Okra Soup with Assorted Meat & Swallow

Sliced okra, assorted protein and a pale swallow are visible in this photograph. The exact swallow cannot be confirmed from a photograph alone; this suggested recipe uses semolina, with eba or pounded yam as alternatives.

Ingredients for four: 500 g fresh okra, 500 g assorted beef or ponmo, 200 g fish, 1 small bunch leafy greens, 1 onion, 2–3 peppers, 3 tablespoons palm oil, 2 tablespoons ground crayfish, salt, seasoning and 400 g semolina for the swallow.

Preparation — 50–65 minutes: wash and finely slice the okra. Season the meat with onion and cook until tender, reserving the broth. Clean and debone the fish, then wash and chop the greens.

Add chopped pepper, palm oil and crayfish to the meat broth. Add the fish and simmer until fully cooked. Stir in the okra and cook gently for 5–8 minutes; add the greens near the end. Keep the broth moderate so the okra retains its characteristic draw.

Make semolina according to its packet instructions and serve warm. Estimated cost to prepare: ₦12,000–₦16,000 total including semolina, about ₦3,000–₦4,000 per serving. Using beef alone instead of assorted meat and fish lowers the cost.

Costs are illustrative October 2026 Nigerian home-cooking budgets, not verified market quotes. They cover the ingredients used and a small cooking-fuel allowance for four servings, not equipment or full packs of pantry staples. Prices vary by location, season and protein choice. These are suggested recipes inspired by the photographs; the original recipes were not supplied.