Are you tired of eating the same old boring and bland food? Do you want to add a little more spice and flavor to your life? Then, you need to incorporate a few Nigerian delicacies into your kitchen spice rack. In this blog, we get into the nitty-gritty of West African delicacies' most used hero ingredients: palm oil and Ofe Akwu spices. Let's start!

Why Are Banga Spice and Palm Oil Good For You?

Both ingredients act as superfoods with an ample quantity of nutrients present in them. Following are some of the reasons why you should incorporate these ingredients in your everyday recipes:

1.    Palm Oil Is High In Antioxidants

Palm oil is completely made up of antioxidants like tocotrienols and tocopherols. These compounds are notoriously known for protecting your healthy cells from harmful oxidative cells and positively impacting your health.

2.    Banga Soup Helps With PMS and Pregnancy

Banga soup is rich in magnesium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C, which makes it a great remedy to alleviate pre-menstrual syndrome. It is also common for pregnant women to be given this soup as it is known to make their pregnancy easier.

This has been verified through research as Banga soup contains vitamins A and E, which improve immune system function and maintain reproductive health in the body. It also lowers the risk of a vitamin A deficiency.

3.    Both Have High Concentration Of Vitamin E

Both spice and palm oil have an exceptionally high concentration of vitamin E, which works as an antioxidant within the body. Vitamin E regulates the antiinflammatory responses in your body. Improper oxidation and vitamin E deficiency have been linked with aging, cancer, cataracts, arthritis, and many more.

4.    Palm Oil Has High Level Of Carotenoids

Red palm oil is high in carotenoid concentration, which can be converted directly into Vitamin A. This improves reproductive health and immune response.

5.    Banga Helps Rejuvenate Skin

Skin health has also been linked with using this spice in your food. This is a direct result of the high nutrient content in it. So, if you wish to include something in your diet to revitalize your skin, consider the Ofe Akwu spice.

6.    Both Are Child And Pregnancy Safe

Both are completely safe for consumption by anyone, whether it be a child, pregnant individual, immunodeficient person, or anyone else. This makes Banga soup from these ingredients the most nutrient-rich, healthy food for people of all ages.

7.    Palm Oil Has A Long Shelf–Life

Palm oil tends to have a longer shelf-life than other types of conventional cooking oils. This reduces the need for any preservatives so that you can take advantage of all the natural benefits without worrying about any additives.

8.    Both Aid In Boosting The Immune System

Using spice and palm oil when making your Banga soup improves your immune system. Both these help your body regenerate healthy cells and fight infections and diseases.

Top 3 Dishes You Can Make From Palm Oil and Banga Spice

You can spice many dishes using the unique flavor of palm oil and Banga spice. Due to its value by many tribes of Nigeria, this spice has many names, including Ofe Akwu, amiedi, Obe eyin, obey-ekpo, and then finally Banga. Following are a few of the dishes you can make using this spice:

1.    Banga Soup

Banga soup is the most well-known dish on this list. It is made from a mixture of palm nut extracts and various spices. Here's the recipe:

• Use a spice mix, as extracting Banga can be a taxing task.
• Rinse out fish, Kpomo, and stock fish, then boil them together in a pot for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Season with traditional onga spices.
• Take out the meat and fish once the stock has been boiling for 20 minutes.
• Leave the stock on the stove to boil.
• If needed, season the stock with the spice mix and a dash of other spices.
• Add crayfish, Okpehe, and onion.
• Let it simmer for a few minutes.
• Add scent or Ugu leaf, then let it boil until it reaches a soupy consistency.

2.    Banga Rice

Banga rice offers all the hints of Banga soup with the fulfillment of rice. This is a typical African dish that leaves you wanting more. You will need Banga paste to make this dish. Here's how:

• Add spoonfuls of Banga paste to a pot that has been left on the fire for a long time.
• Stir, then carefully add water, grated onion, and pepper.
• Put a cover on the pot and add Banga spice, other seasonings if you feel like it, and smoked fish or chicken.
• Add a little salt to your rice, then wash with warm water.
• Pour the rice into the boiling pot and cook thoroughly.
• Add chopped scent leaves and leave it to simmer for a few minutes.

3.    Bitterleaf Soup

Bitterleaf soup is a highly nutritious and delicious concoction made through an infusion of different types of blended leaves. Here's how you can make it:

• Rinse your Banga and boil till soft. You can also use a pre-made spice mix and skip this step.
• Cook pre-washed cocoyam till it softens.
• Crush both individually, in a traditional mortar and pestle.
• Season the meat using spices and herbs, then slightly boil it in a pot different from the Banga.
• Pour in the boiled Banga.
• Add the crushed cocoyam.
• Lastly, add fish and a few bitterleafs after 15 minutes.
• Let it cook till it thickens into a soup-like consistency.
• Add salt.

Conclusion

Banga and palm oil are staple ingredients in West African cuisine. They are not only delicious in taste but also offer numerous health benefits. Incorporating these West African ingredients into your diet can be a great way of improving your health while also enjoying unique flavors in your meals.

If you want to explore new flavors and cuisines, we encourage you to incorporate Banga and palm oil into your cooking. There are many delicious dishes that you can make using these ingredients, and we're sure you'll find a recipe that you'll love.

So, why not spice up your kitchen with these West African delicacies? Try them out, and let us know your favorite recipe. Happy cooking!