• Waterleaf Soup Recipe

    Making Waterleaf soup had been on my mind for a while but I had given up all hopes for it. Last week, I was strolling through the aisles of the Tropical foods grocery store in Boston searching for my Nigerian food ingredients. My eyes scanning every section and shelf wondering what new item would inspire a new blog post.

    At this point, I already had my basket filled with what I assumed I needed but who just goes to the grocery store to buy just what they need? While I wandered to the fruits and vegetable section, I saw what might have looked like waterleaf in the fridge section.

    I let out a loud scream, in my head of course. The lady beside me could see how perplexed I was but I had to fix up, look sharp, pick up the bunch of watercress leaves and scurry away. Waterleaf in this part of the world is called watercress. There are different varieties so pick wisely. The ones in Nigeria I remember have slightly larger leaves and have a tiny pink flower on it that we usually pick off.

    Health benefits of waterleaf

    – These leaves are high in fibre.

    -They contain anti-oxidants.

    -Waterleaves are rich in Vitamin C which helps boost your immune system.

    – They are a great source of Iodine that helps prevent goitre.

    – It provides a great source of Iron which makes it perfect for people that are anaemic.

    Recipe for Waterleaf Soup

    Ingredients (Serves 2 people)

    5 medium pieces of beef

    4 pieces of shaki (beef tripe)

    1 small bunch of waterleaf

    One handful of washed bitter leaves

    1/2 cup of crayfish pieces

    2 scotch bonnet peppers (chopped)

    Seasoning cubes

    1 tablespoon of crayfish powder

    1.5 cooking spoons of palm oil

    Method

    Season and boil your beef and tripe and whatever other protein you may wish to add.

    Once the water starts to reduce significantly, add the crayfish powder, chopped pepper, crayfish pieces and more seasoning cubes if need be and reduce the heat.

    Wash and shred the waterleaves thinly. Shred the bitter leaf as well.

    Allow the water in the pot of the beef reduce drastically then add the oil and immediately add the bitter leaf and water leaf and stir. Take off the heat immediately and allow the vegetables cook itself in the warm pot without being on the fire so you don’t lose the nutrients from the vegetables.

     

    watercress soup Nigerian waterleaf soup

     

    30 comments on “Waterleaf Soup Recipe”

    1. Sophie Reply

      To think I had my mind set to cook this delicacy is an understatement. Wow!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe Afrolems, grateful heart!

    2. Mofoluwasho Reply

      I have been craving for waterleaf vegetable soup but never quite heard of waterleaf being used alone in a soup. Thanks to google, I found this recipe and iqfoodplatter’s – both very similar.I am definitely making this on saturday. Thank you.

      • afrolems Reply

        haha 1qfoodplatter is my mum so I assume the recipes would be similar given that i trained in her kitchen. Waterleaf is the main vegetable but bitter leaf is the second one. Let me know how the soup turns out for you.

      • afrolems Reply

        Hello Bukky, my personal preference would be no just because waterleaf can get slimy and doesn’t make for nice drinks. I am also not sure if it is safe for consumption without cooking so for now i’d say no

    3. 'Mo Reply

      Thank you so much!!!
      You just helped my mum and I identify Watercress which was prescribed to help her thyroid!
      Great job, you’re doing here.
      God bless your royal hustle!

    4. nehneh Reply

      nyc job…bin craving for something different. definitely goin to try it by weekend. pls is dere a direct link to dis page cos i just stumbled on it n i love wat i am seeing…wil alwz like to visit for more update.

      • afrolems Reply

        Hello Nehneh, you can always visit us at afrolems.com or subscribe to get notified via email whenever we publish a new post.

    5. Ifunanya Reply

      This is great! I never heard of waterleaf and bitterleaf.. I’m going to be making something different tomorrow!!! Thank you ma’am!!!

    6. Temi Reply

      hi! thanks to your info, i was able to get waterleaf from that tropical store in boston but couldn’t find bitter leaf or ugu/pumpkin leaf. Any ideas where i can find it? or can i make the soup with waterleaf alone?!

      Thanks!

      • afrolems Reply

        They usually have dry bitter leaf in that store in Boston. Hopefully you can find it

      • afrolems Reply

        Hello Fola, yes you can. But it is better to add the waterleaf to add character to the soup as waterleaf on it’s own is bland in taste.

    7. Tessy Reply

      How do I prevent d water leaf from having its slimy nature when used to cook vegetable soup?

    8. J.E Reply

      Love your posts especially the bits about the nutritional elements of what you post..Looking forward to using a recipe or two of yours on my blog..will write in for permission then!

    9. Agiro Romario Reply

      How can someone remove excess water from the waterleaf before cooking aside frying?

      • afrolems Reply

        Hello,
        I have never tried to blanch it. But blanching is the way to remove excess water.

    10. Shuga Bright Reply

      Thanks a lot, atleast l have learn that but am going to prepare mine with just waterleaf

    11. Beauty Reply

      To remove excess water U can also cook the water leaf for 5munites, filter before adding into your stock, it stop it from drawing,

    12. Harold Burton Reply

      Love this roundup idea! I am making a “basics” cookbook for a few of my girlfriends who are getting married this summer. Definitely going to include some of these ideas!

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