Slow-Cooked Nigerian Ogbono Soup with Tender Beef

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-02 · Updated 2026-07-02

A hearty Nigerian soup thickened with ground ogbono seeds, simmered with tender beef and leafy greens for a comforting and flavorful meal. This African recipe, ready in about 100 minutes, pairs beef stew meat, ground ogbono seeds, palm oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs, cut into 1-inch cubes beef stew meat
• 1/2 cup ground ogbono seeds
• 1/3 cup palm oil
• 3 cups, chopped fresh spinach leaves
• 1 medium, chopped large onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp, ground dried crayfish
• 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, add 1.5 lbs beef stew meat cubes, 1 medium chopped onion, and 4 cups beef broth. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer covered for 1 hour until the beef is tender.
2. Step 2: Stir in 1/3 cup palm oil, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tbsp ground dried crayfish. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes until fragrant.
3. Step 3: Slowly whisk 1/2 cup ground ogbono seeds into the pot, stirring continuously to prevent lumps. The soup will begin to thicken and become slightly slimy in texture.
4. Step 4: Add 3 cups chopped fresh spinach leaves and 1 whole scotch bonnet pepper (whole to control heat), stirring well. Simmer uncovered for an additional 10 minutes.
5. Step 5: Season with 1.5 tsp salt and 1 tsp ground black pepper. Remove the scotch bonnet pepper before serving to avoid excessive heat.