Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (2024)

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (1)

Atama soup is a traditional soup that originates from the Efik people of Cross river state. Some of the unique ingredients includes atama leaves and palm fruit.

You need meat too and periwinkles. You can use any kind of meat, beef, chicken etc.

I used cow head in this recipe and it turned out lovely.

Unlike most other Nigerian soups that are made with palm oil, this particular soup is made with palm sauce, just like banga soup and banga soup.

I have listed the complete ingredients for atama soup below.

Atama Soup Ingredients

8 cups palm fruit (banga)
200g Dried fish (mangala)
Atama Leaves
1kg/2.2lb meat (cow head)
1/2 cup crayfish
2 seasoning cubes
3 cups unshelled periwinkles
5 scotch bonnet peppers
Salt to taste

Serving: 6 people
Preparation time: 60 minutes.

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (2)

The photo above shows some of the major ingredients for making Atama soup.

1. Palm fruit (Banga)
2. Meat (cow head)
3. dried fish (mangala)
4. Atama leaves.

Atama soup is a traditional soup that originates from the Efik people of Cross river state. Lots of Nigerian are learning how to cook atama soup and enjoying every bit of it.

How to Make Atama Soup

Step 1
Boil the banga for 15 minutes and pound using a mortar and pestle. You are going to squeeze out the sauce the same way we do for banga soup and black soup.

Set the palm fruit sauce aside. It should be thick and about 8 cups.

This soup does not require extra thickener, hense the reason we use thick palm fruit sauce just like banga soup.

Step 2
Season the meat with a teaspoon of salt and two stock/seasoning cubes. I made this soup with cow head.

Step 3
Wash and slice the atama leaves. Transfer to a mortar and pound using a pestle. You don’t want it pount to paste.

Transfer to a bowl, and water, then wash and squueze 2-3 times. set aside.

Step 4
Wash the periwinkles severally. If you purchased them directly from Nigerian market, you will need to cut (trim) the pointed ends of the periwinkles using a blunt matchette.

Sometimes, if you ask, they do the trimming for you in the market for free.

Washed trimmed periwinkles severally until the water runs clear.

Step 5
Boil the periwinkles with just water and a pinch of salt for 10 minutes. No need covering the pot.

Wash again, set aside.

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (3)

Step 6
Wash the dried fish using warm water, remove the bones. Add to the boiling meat on heat.

Add more water and continue to cook till the meat is soft and water is almost dried.

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (4)

Let the meat/fish cook till the water is almost dried but not burnt. You can bit the meat to see that it is soft and easy to chew.

Step 7
Add the banga (palm fruit) sauce to the cooked meat and fish.

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (5)

Let the soup boil and further thicken for another 5-8 minutes. Allow more time if it doesn’t thicken after this time.

Step 9

Taste your soup, add pepper, salt to taste, you can also add a seasoning cube.

Add the washed periwinkles, stir, allow 5 minutes, stir, then add the leaves.

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (6)

Stir and let it simmer for 3-5 minutes and your atama soup is ready. It should look just like the image below.

A delicious looking pot of abak atama

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (7)

Serve with anyone of the Nigerian locally made swallows (eba, fufu or even pounded yam.

Don’t forget to leave a comment below.

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (8)

Atama Soup Recipe from The Efiks in Akwa Ibom State.

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (9)Chef Chidi

Atama soup is delicious, I was totally hooked the first time I tried it. This recipe is easy and I believe anybody can follow it to replicate the exact image you are seeing. I used whole periwinkles in this atama soup recipe, if you like, you can use already shelled periwinkle or avoid it altogether in case you don't like it.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine Nigerian Cuisine

Servings 6 People

Calories 539 kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 cups palm fruit banga
  • 200 g Dried fish mangala
  • Atama Leaves
  • 1 kg/2.2lb meat cow head
  • 1/2 cup crayfish
  • 2 seasoning cubes
  • 3 cups unshelled periwinkles
  • 5 scotch bonnet peppers
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  • To squeeze out the palm fruit (banga) sauce, you need to cook the banga with just water for 15 minutes. Pound with a mortar and pestle, then add water and squeeze out the palm sauce. It should be thick.

  • Then set aside, it should be about 8 cups.

  • Season the meat, wash and slice the atama leaves then transfer to a mortar and pound a little. Add a little water, then wash and squeeze the slimy juice, then set aside.

  • Trim the pointed ends of the periwinkle with a cutlass, they do this in most Nigerian local market. Then wash periwinkles severally till water runs clear. I like using unshelled periwinkles for atama soup, you can use the shelled ones if you like.

  • Boil the the periwinkles with just water and a pinch of salt

  • Wash again, set aside.

  • Wash the dried fish and add it to the boiling meat on fire. Cook them till they are soft and easy to chew.

  • Add the banga (palm fruit) sauce to the cooked meat/fish and bring to boil and thicken for the next 10-15 minutes.

  • Add salt, pepper and you can also add another seasoning cube if you like. Stir and taste. Add the atama leaves and you are done making atama soup.

  • Serve Atama soup and pounded yam or garri (eba)

Keyword Abak Atama, Atama soup,

Share:

5 Responses

  1. Atama is one of the best soups for the Efiks, I have grown to love this soup. I never knew how to make it till my adult life. I am Igbo and have been stock with Igbo foods only. Thanks for this

    Reply

  2. Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (10)
    Awesome

    Reply

  3. Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (11)
    It was love at first sight, I didn’t know I will be loving foods from other ethnicity, first it was afang soup then Atama soup happened. I will be trying other foods from other ethnicities too.

    Reply

  4. Atama soup is a nice soup with that Efik touch and yumiliciousness. I like it

    Reply

  5. Wow I really do loved this soup, wow, Wonderful ,I appreciate, keep doing well

    Reply

On Key

Related Posts

Nigerian soups

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (13)

Miyan Kuka

Miyan Kuka (Delicious Baobab Leaf Soup) Miyan Kuka is a popular Hausa soup that is made from kuka (Baobab leaves). This is definitely one of

Read More »

Nigerian Recipes

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (15)

Fried Rice

Fried Rice Fried rice combine vegetables, meats and a handful of other ingredients to make a sumptuous meal. It is very unlikely that this meal

Read More »

Nigerian Recipes

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (17)

Miyan Taushe

Miyan Taushe Miyan taushe is a popular Hausa soup that is often combined with masa and served as a square meal in Northern Nigeria. Also

Read More »

Atama Soup - How to make Abak Atama Efik Soup. (2024)

FAQs

What does Atama leaf do to the body? ›

Atama leaves are rich in vitamins A, C, and E, which are important for maintaining healthy skin, supporting immune function, and protecting against oxidative stress. They are also a good source of calcium and iron, which are important for maintaining strong bones and preventing anemia.

What is Atama soup made of? ›

Periwinkles, stockfish, Palm fruit, Atama and other spices are what makes up this nutritious flavoured soup.

How to prepare Atama soup with melon? ›

Add the washed meat and your stock fish to the pot of soup and leave it for some time to boil. Add crayfish to the soup. Add water leaf to the soup and stir it. Add a little bit of melon to the soup and let it boil.

Why is my Atama soup bitter? ›

If you wish to reduce the bitterness, squeeze and rub the leaves between your palms and fingers while washing the sliced leaves just like washing bitter leaves. Change the water a couple of times. The dry leaves are not as bitter as the fresh atama leaves, some of the bitterness is lost during the drying process.

What does water leaf cure in the body? ›

Waterleaf can serve as a part of a weight-loss diet due to its high fiber content, and its leaves are used to treat several diseases, including measles (Oluwole et al. 2003). Also, leaf and root extracts are used for treating asthma, fresh cuts, scabies, anemia, and high blood pressure (hypertension) (Ogunlesi et al.

What is the English name for Atama? ›

Locals call it 'bush apples', the botanical name of Atama leaves is 'heinsia crinita. ' Atama leaves has not only a distinct flavor but also a distinct aroma that gives your soup great taste, the leaves are used to make Abak Atama(Atama Soup) or as a condiment to Banga Soup.

Which tribe owns Atama soup? ›

Atama soup or Amme-Eddi is also called Banga Soup in pidgin English(Nigerian English) It is a kind of palm-fruit vegetable soup that originates from the Efik people of Cross River state, Urhobo and Isoko people of Delta State in South South Nigeria.

Is Nigerian pepper soup medicinal? ›

Peppersoup is not only a light soup enjoyed with protein but also a power-packed soup with several spices widely known for its medicinal value. Peppersoup is one of the most popular dishes in Nigeria. It is enjoyed very hot and peppery.

Is black soup medicinal? ›

It is a healthy traditional condiment, and its ingredients function to regulate blood pressure, promote digestion, healthy bowel movement and many other benefits. The vegetables used in preparing this soup further contribute to blood pressure regulation and aid in weight loss.

What does melon soup do to the body? ›

1. Rich in Nutrients: Egusi soup is often prepared with a variety of vegetables and protein sources, providing a mix of essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and protein. 2. Source of healthy fats: The melon seeds used in egusi soup contain healthy fats that are important for overall health.

How to wash atama leaf? ›

You have to be sure that atama leaves are ready to be cooked. Wash your leaves, cut them into small pieces, put into a bowl and cover with warm water. Carefully drain all the liquid and taste it. If you feel bitterness, repeat the rinsing part a couple of times.

How do you take the bitterness out of editan soup? ›

Boil water and add salt. Use the hot salted water to wash the editan leaves, squeezing the leaves in a strainer to remove excess water. Repeat the washing process until the leaves no longer taste bitter.

What reduces bitterness in soup? ›

Too Bitter

The Fix: Balance bitter flavors by introducing something salty, sweet, or sour.

What can I add to food to remove bitterness? ›

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

How do you reduce bitterness in bitter melon? ›

Just take the bitter gourd, scrape out the seeds as well as the outer skin. Now sprinkle a generous amount of salt on it and rub it all over the bitter gourd. Repeat this step with all the bitter gourds. Place them in a bowl and set them aside for 30 minutes.

What does OHA leaf do to the body? ›

Oha leaf is rich in dietary fiber that may help prevent diabetes and lower blood sugar levels. Studies have found that a high intake of rich-fiber foods like green-leafy vegetables is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. So fill-up your plates with green-leafy vegetables like oha leaves.

What does leaf do to your body? ›

A heady mix of vitamins, minerals, protein, antioxidants and other nutrients, leafy greens contain all this and more. If you need any more convincing, they are good for your heart, blood sugar, immune system and cell repair.

What are the medical benefits of scent leaf? ›

Scent leaf is very rich in vitamin A. As we know vitamin A can cope with various types of eye infections, conjunctivitis, eye soothing stress and also for the prevention of night blindness and other vision problems. In addition Scent leaves also be used to eliminate bad breath.

What are the health benefits of editan leaf? ›

“Editan” leafy vegetable scientifically known as Lasianthera africana is commonly used in soups preparation and in folklore for the management of some human ailments. Editan leaf is a rich source of alkaloid and phenolic compounds, which could be used to treat and or manage neurological diseases.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 5819

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (53 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.