Edikaikong Soup (Edikang Ikong Soup Recipe) (2024)

This edikaikong soup recipe comes with substitutes, so you can make it wherever you are. Treat yourself to a tasty and nourishing Nigerian vegetable soup today!

Get ready to be on a journey through the rich and vibrant flavors of Nigerian cuisine with this edikaikong soup!

This tantalizing Nigerian vegetable soup features a medley of nutritious leafy greens, fish, and various meats. The stars of this dish are water leaves and ugwu, but the best part?

With the numerous variations of edikang ikong soups available, you can still indulge in the nourishing experience of this beloved recipe, even if you can’t find those leafy greens. Find out what substitutes you can use to make this hearty dish, even outside Nigeria.

What Is Edikaikong Soup?

Edikaikong soup or edikang ikong is a beloved Nigerian vegetable soup usually made from water leaves and ugwu.

Combining these healthy greens with rich and savory meats and fish creates the ultimate comfort in a bowl.

What makes this Nigerian vegetable soup even better is its flexibility because it allows ingredient substitutions!

Our simplified recipe uses goat meat, smoked fish, and ground crayfish, but you can opt for a more authentic experience and add shaki, bush meat, or kanda. 🤤

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Soups don’t have to be boring. Here’s why edikaikong soup will take your soup game to the next level:

• Tasty: Edikang ikong soup is a perfect example of why Nigerians really know how to make their soups. Transport your taste buds to a realm beyond “salty” soups and take a spoonful of something more complex and intriguing.
• Modifiable: Can’t find water leaves and ugwu? No problem! This wonderful Nigerian vegetable dish welcomes your improvisation to make the recipe according to your pantry’s limitations.
• Healthy: Say goodbye to high-sodium soups and opt for something more satisfying and nourishing. This edikaikong soup will revitalize your senses with nutrients and antioxidants in every bowl.

What Does Edikaikong Soup Taste Like?

So what does the beloved edikaikong soup taste like? Much like other Nigerian soups, edikang ikong soup has a rich, savory, and complex blend of flavors.

I think one of the reasons that set edikaikong soup apart from other soups is that its main liquid component is palm oil and not water. A bowl of this dish does not look like any other soup where you’re left unsatisfied with the lack of flavors and textures.

And for an unparalleled authentic experience, savor a bowl of edikaikong soup with your swallow of choice.

These dough-like African staples are named for the way they are eaten. Know more about one of the most popular swallows, fufu, in this mouthwatering read.

Is Edikaikong Soup Healthy?

This Nigerian vegetable soup is not just for your taste buds because it’s also a powerhouse of nutrition waiting to nourish your body and soul.

Why? Because of its leafy vegetables: water leaves and ugwu!

Water leaves offer many benefits for your overall well-being because they’re a good source of vitamins C, E, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and even Omega 3-fatty acids!

But the goodness doesn’t stop there! Ugwu or fluted pumpkin leaves will keep your digestive health in check because they’re packed with fiber.

So next time you’re looking for something soothing and filling, why not make this edikaikong soup recipe for a wellness boost?

What Are The Benefits Of Edikaikong Soup?

Move over, chicken soup! There’s a new contender for the ultimate comfort food, this edikaikong soup!

You will love how eating this soup is as satisfying as a meal because of the hearty ingredients and symphony of flavors.

It’s the epitome of savory goodness while also making you feel good inside out with its nutritious leafy greens. Every spoonful delivers nutrients and antioxidants for keeping diseases and infections at bay.

Ingredients For This Nigerian Vegetable Soup

• Goat meat – Unlock the full deliciousness of goat meat by tenderizing it well. The 30-minute wait is worth it once you try the succulent meat with the rich edikaikong soup.
• Ground crayfish – Ground crayfish are essentially ground tiny shrimps. And what you’ll get? Super umami seasoning often used in African dishes.
• Smoked fish – Do not be intimidated by the strong flavor of smoked fish. In the embrace of the savory and soothing flavors of this Nigerian vegetable soup, it’ll find the perfect balance.
• Water leaf – If you can’t find water leaves for your edikaikong soup, you can always swap them with good old spinach.
• Ugwu – Any pumpkin leaves will do if you can’t find ugwu leaves.
• Palm oil – What makes this Nigerian vegetable soup unique is palm oil takes the center stage instead of water. The result? The perfect richness especially with swallows!
• Onions – You can use white or red onions for this delicious soup.
• Scotch bonnet peppers – Umami dishes like this edikaikong soup can always use a fiery kick.
• Salt – Making edikaikong soup is a labor of love, so season as you go to ensure the perfect balance of flavors in every bowl.
• Bouillon cubes – These seasoning cubes should be a must-have in every kitchen! Instantly elevate the meatiness of any soup without needing to make a stock.

Tools Needed To Prepare Edikaikong Soup

• Pots for cooking the meat and soup
• Knife for chopping the ingredients

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Edikaikong Soup

Smoked fish

Looking to give your edikang ikong soup a more rounded umami flavor? You can swap smoked fish with smoked shrimp!

Periwinkles

Don’t be fooled by the small size of these snails because they pack a punch when it comes to flavor. The sweet and salty periwinkles instantly give each spoonful of edikaikong soup extra depth.

Tripe

This Nigerian vegetable soup was once considered limited to the wealthy because it uses assorted kinds of meats. Nowadays, you can easily experience abundance in every bowl by adding other ingredients to your homemade edikaikong soup. For example, include tripe in the mix!

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How To Cook Edikaikong Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs goat meat
• 4 tbsp ground crayfish
• 1 lb smoked fish
• 2 lbs water leaf
• 2 lbs ugwu
• ½ cup palm oil
• 2 pcs onions, sliced
• 2 Scotch bonnet peppers, sliced
• Salt to taste
• 2 pcs bouillon cubes

Tools you need:

• Pots
• Knife

Instructions:

STEP 1: Put your pot over low-medium heat. Cook the goat meat with onions, Scotch bonnet peppers, salt, and a bouillon cube until tender.

STEP 2: Keep the pot covered throughout the entire cooking process, usually around 30 minutes.

STEP 3: Halfway through cooking the goat meat, add half a cup of water and stir to keep the ingredients from burning.

STEP 4: Wash the leaves and remove their tough stems. Chop and set aside.

STEP 5: Once the goat meat is tender, set aside. Note that we’re not using the stock on this soup.

STEP 6: Heat the palm oil over medium heat and caramelize the remaining onion.

STEP 7: Add and saute the smoked fish for a few minutes before adding the goat meat, crayfish, bouillon cube, and chopped leaves.

STEP 8: Stir the pot and keep it uncovered over medium heat for around 10 minutes.

STEP 9: Taste the soup and adjust with seasonings as needed.

STEP 10: Turn off the heat and let your edikaikong soup sit for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

What To Serve With This Nigerian Vegetable Soup

Serve your homemade edikaikong soup with an array of delectable African swallows. Choose from fufu, wheat flour, semo, eba, or pounded yam to create the perfect pairing!

But to make it more exciting, here’s how to make the experience feel more authentic.

First, choose your swallow. Those who don’t know what to pick can never go wrong with fufu.

Then, pull off the perfect piece of fufu and use your thumb to make an indentation in the center. And voila!

You have the ultimate morsel to scoop up the rich and tasty edikaikong soup for the perfect bite (or swallow!😉)

If you want to know why Nigerian fufu is one of the most popular swallows, learn more about what fufu taste like.

Tips About Making Edikaikong Soup

Craft the perfect bowl of edikaikong soup with these reminders:

• Since goat meat has a tough and chewy texture, we’ll tenderize it first. This step takes the most time, as the rest of the recipe is quickly done in one pot.
• Wash your leaves for this Nigerian vegetable soup before slicing them. You also want to drain them thoroughly after washing so you don’t introduce excess water to the edikaikong soup.
• This savory soup relies on palm oil as its main liquid component, so don’t be confused if the recipe did not use the stock from the cooked meat.

How To Store Edikaikong Soup

Got some leftovers of this delicious vegetable soup? We’ve got you covered on what you can do to enjoy them later!

• Fridge: Transfer your edikang ikong soup to an airtight container. Your soup will stay fresh and ready to be devoured for up to 4 days!
• Freezer: You can freeze your edikaikong soup as you would with other vegetable soups. For the best experience, consume your soup in the freezer within a month.
• Reheating: Simply thaw your edikang ikong soup in the fridge overnight, then gently reheat it over medium heat, and it’s ready to serve!

How To Freeze Nigerian Vegetable Soup With Spinach

Let your freshly made Nigerian edikaikong soup cool first before transferring it to a freezer-safe container to avoid freezer burn. And once you’re ready to eat it, you have two ways to choose how you want to reheat it.

The most convenient method is by reheating your frozen vegetable soup in the microwave. But personally, I prefer to thaw it overnight and heat it over the stovetop.

What Is The Difference Between Efo Riro And Edikaikong Soup?

Calling all spinach lovers, there are two Nigerian dishes that you should try ASAP! They are edikaikong and efo riro.

The difference between the two is edikang ikong soup uses ugwu or pumpkin leaves while efo riro has efo tete and soko yokoto.

Want to taste the difference for yourself? Here’s how you can easily make efo riro at home!

What Is The Difference Between Afang And Edikaikong?

Do not confuse this edikaikong soup with another hearty Nigerian soup recipe called afang soup. While both dishes use water leaves, you can distinguish afang soup with the presence of okazi or afang leaf.

Here’s a super easy afang soup recipe because it’s much better to try the two soups yourself and decide on what you think is the best Nigerian vegetable soup recipe.😉

What Is The Origin Of Edikaikong Soup?

With its complex flavors and assorted ingredients, I’m sure you’re curious about where edikaikong soup originated in Nigeria. Well, we can thank the Efik people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states for this nutritious and flavorful soup.

FAQ About Edikaikong Soup

Edikaikong Soup

Yield: 10

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

This edikaikong soup recipe comes with substitutes, so you can make it wherever you are. Treat yourself to a tasty and nourishing Nigerian vegetable soup today!

Ingredients

• 3 lbs goat meat
• 4 tbsp ground crayfish
• 1 lb smoked fish
• 2 lbs water leaf
• 2 lbs ugwu
• ½ cup palm oil
• 2 pcs onions, sliced
• 2 Scotch bonnet peppers, sliced
• Salt to taste
• 2 pcs bouillon cubes

Instructions

1. Put your pot over low-medium heat. Cook the goat meat with onions, Scotch bonnet peppers, salt, and a bouillon cube until tender.
2. Keep the pot covered throughout the entire cooking process, usually around 30 minutes.
3. Halfway through cooking the goat meat, add half a cup of water and stir to keep the ingredients from burning.
4. Wash the leaves and remove their tough stems. Chop and set aside.
5. Once the goat meat is tender, set aside. Note that we're not using the stock on this soup.
6. Heat the palm oil over medium heat and caramelize the remaining onion.
7. Add and saute the smoked fish for a few minutes before adding the goat meat, crayfish, bouillon cube, and chopped leaves.
8. Stir the pot and keep it uncovered over medium heat for around 10 minutes.
9. Taste the soup and adjust with seasonings as needed.
10. Turn off the heat and let your edikaikong soup sit for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

• Since goat meat is tough, the first step in making this soup is to tenderize it first.
• Drain the leaves properly after washing them to avoid adding excess water to the edikaikong soup.
• This Nigerian vegetable soup uses oil as its main liquid component, so you don’t need the stock from cooking the goat meat. You can save it and use it for other recipes instead!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 10Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 83Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 34mgSodium: 89mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 13g

* Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for the most accurate results.

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Conclusion

Edikaikong soup is undoubtedly a nourishment in a bowl.

Be enticed by a symphony of rich and savory flavors from tender goat meat, healthy greens, umami seafood, and just the right combination of spices and seasonings.

This isn’t your ordinary vegetable soup because it uses palm oil and not water for an irresistible texture you must try with a swallow.

Can’t find the exact ingredients? You can also substitute the leaves with regular spinach and pumpkin leaves for this healthy vegetable soup!

And if you’re looking to try more Nigerian soups, be sure to explore these nutritious and flavorful recipes:

• Easy Nigerian Pepper Soup Recipe
• Nigerian Okra Soup (Ila-Alasepo)
• Traditional Banga Soup Recipe
• Efo Riro (Easy Nigerian Spinach Stew Recipe)
• Pounded Yam and Egusi Soup