Pawpaw soup is a special delicacy native to the Tiv ethno-linguistic group of Nigeria. The Tiv tribe is one of the largest minority ethnic groups in Nigeria with a population of nearly six million people residing in the middle belt states of Nigeria like Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and Plateau. The major ingredient for this soup is the Pawpaw fruit. Pawpaw has numerous health benefits which include; ability to reduce free radicals that contribute to cancer development and progression. This makes it beneficial for cancer treatment and also for reducing cancer risk. Pawpaw also reduces the risk of heart diseases. It also gives your skin a more youthful and toned look. All this makes pawpaw soup a meal that is sought after by a lot of people especially by the Tiv people of Nigeria.
INGREDIENTS
Beef, dry fish, egusi, dry pawpaw flakes, palm oil, chili pepper, seasoning cubes, locust beans, and salt to taste.
BEFORE PREPARATION
Wash the beef, place in a pot then add stock cubes, sliced onions and salt to taste. Add water and allow to boil for about 20 minutes. Soak the dry pawpaw flakes in a bowl of water and allow to rise. Soak the dry fish in a warm bowl of water then rinse and remove the bones after about 3 minutes. Also make a thick paste with the egusi and leave to rise.
COOKING PROCEDURE
After the beef is cooked, remove from the fire and allow it to cook for a bit. In another pot, mix some water, beef, beef stock, palm oil, and ground fresh chili pepper, seasoning cube, locust bean and salt to taste. Allow the contents to boil for about 10 minutes then add egusi paste to the pot and cover again without stirring. Introduce the dry fish after another minute, and then stir gently after 5 minutes. The last ingredient to add is the pawpaw flakes. Cover and allow to simmer for about 10-15 minutes. Thereafter, your pawpaw soup is ready and can then be served. This soup can be served with pounded yam, wheat, semovita, eba or fufu. Enjoy this delicacy along with its numerous health benefits
