
West Africa · Soup
Ofe Nsala (White Soup with Catfish and Yam)
An aromatic, palm-oil-free Igbo broth infused with pungent utazi leaves, spiced catfish, and freshly pounded yam for a silky, restorative finish.
The story
Ofe Nsala, commonly known as White Soup because it completely omits red palm oil, is indigenous to the riverine Igbo people of Anambra and Delta states. It is revered as the ultimate restorative broth for nursing mothers and convalescents to stimulate appetite, boost lactation, and cleanse the digestive system. The complex, medicinal aroma comes from a sacred pairing of uda and uziza seeds, gently counterbalanced by the deliberate bitterness of freshly shredded utazi leaves.
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