West African

Ofe Nsala

Name: Ofe Nsala
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: West African
Ingredients: 1 medium-sized fresh catfish (cleaned and cut); 2 slices of white yam (for thickening); 2 tbsp ground crayfish; 1 tbsp Nsala spice mix (Uziza seeds; Uda; Ehuru); 1 handful fresh Utazi leaves (chopped); 1 scotch bonnet

Eastern Nigeria's elegant white soup — no palm oil, just the pure, clean broth of catfish, utazi leaves, and pounded yam as thickener, with layers of subtle heat.

55 minutes

Serves 4

Main

Contains common allergens

Fish Seafood Shellfish

In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.

Instructions

5 steps

1
Boil the Yam: Place the slices of white yam in a small pot of water and boil until completely soft. Remove, pound in a mortar until smooth, and set aside (this is your thickener).

2
Make the Broth: In a separate pot, add 4 cups of water, the ground Nsala spice mix, crayfish, blended scotch bonnet, and bouillon. Bring to a rapid boil.
3
Cook the Fish: Gently place the cleaned catfish pieces into the boiling spicy broth. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until the fish is mostly cooked through.
4
Thicken the Soup: Drop small lumps of the pounded yam paste into the simmering soup. As the yam dissolves, the soup will transform from a watery broth to a slightly viscous, rich white soup.
5
Add Utazi: Add the chopped fresh Utazi leaves (use sparingly as they are quite bitter) for the signature herbal finish. Simmer for 3 minutes and serve immediately with pounded yam.

Unlock the full recipe

Get every step for Ofe Nsala — plus exact amounts and 2,000+ more recipes — with Listahan Pro.

Unlock in app Get Listahan free

30-day free trial · cancel anytime

Plan it in Listahan

Add Ofe Nsala to your week, check it against your household's allergens, and build the shopping list automatically.

Open in app iOS (Beta) Android (Beta)

More West African recipes

West African

Jollof Rice

West Africa's most beloved rice dish — tomatoes, peppers, and spices slow-cooked until every grain is deeply flavored and kissed with a smoky bottom crust.

65 min Serves 4

No common allergens

West African

Egusi Soup

Ground melon seeds simmered with palm oil, leafy greens, and bold spices into a rich, nutty stew that's a cornerstone of Nigerian home cooking.

70 min Serves 3

Seafood Shellfish

West African

Pounded Yam

Silky, stretchy, and pillowy-soft, this hand-pounded West African staple is the perfect vehicle for scooping up rich, hearty soups and stews.

30 min Serves 4

No common allergens

Browse all West African recipes