Gbegiri soup is a popular Nigerian soup made from brown beans. It is often served alongside other Nigerian soups like ewedu or amala. Here’s a simple recipe to help you prepare gbegiri soup:
Ingredients:
– 2 cups brown beans
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2-3 red bell peppers, chopped
– 2-3 scotch bonnet peppers (atarodo), chopped (adjust to your spice preference)
– 3-4 tablespoons palm oil
– 2 tablespoons ground crayfish
– 2-3 stock cubes (bouillon cubes)
– Assorted meat (beef, goat meat, or chicken), cooked and diced (optional)
– Salt to taste
– Water
Instructions:
1. Rinse the brown beans thoroughly and place them in a pot. Add enough water to cover the beans and bring it to a boil. Cook until the beans are soft and tender. This usually takes about 1-2 hours. You can also use a pressure cooker to speed up the cooking process.
2. Once the beans are cooked, drain off the water and set the beans aside to cool down.
3. In a blender or food processor, blend the beans to a smooth paste. You can add a little water if needed to achieve the desired consistency.
4. In a separate pot, heat the palm oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent.
5. Add the chopped red bell peppers and scotch bonnet peppers to the pot. Stir fry for a few minutes until the peppers have softened.
6. Add the ground crayfish and stir well to combine with the peppers and onions.
7. Pour in the blended beans and stir continuously to prevent lumps from forming.
8. Add the stock cubes and salt to taste. If you’re using cooked diced meat, add it at this point.
9. Gradually add water to the pot, while stirring, until you achieve your desired consistency. Gbegiri soup is typically thick, so add water sparingly.
10. Reduce the heat to low and let the soup simmer for about 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
11. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed. You can add more salt or stock cubes according to your preference.
12. Once the soup is ready, remove it from the heat and serve hot with amala, ewedu, or any other Nigerian accompaniment of your choice.
That’s it! Enjoy your homemade gbegiri soup.
Written by ProfT for Naijatipsland.com
