with a variety of vegetables, such as pumpkin leaves, spinach, and okra. It is often served with pounded yam or fufu.Vegetable Soup is a traditional Nigerian dish made primarily from a variety of fresh vegetables. It is a thick and hearty soup known for its vibrant colors and rich flavors. The combination of different vegetables creates a delicious and nutritious meal that is enjoyed by many Nigerians.
- Ingredients: Assorted fresh vegetables (such as spinach, pumpkin leaves, water leaves), onions, palm oil, stockfish or dried fish, meat or seafood, crayfish, seasoning cubes, salt, and optional spices.
- Preparation Method: The vegetables are washed, chopped, and set aside. The other ingredients, such as meat or seafood, are thoroughly washed and seasoned before cooking. The soup is prepared by sautéing onions in palm oil, adding stockfish or dried fish, meat or seafood, and seasoning. The chopped vegetables are then added, followed by spices, crayfish, and salt. The soup is simmered until all the ingredients are well-cooked and the flavors have melded together.
- Popular Variations: Vegetable Soup can be customized based on personal preferences and regional variations. Some common variations include mixing different types of vegetables, adding locust beans for extra flavor, or incorporating protein-rich ingredients like cow liver or snails.
- Serving: Vegetable Soup is typically served hot as a main course, accompanied by a side dish such as fufu, pounded yam, or eba (garri). It is often enjoyed as a hearty and nutritious meal.
- Nutritional Value: Vegetable Soup is packed with essential nutrients due to the variety of vegetables used. It is rich in vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. The inclusion of protein sources like meat or seafood adds to its nutritional value.
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429votesOha Soup is made with oha leaves, a variety of meats, and spices. It is a delicacy in the Igbo culture and is often served with fufu or garri.Oha Soup is a traditional Nigerian soup commonly enjoyed by the Igbo people. It is known for its rich and distinctive flavor derived from the combination of oha leaves, assorted meat, and traditional spices. The soup is usually thick and has a slightly bitter taste, which is balanced by the addition of palm oil and other ingredients.
- Ingredients: Oha leaves, meat (such as cow tripe, goat meat, or beef), assorted spices, and palm oil are the main ingredients in this soup.
- Flavor: Oha Soup has a unique combination of flavors, including a slightly bitter taste from the oha leaves, a savory taste from the meat, and a subtle sweetness from the palm oil.
- Texture: The soup is usually thick and has a rich, velvety texture.
- Aroma: When cooking, Oha Soup emits a delightful aroma that fills the kitchen with a mix of earthy, meaty, and slightly bitter scents.
- Traditional Preparation: The soup is often prepared by first boiling the meat and adding assorted spices to create a flavorful broth. Then, the oha leaves are added along with palm oil to enhance the taste and texture. It is typically served with a side of fufu or pounded yam.
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513votes
Yemisi Ogbe · CC BY-SA 4.0Afang Soup is made with afang leaves, a variety of meats, and spices. It is a delicacy in the Efik and Ibibio cultures and is often served with fufu or garri.Afang soup is a delicious and nutritious traditional Nigerian soup popular in the Efik and Ibibio ethnic groups of the southern part of Nigeria. It is made primarily with afang leaves, which are also known as ukazi leaves, combined with various protein-rich ingredients such as meat, fish, or seafood. This soup is typically thick, hearty, and bursting with flavor.- Main ingredients: Afang leaves, meat, fish or seafood
- Flavor profile: Rich, earthy, and slightly bitter
- Texture: Thick and hearty
- Preparation time: Approximately 1 to 2 hours
- Cooking method: Stewing and simmering
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68votes
Aderiqueza · CC BY-SA 4.0Edikang Ikong Soup is made with a combination of pumpkin leaves and water leaves, a variety of meats, and spices. It is a delicacy in the Efik and Ibibio cultures and is often served with fufu or garri.Edikang Ikong Soup is a delicious Nigerian soup that originated from the Efik ethnic group in the southern part of Nigeria. It is a rich and nutritious soup made from a combination of various vegetables, typically ugwu leaves (fluted pumpkin) and water leaves, along with assorted meat and fish.- Region: Southern Nigeria
- Primary Ingredients: Ugwu leaves, water leaves, assorted meat, fish
- Preparation Time: Approximately 1 hour
- Cooking Method: Boiling and simmering
- Serving Temperature: Hot
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76votes
Nkansahrexford · CC BY-SA 4.0Banga Soup is made with palm fruit extract, a variety of meats, and spices. It is a delicacy in the Niger Delta region and is often served with starch or eba.Banga Soup is a delicious and flavorful Nigerian soup that is popularly prepared among the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. It is made from a base of palm fruit extract, which gives the soup its distinctively rich and vibrant red color.- Main ingredients: Palm fruit extract, assorted meats and fish, crayfish, peppers, and traditional Nigerian spices.
- Serving: Usually served with either starch, eba, pounded yam, or fufu - traditional Nigerian staples.
- Flavor profile: Banga Soup has a rich, slightly tangy, and earthy taste with a mild spiciness.
- Health benefits: The soup is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from the palm fruit extract, and provides a good source of protein and essential fatty acids from the assorted meats and fish.
- Regional variations: Although the Urhobo people are credited with its creation, Banga Soup has variations and is enjoyed by different ethnic groups across the Niger Delta region, each adding their unique twist.
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89votes
Efo Riro
Yoruba ethnic groupEfo Riro is made with a variety of vegetables, such as spinach and pumpkin leaves, and a variety of meats. It is a delicacy in the Yoruba culture and is often served with pounded yam or fufu.Efo Riro is a popular Nigerian dish that originated from the Yoruba ethnic group. It is a delicious and savory vegetable soup made primarily with a combination of leafy greens, assorted meat or fish, and a blend of flavorful spices. The name 'Efo Riro' translates to 'mixed vegetables' in English, highlighting the key ingredients used in its preparation.- Region: Yoruba cuisine
- Main ingredients: Leafy greens (e.g., spinach, amaranth, or pumpkin leaves), assorted meat or fish, palm oil, onions, peppers, locust beans (iru), crayfish, and seasonings
- Preparation method: The leafy greens are blanched, drained, and finely chopped. The assorted meat or fish is cooked separately and set aside. A sauce is made by frying onions, peppers, and other spices in palm oil. The blanched vegetables, cooked meat or fish, and other ingredients are added to the sauce and simmered until well combined and flavorful.
- Texture: Tender leafy greens in a thick and slightly grainy soup
- Flavor profile: Rich, savory, and slightly spicy
Efo Riro in other rankings- Position 7 of 10 in Most delicious food in Nigeria
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93votes
Bukky658 · CC BY-SA 4.0Okro Soup is made with okra, a variety of meats, and spices. It has a slimy texture and is often served with fufu or garri.Okro Soup is a traditional Nigerian soup made with okra, a green vegetable that is known for its slimy texture when cooked. It is a thick and hearty soup that is often enjoyed with a side of swallow (a type of Nigerian staple food made from cassava or yam flour).- Main Ingredients: Okra, meat or fish, palm oil, spices, and vegetables
- Texture: Slimy consistency due to the cooked okra
- Flavor: Savory and slightly tangy
- Variations: There are variations of Okro Soup across different Nigerian ethnic groups, with slight differences in preparation and additional ingredients.
- Serving Temperature: Hot
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102votes
Nancy Nwachukwu · CC BY-SA 4.0Pepper Soup is made with a variety of meats, such as goat or chicken, and a spicy broth. It is often served as a starter or as a remedy for colds and flu.Pepper Soup is a popular Nigerian dish known for its spicy and flavorful broth. It is typically made with various types of meat, such as goat, chicken, or fish, and simmered in a rich blend of spices and herbs. The broth is often infused with pepper, giving the soup a fiery kick. Pepper Soup is commonly enjoyed as a main course or as a starter during festive occasions and gatherings.- Ingredients: Meat (goat, chicken, or fish), spices (such as uziza seeds, crayfish, ataiko, and scent leaves), onions, garlic, ginger, and pepper.
- Preparation: The meat is usually seasoned with a mix of spices, then simmered in a pot of water or broth. The spices and herbs are added, including the key ingredient - pepper. The soup is cooked slowly to allow the flavors to meld together, resulting in a tantalizing and aromatic broth.
- Spiciness Level: Pepper Soup is famous for its spiciness. The amount of pepper used can vary, but it is generally quite hot. It is not recommended for those with a low tolerance for spice.
- Variations: Pepper Soup comes in different variations across Nigeria. Some popular variations include Goat Pepper Soup, Chicken Pepper Soup, Fish Pepper Soup, and Assorted Meat Pepper Soup.
- Serving Style: Pepper Soup is often served piping hot in a bowl or deep plate. It is sometimes accompanied by a side of boiled yam, plantains, or rice.
Pepper Soup in other rankings- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular dish in Sierra Leone
- Position 9 of 10 in Most delicious food in Nigeria
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Ranking factors for popular soup
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Geographic popularityDifferent regions in Nigeria have their own favorite soups, so it's important to consider which soups are popular in different parts of the country.
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Availability of ingredientsSome soups require specialized ingredients that may not be widely available in all parts of Nigeria, so popularity may be influenced by the accessibility of ingredients.
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Historical and cultural significanceSome soups have been traditionally prepared for generations and may have cultural or historical significance, which can influence their popularity.
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Nutritional valuePeople are increasingly conscious of the nutritional value of their food, so soups that are considered healthy and nutritious may be more popular.
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AccessibilitySome soups may be easier and quicker to prepare than others, which can influence their popularity among busy households.
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Ethnic and Religious considerationsCertain soups are commonly associated with specific ethnic groups, and some soups are popular among followers of certain religions (e.g., vegetarian soups for certain Hindu practitioners).
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular soup in Nigeria. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or soup is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1993 views
- 159 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each soup once every 24 hours. The rank of each soup is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular soup in nigeria
Nigeria is a country with a rich cultural heritage and cuisine. When it comes to soups, there are numerous options to choose from. Each region in Nigeria has its own unique soup recipe, often made with local ingredients and spices. Some of the most popular soups in Nigeria include Egusi soup, Ogbono soup, and Efo Riro. These soups are often served with a variety of staple foods such as pounded yam, fufu, or eba. The popularity of these soups varies across the country, with some being more common in certain regions than others. In this article, we will explore the most popular soup in Nigeria, based on StrawPoll data and insights from food experts.
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