Miyan Shuwaka (Hausa Bitter Leaf Soup)

Miyan shuwaka is a bitterleaf soup eaten in the northern part of Nigeria.

Ingredients

• 100 g bitterleaf (fresh or dried)
• 2 large chunks meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 pieces fresh red chile pepper, puréed
• 2 tomatoes, puréed
• 1 teaspoon palm oil
• 4 cup fermented locust beans (daddawa)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Photo: Asuzu Obinna Justin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Procedure

1. If using fresh bitter leaf, wash with salt and squeeze to reduce the bitterness.
2. Boil the meat in a pot of water for a few minutes until cooked through. Remove the meat and set aside.
3. Heat a skillet over medium heat, and add the palm oil. Add the onion, pepper, and tomatoes, and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Combine the cooked purée, meat, and bitterleaf in a pot. Add enough water to cover everything.
5. Add the daddawa, stir the soup well, and cook for 3 more minutes over low heat.
6. Season with salt to taste and serve.