Keto Bitterleaf Soup is for you if you need a low carb Nigerian Bitterleaf Soup that does not contain a starchy thickener in your life. That means no cocoyam, no quaker oats, no flour, nothing starchy at all yet it tastes like Bitterleaf Soup.
How to Cook Keto Bitterleaf Soup [Video]
How to cook Classic Bitterleaf Soup
Keto Bitterleaf Soup is great for weight loss and for all those looking to reduce carbs in their diet.
Ingredients for Keto Bitterleaf Soup
- A handful washed and squeezed bitterleaf
- 3 cooking spoons Red Palm Oil
- Assorted Beef: Includes cow ribs, best cut, shaki (cow tripe) etc
- 2 pieces dry fish
- 5 cuts fresh catfish
- Pepper and salt (to your taste)
- 2 tablespoons ground crayfish
- 1 big keto-friendly seasoning cube
- 1 teaspoon Ogiri Igbo (traditional seasoning)
Notes on the ingredients:
- Cow ribs contain lots of fat which is perfect for those on a keto diet that's why I recommend it for this soup but if you are not on a keto diet, you can use any part of beef.
- You can use dried, washed and squeezed bitter leaves but you need to first of all make the bitter leaves soft and fresh again before adding them to the soup.
- The catfish acts as thickener for the soup. Alternatives include conger eel (which I used in the video below) or any white fish that can make a great thickener.
- If you do not have Ogiri Igbo (it gives Bitterleaf Soup a traditional taste), you can skip it and use only seasoning cubes..
Cooking Directions
- Cut off the skin of the catfish or conger eel. See the video below.
- Put the meat and skinned catfish into a pot, add the seasoning cube, pour water to cover them and start cooking.
- When the catfish is soft, debone and break into pieces then pound in a mortar till smooth. You can also use a food preocessor or a normal blender (with as little water as possible) to turn it into a smooth puree.
- When the meat is done, add the ogiri, crayfish, dry fish (soaked, cleaned and deboned), pounded catfish, bitter leaves and palm oil.
- Cover the pot and continue cooking on medium to high heat.
- Once the bitter leaves are soft, add pepper and salt to your taste.
- Stir very well and it is done!
Serve with any keto or low carb fufu meal. If you are not on a keto diet, serve with any Nigerian fufu meal.