HOW TO PREPARE AN AFRICAN SOUP- EDIKAIKONG SOUP

Edikaikong Soup There are different kinds of African soup. Soups are mostly used as sauce for eating fufu, the most popular staple food in West Africa. Our soup recipe in this installment is for Edikaikong, a soup original to the Calabar people of South East Nigeria.

Edikaikong Soup

Ingredients:

Edikaikong Soup (Serves Four) (1) Ugu Leaves (subsitute Spinach) -- 2 Heads (2 standard Packages of Spinach) (2) Waterleaf -- 2 Heads (3) Crayfish -- 1 Cup (4) Dried Fish -- 1 Medium (5) Giant Snails (escargo) -- 4 (6) Beef or Goat Meat -- 1.5lbs (7) Kpomo* -- 1 lb (8) Palm Oil -- 1.5 cups (9) Onions -- 1 Whole Large (10) Pepper -- 6 to 10 fresh hot or to taste (11) Seasoning -- 1 or 2 cubes of beef stock (12) Salt -- about 2 teaspoons (use discretion)

Preparation: If necessary wash the ugu leaves. Pluck the leaves from the stem. Discard the stems. Collate and chop the leaves into thin (1/4 inch) slices. Set aside. Do same with waterleaves. Blend crayfish into coase powder using electric grinder. If african giant snails are available prepare them by cleaning the meat by rubbing with lemon or soaking and massaging in vineger until all slime is gone and meat is gritty to the touch. Canned escargo is a poor substitute for african giant snails. another substitute for snail may be scallops or any other sea mullusk. However, if any of these are not available, this part of the recipe may be omitted altogether. Break up the dried fish in a bowl pour in boiling water, add about 2 spoon heaps of salt. Wash the fish in the hot salt water to remove sand and other dirt. Remove fish from salt water and set aside. Grind peppers to a paste. Set aside. *Traditionally, kpomo or hide of beef, is also added when preparing Edikaikong soup. The Cooking: In a medium sized covered pot, bring all meats (beef, kpomo) but not snails to steam without adding water. Add beef stock seasoning, 1/4 cup of water and salt, and cook till meat is tender (5 to 15 minutes). Add waterleaves to meat and beef stock. Stir. Add the crayfish, stir and let boil until most liquid in the pot evapourates. Add the snails at this stage so that it will cook just right. Over-cooked snails are leathery, cooked just right, the snails are crunchy and easy to chew. Add pepper and salt. Stir. Add the ugu or spinach, stir and allow to boil over (about one minute). Add the palm oil, stir and let boil for five more minutes. Turn off heat and serve. Should be able to feed four adults. African soups are mostly used to eat fufu.