Editan Soup is a nutritious meal common among the Efik and Ibibio people in Nigeria. The Editan leaf is bitter, but washing with warm water after slicing can reduce the bitterness.

Prep Time
20min
Cook Time
45min
Total Time
1hr 5min
Editan Soup recipe

Ingredients

8 Servings
(1 serving = 1 bowl)

Main Ingredients

  • 500g
    Fresh Editan leaves
  • 1kg
    Sliced fresh water leaves
  • 1bundle
    Uziza leaves
  • 2kg
    meat of choice
  • 3piece
    medium-sized dried or roasted fish
  • 2piece
    stock fish (medium size)
  • 2cups
    ground crayfish
  • 1 1/2cups
    palm oil
  • 3piece
    Bouillon Cubes (Seasoning)
  • 1cup
    Periwinkles (optional)
  • 3piece
    Fresh habanero/scotch bonnet pepper
  • Salt to taste

How to make Editan Soup

Preparation

  1. Wash the meat and put it in a pot. Add water just enough to cover the meat, add two bouillon cubes, salt, and boil for 15 minutes.

  2. Add the washed stock fish and dried fish, boil for another 3 minutes, leaving some meat stock to cook the soup.

  3. Pick and slice the Editan leaves into tiny shreds, place in a bowl and pour boiling water over them. Using a sieve, drain out the water and repeat the process with cold water to wash out the bitter taste.

  4. Wash and slice the waterleaf and Uziza leaves into thin slices separately.

Cooking

  1. Add palm oil, pepper, and crayfish to the meat stock and allow to boil for another 5 minutes.

  2. Add the sliced waterleaves and seasoning cubes. Taste for salt and adjust as desired. Stir and boil for 3 minutes.

  3. Add the Editan leaves, stir and leave to boil for 3 minutes, then add the sliced Uziza leaves and allow to boil for 3 minutes.

  4. Turn off the heat and serve with any swallow of your choice, e.g., Eba, Fufu, Pounded yam, semolina.

Tips & Tricks

  1. To reduce the bitterness of Editan leaves, wash them with warm water after slicing.