Ofe Owerri

Ofe Owerri is one of the most expensive Nigerian soups; I make it with assorted meat (which is different parts of cow meat), snails, dried fish and stockfish.

I think you would spend between 4000-10000 Naira if you are looking to make a delicious pot of this soup, there is even a popular Igbo song that suggests that a poor man does not eat ofe owerri. πŸ˜€

What is ofe Owerri?

Ofe owerri simply means Owerri soup (soup indigenous to the people of Owerri). I used to think that I would never make another soup that would comfortably compete with the likes of nsala and oha, but this sure takes the cake.

I used just 6 snails, but you can use as many as you can find (not more than 1kg), they are medicinal and delicious.

Picture of Ofe Owerri.

What you find below is a delicious plate of Owerri soup. I used just about a handful of uziza and two cups of fluted pumpkin (ugwu leaves), but it is better to use double of that, as listed below. i.e., use 1 cup of sliced uziza plus 3-4 cups of fluted pumpkin (ugwu leaves) when you are making your own soup.

Ofe owerri (owerri soup)

The list of ingredients below was used to make a simple pot of ofe owerri that would serve a family of six twice. You can double the ingredients if you have a larger family.

Ingredients for Ofe Owerri

Serving 6×2

Cow (assorted meat) 1.5 kg
6-15 snails
Dry fish 2 medium sizes
Stockfish head (medium size)
1 cup of sliced Uziza leaves
4 cups of sliced fluted pumpkin leaves
3 seasoning cubes
Cocoyam (ede)
1 cup of palm oil
1 spoon of ogiri (optional).
Salt and pepper to taste

Note:

You may need to purchase a few spoons of ofor or achi as an alternative thickener. Sometimes the pounded cocoyam wouldn’t thicken the soup as it should be, an additional spoon of ofor or achi would save the day. I do this whenever I am making soup with cocoyam.

Making Ofe Owerri

Step 1

I always start by parboiling the meat, using just two cubes of knorr, sprinkle on top of the meat and allow boiling for up to 10 minutes until the water is about to dry. Add about 2 cups of water and cook the meat until it is tender, add a teaspoon of salt, cover and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 2

Blend the crayfish, wash the stockfish/dry fish with water, and set them aside on a plate (remember to remove the center bone/head of the fish. Wash the snails with alum or tangerine/grape juice or dry garri; you just wanna get rid of the slimy fluid.

Snails are wonderful for ofe Owerri, You can also add snails to Oha Soup, tastes delicious!

Step 3

Boil the cocoa yam until it is soft, then remove the back and pound with mortar and pestle until it is seedless. (It would serve as the thickener).

Step 4

Add about 4-6 cups of water to the already cooked meat;. Add the ground crayfish, and washed stock fish/dried fish.

Step 5

Add red oil and allow to boil for another 10 to 15 minutes. Add a cube of maggi, salt, and pepper to taste, the washed snails, stir, add the pounded cocoa yam, ogiri and allow dissolving, (should take about 10 minutes).

Step 6

Add the uziza leaves, stir and allow about 2 minutes before adding the fluted pumpkin (ugwu leaves). Allow to simmer on low heat for 3-4 minutes, and we are done.

That is exactly how to make a delicious pot of ofe Owerri (the popular Owerri soup). You can serve with any of fufu, eba, semo or even pounded yam. I love it best when served with fufu (loi loi) πŸ˜€

Compare Other Nigerian soups & Owerri Soup.

Ofe owerri (owerri soup)

63 Comments

Bomia
Reply

I eat this on my last visit to Owerri years ago, ever since then it’s one of my favorites, thanks so much for sharing 😘

August 20, 2023
Loretta
Reply

Very controversial soup, use this leaves, don’t use this!!! Chai! I’m not from owerri, but I loooove this soup and cook as the spirit leads 😁 trying out different leaves as taught by my Imo friends

December 10, 2021
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Lol. thanks for your comment.

December 10, 2021
Jenny
Reply

Nice one @Chidi. Some use all the leaves like ugu, phase, uziza and utazi and it comes out good

January 4, 2019
AKHALUMEMO VICTORIA ANI
Reply

BEAUTIFUL! OKAZI AND OHA WITH LITTLE UZIZA IS MY OWN WAY OF PREPARING OFE OWERRI. THANKS YOU ARE THE BEST

September 8, 2018
vivian Yohanna
Reply

Tanks for sharing, my husband love this soup die

August 8, 2018
Blessed Nky
Reply

There is no option in adding ukazi in ofe owere. If no ukazi it’s not d real traditional ofe owere. The ukazi will not be grinded, it has to be sliced. U are doing very great keep it up. God bless u real good

February 23, 2018
Eby
Reply

Thanks Chidi. You’ve demystified this much talked about soup for me. You do well abeg.
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January 31, 2018
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Yeah, thanks. Have you tried ofe owerri yet?

February 2, 2018
Eby
Reply

Yes I have. I tried it last week. Absolutely love it. Thanks again.

February 12, 2018
Bamidele
Reply

Thanks for the recipe, love this

November 26, 2017
Uche
Reply

Thank U So Much i Tot It’s A Big Deal When I Hear Ofe owerri but Its Actually Nothing To Worry About thanks Again

November 16, 2017
Ify
Reply

oh my God! I love these
going to try out some

October 5, 2017
victory
Reply

I’m making this today!!!

September 8, 2017
Hotfammy
Reply

Thanks for giving the process and the ingredients to make this ofe owerri. I’m on my way to the market to buy them now and definitely preparing it today.

June 30, 2017
favy
Reply

Delicious ? but I want to make vegetable soup how do I start

March 29, 2017
Sylva
Reply

This is wonderful.. Thanks a lot I can prepare some of this food..

February 17, 2017
gift
Reply

I love this,is soo good.thank you for this

January 24, 2017
Joke
Reply

Thank you Chi. Am definitely going to try this. I have been made to understand that to cook Ofe owerri is difficult, but you have proved that wrong with your down to earth method. Honestly, you are doing a good job here. But can I use locust beans(Iru) instead of Ogiri? Will the taste come out so good as same? Please I await your response. Thanks one more time.

January 8, 2017

I can’t wait to cook this for my family.

November 10, 2016
Adewale Atinuke
Reply

I made a trial at dis Ofe Owerri.It tastes so gud.Easy to make.Tanks a lot

July 7, 2016
Chinwendu Lucy
Reply

Please chi, can one use Akwu instead of red oil on this ofe owerri? Thanks

June 14, 2016
Dorcas Stephen Rembah
Reply

Just made mine am from core north but l love this soup l thought l will never be able to replace afang n banga wit any soup but dis d bomb

June 14, 2016
Gladness
Reply

Hmmmm looks sweet and teasty.I will prepare it for my husband and kids.Thanks chy.

February 27, 2016
shola
Reply

Tanx for sharing,I will give it a trial one of this days

January 19, 2016
Helen
Reply

Thanks a million. Please I want to know how you measure vegetables in cups. God bless you.

January 19, 2016
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I always say something like – one cup of sliced onion/fluted pumpkin, etc. once you sliced them, you can use a cup to measure. just pour into the cup, don’t try to squeeze it that much. However, you must not neccesarily measure with a cup when it comes to vegetables and soups. I say it to give you an idea of what you need.

January 21, 2016
oge
Reply

Wow! I have been looking out for this recipe, thank you so much. I will try this.

January 19, 2016
ogechi eze
Reply

Thanks for putting me through the process of making ofe owerri. The one u made is sooo tantalizing. I will surely try it one of these days

January 11, 2016
ude chizoba
Reply

Thank u so much for sharing, I have heared about ofe owerri but I don’t know how to cook it. As u have taught me dat, I will give it a trial. God bless u for empowering us in the kitchen.

January 1, 2016
sarah
Reply

Plz I can’t get either uziza or okazi where I stay. Can I use only ugu? Will it still taste nice?

December 8, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

you will get something slightly different.

December 10, 2015
Ngozi
Reply

Firstly I thank u for u time and efforts towards us ur fans.
But is it a must that u must use ede I mean cocoyam.

December 7, 2015
ihuOma
Reply

Thanks a lot,I will make it this weekend, I hope it turns out good.

November 20, 2015
Mercy
Reply

Hmmm! I have never heard of Uziza for Owerri soup. My Maternal relatives uses Okazi and Ugu

November 18, 2015
Adeola Gloria
Reply

I feel like seeing this soup right now.. Thanks alot

November 15, 2015
Redemption
Reply

Really happy to be learning a lot from this site keep is up.

November 13, 2015
odunayo
Reply

Chidi,tnx fr sharing with us.U re indeed a blessing to many family.I will try dis nd am sure it ll turn out excellent.

October 11, 2015
Miracle
Reply

plsss chy I really need d handbook plss

October 7, 2015
wini
Reply

thanx maam,i’ll use uziza instead of okazi, to make my ofe owerri cos i am abian married to an akwa ibom, i know he’ll appreciate uziza better in this soup.

September 24, 2015
Doris
Reply

Thanks for the recipe. Just to add that Okazi is a vital part of Ofe Owerri and not uziza. Its good you give the main recipe and add that it can be substituted with uziza and not making uziza the main recipe. All the same thumbs up for the great job

September 15, 2015
Marycharles
Reply

God bless u for this wonderful delicacies, I hope u have all this in the Ultimate book, I cant wait to get my copy. Thanks
Am in Abuja, AM ASK TO CONTACT Mr. Chuks for a copy

September 10, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Sure, just call chuks for your copy. xoxo

September 11, 2015
stella
Reply

Delicious.Thanks for sharing.I will include uziza to my recipie.I only know of ukazi and ugwu leaves.With uziza the flavour will be excellent.

August 18, 2015
ivymariea
Reply

@ Onyi ofe okazi is superb. but ofe ede is better served with uha.
I love both. sha

August 16, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Lol, I see a contridiction here, recipes differs accross different homes, some people prefer to make ofe owerri with okazi, other think oha is better, whereas most people use ugu (fluted pumpkin). Enjoy the one you like best, in my opinion, they all taste delicious.

August 17, 2015
Precious
Reply

Nice one, how do I get this book. I’m in owerri

February 21, 2019
florence
Reply

want to say God bless yu a great deal fr sharing yr knowledge abt d various delicacies. thanx fr helping we wives to find one of the ways to keep our men. may d Lord establish yr home too. yu need to taste d ofe owerri i just made,it s superb. kisses!

August 3, 2015
Onyi
Reply

Looks Delish no doubt and I like all your delicacies big ups to you. But as an indigene of owerri, our soup must have okazi.

July 28, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Yap, you are right @ Onyi, I however don’t like ukazi in ofe owerri but some people use it.

July 29, 2015
Nkay
Reply

It’s traditionally okazi. It’s like saying I don’t like egusi in my egusi soup. Lol. Thanks for the recipe.

September 15, 2017
Amy

Can you add both Okazi and Uziza leaves with ugu in this soup pls?

May 2, 2019
stella
Reply

God bless you for sharing.

July 28, 2015
muibat
Reply

Wao u re great I love this site may God continue to bless and strengthen u more and more, the owerri soup is right on point.

July 27, 2015
Adeola
Reply

Wao, can’t wait to try it and prepare it for my family.

July 16, 2015
chichi
Reply

Thanks for sharing. l love the meal with hot akpu.

July 13, 2015
Jane
Reply

Tnx alot.I always enjoy ur recipes but I want to point out dt in OFE OWERRI, We use UKAZI & UGU and not Uziza and Ugu

May 6, 2015
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

Ok, thanks @ Jane

May 7, 2015
Aisha
Reply

Yes it’s okazi n ugu

May 23, 2018
Judith
Reply

Nice one. But in ofe owerri we use ukazi and Ugu not uziza.

August 17, 2019
peace Roberts
Reply

Wao! i love this site, thanks for sharing.

April 28, 2015
iyabo popoola
Reply

thank very much i love this site alot

April 27, 2015
Evelyn Michael
Reply

Hmmmmmm. Making me salivate already. Thanks for sharing

April 27, 2015

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