Pharmacological studies speculate that utazi has both analgesic, antimicrobial, antibacterial,anti-ulcer, anti-sickling, anti-oxidant, anti-asthmatic, anti-pyretic, hypoglycaemic and anti-inflammatory properties. Thanks! As an indigenous leafy vegetable in Nigeria, it is used in the preparation of Afang soup and Okazi soup. Okazi/Ukazi how I differentiate it. So let’s get down to cooking… How To Make Nigeria Dried Okro Soup-‘Orunla’ Using Okazi Leaves. 10, Lastly add the Okazi and Uziza and cook for 3 minutes and the soup is ready. The Igbo people are located in the south eastern geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Okazi, for example, is a climbing plant like Ugu and Uziza. You really want to do this, because okazi is a very hard leaf. I do have a recipe for Yoruba style Egusi soup, please click HERE to view the recipe…. It has an oval shape (looks like fresh bay leaves) and is tough to touch. Okazi is the tasteless one out of these three vegetables. It’s got a tough (hard) papery glossy texture and is somehow tasteless without any distinctive smell. This soup is my native soup, a tribe in Rivers State known as Ikwerre, The okazi leaf/Afang leaf is pounded with a motar and pestle, it is the last thing added to the soup when is it been cooked, most people prefer to add it when the soup is brought down from the fire and allowed to cool for sometime, then you can get the real flavour. So, let’s begin. Efo Yanrin (Wild Lettuce) In Nigeria its called Afang (Efik/Ibibio), Ukazi/Okazi (Igbo), and Ajobaje/Ajakotale (Yoruba).Ukazi leaf is an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, magnesium, calcium, manganese, sodium, iron, zinc, potassium, copper, and essential amino acids. If you can’t get your hands on Okazi leaves, you can use either Spinach or Kale leaves, these two are just as yummy. Traditionally, you add water leaves to the soup before okazi leaves but I found okazi leaves strong and chewy hence my way of cooking it. Because it has two Igbo names and cannot decide on a taste for itself, I call it the confused (konfused) one. Bitter – Leave – leaf – nigerian – soup – vegetable – traditional – leafy – 9jafoodie Efo ewuro (Bitter leaves): English Name: Bitter leaf Local Name: Ewuro (Yoruba) Botanically: Vernonia amygdalina, Family Compositae. The Yoruba’s call it “sokoyokoto”, to emphasize the esteem in which the vegetable-plant is held ‘Sokoyokoto” means “make husband fat” Gbure – water – leave- leaf – nigerian – vegetable – soup – list – traditional – list – 9jafoodie – plant water leaf. Ingredients: Assorted meats (Beef, Shaki, Ponmo, Goat meat, Cow leg are ideal) Cooking Tip: Osu is the white chalk that is blended with the Egusi to give the Egusi the unique texture for the soup, ask the traders in the market . Gbure (water leaves) English Name: WaterLeaf The Okazi or afang leaf (Gnetum africanum) is a dark green leafy vegetable with a slight bitter taste commonly found in certain regions of Africa, Asia and South America. Efirin, Daidoya, Nchanwu or scent leaf, whose botanical name is Ocimum gratissimum, is a tropical plant species that belongs to the family of Labiatae. Getting started… Soak the okazi leaves inside hot boiled water for 20-30 minutes. Here you’ll discover interesting information regarding the Igbo people — including information on the Igbo culture, history, religion, clothes, and several other intriguing facts. this is one of my best. The afang leaf (okazi leaf) is called Wild Spinach but most of us are familiar with its native name. Local Name: Afang (Ibibio), Okazi (Igbo) Botanically: Gnetum africanum, Family Gnetaceae. It is also the only vegetable with a K in the name.