Ogbono Soup

This is another offering of ‘draw soup‘ which you find on many Nigerian restaurant menus. Some things just combine well together, stock fish, smoked fish, Pomo, beef ,ogbono, and bitter leaf combo with pounded yam or Eba is a winner any day. I  have always wondered why fresh fish is not favored in this soup.
Ogbono which is the seed of African mango is believed to have benefits in controlling weight. Some composition of this seed helps prevent sugars from being stored in the body.I am sure soon lots of ogbono will be exported for medicinal purposes.

Ogbono seeds

Something that is always a challenge for me  is how to test for ‘drawyness’ ( not sure there is real english word, you guys know what I mean) of Ogbono when buying from the market aside what the traders tell you . Any one has the signs to look for?
What are some of the do’s and dont’s in cooking Ogbono soup in your tribe?

Recipe
Small derica Ogbono(ground)
8 pieces Beef
6-8 pieces Pomo
1 medium piece Stock Fish head
2 cups pieces of  smoked Fish
10 pieces dressed smoked Prawns
1/2 teaspoon dried Cameroun Pepper
2 pieces yellow Pepper
1 medium ball Bitter leaf
1teaspoon Uziza leaves( sliced) optional
1 teaspoon finely chopped onion( for seasoning beef)
2  cooking spoons Palm oil
2 tablespoons ground crayfish
2 crayfish seasoning tablets
1 beef seasoning cube
120 cl water
Salt to taste

Method
1, Season the beef with beef seasoning, onion, some dry pepper and salt and set aside for about 30 minutes .
2, Steam the beef in its juice till dry, add some water and boil
3, Add the Pomo, stock fish head and cook till soft. If these get soft before the beef is fully cooked ,take out and set aside.
4, Wash and add the smoked fish and prawns when beef is almost cooked.
5 Heat you palm oil till hot but not smoking for about 3 -5 minutes
6, Pour ogbono into oil and turn off heat. Stir to dissolve the ogbono and set aside.

7,Add water to pot of meat and bring to boil
8,Add the remaining pepper, crayfish powder and seasoning.
9, Add the ogbono and allow to boil and bubble for about 3 minutes. Do not stir, but shake the pot around around
10, Add the bitter leaf  and uziza leaves , stir and cook for about 5 minutes
11, Serve with pounded yam.