Nigerian delicacies , preparations and health benefits (edikang ikong soup)

Edikang ikong soup or commonly known as the shortened edikaikong soup is the original soup from Nigerian country. Made and popularized by people from the states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River. This soup is quite popular in various countries because it tastes very good and also rich in nutritional content.
It is a general notion that the Edikang Ikong soup is very nutritious and this is very much so. Prepared with a generous quantity of pumpkin leaves and water leaves, this Nigerian soup recipe is nourishing in every sense of the word.

How to Cook Edikang Ikong Soup

It is common for Nigerians to request this soup recipe after a bout of illness as we trust it to replenish whatever was lost during the sickness. But you don't need to be in a state of convalescence to enjoy this wholesome Nigerian food recipe.

Ingredients for Edikang Ikong Soup
1kg Pumpkin leaves
500g Water leaves (Talinum Triangulare)
600g Beef, Kanda, shaki and Dry fish
Pepper, Salt and ground crayfish: to taste
200ml Palm oil
1 cup Periwinkle
2 medium onions
2-3 stock cubes

Before you cook the Edikaikong Soup
Wash and cut the pumpkin and water leaves into tiny pieces. Put them in separate sieves to drain out all the water as much as possible.
Cut the Kanda into small pieces. Cook the beef, kanda and the dry fish with the 2 bulbs of diced onions and the stock cubes with as little quantity of water as possible.

Cooking Directions
When the meat is done, add a generous amount of palm oil, the crayfish and pepper and leave to boil for about 10 minutes. The palm oil serves as the liquid in the Edikang Ikong soup. You should try as much as possible to make it the only liquid in the soup.
Add the periwinkle and water leaves and leave to cook for another 5 minutes. You may have to cook for less time at this stage so that the water leaves are not over-cooked.
Now add the pumpkin leaves and salt to taste. Stir the contents of the pot very well and turn off the heat. Cover the pot and leave to stand for about 5 minutes.
Thats it!
Serve with Garri (Eba), Semolina Fufu, Amala, Cassava Fufu or Pounded Yam.

Health benefit of edikang ikong

If you look at the composition of the ingredients used in edikaikong soup, then we can already know that this soup has a high protein and vitamin content. some of the ingredients of nutrients that are very important for our health include.

Protein
Fiber
Folic acid
Carbohydrate
Calcium
Iron
Phosphor
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B2
Vitamin C
Selenium
Potassium
Vitamin E
Eating edikaikong soup provides many health benefits for your body. Some of the health benefits we have collected from various sources we present below.

As a source of high energy
This high energy content due to the content of lamb or beef used in edikaikong soup. In one study it was found that for 100 grams of lamb meat can produce about 206 kcal from the daily needs of the human body 2000 kcal. This high enough energy can be very useful to provide the body’s strength to move and also increase endurance.

Form and increase muscle mass
The high protein content of animal meat ingredients such as cattle, sheep and dried fish is very good for those of you who are doing the bodybuilding program. High protein is very good in the process of forming muscle mass.

Maintaining bone health
Lamb meat also has a considerable amount of calcium. This substance is very beneficial in maintaining bone density. With a strong bone, then such as osteoporosis disease will never come in your body.

Prevent the occurrence of anemia
Anemia is a condition of the body lacking red blood cells. This will be bad for the body because the body will experience some problems such as fatigue, weakness, lethargy, frequent dizziness, headaches, and easy to catch the disease. One of the advantages edikaikong soup based red meat is able to increase the production of red blood cells so that anemia will be resolved.

Ward off free radical attacks
Already we know together that free radicals are one of the main causes in the rise of cancer cells in the body. Antioxidant compounds such as selenium found in the edikaikong soup are powerful enough to counteract free radicals that attack our bodies.

Maintain the health of the nervous system
Vitamin B2 in health benefits forever living aloe berry nectar compounds or also called riboflavin is a compound that has been tested as the main food of the nervous system in our body. Adequate intake of vitamin B2 will maintain the health of our body’s nervous system. So we will avoid health problems associated with our nervous system.

Launch the digestive system
Pumpkin material on edikaikong soup and health benefits of guava has a high enough fiber content. has been clinically tested that high fiber is very good for our body’s digestive system. The intestinal absorption of food is getting better, the digestive process in the stomach is also getting better. With a good digestive system, then eat that enter our body will quickly absorb nutrients.

Maintain respiratory health
Eating edikaikong soup and health benefits of clove bud tea is also believed to be a cure for respiratory-related health problems such as asthma. This is because the content of high antioxidants so that the immune system increases which in turn can fight the symptoms of asthma that will appear.

Maintain mental health
Stress is a common illness in modern society. Eating edikaikong soup with a delicious taste and amino acid content will be able to overcome the stress problem in benefits of physical activity for mental health.

Maintain healthy skin
The content of fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc have properties to improve and maintain healthy skin in health benefits of beets for skin care