Palm Butter Soup (Banga Soup)
Palm Butter Soup, also known as Banga Soup, is a rich and creamy West African delicacy, particularly popular in Sierra Leone and Liberia. Made from the pulp of palm nuts, this soup has a distinctive flavor and a luxurious texture. It's often prepared with various meats, fish, and aromatic spices, creating a deeply satisfying dish that is traditionally served with rice or fufu.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 cans (approx. 15 oz each) Palm nut concentrate (canned)
- 1 lb Beef or goat meat(cut into chunks)
- 1/2 lb Smoked fish(cleaned and flaked)
- 1 large Onions(chopped)
- 1-2 to taste Scotch bonnet pepper(or other chili)
- 2-3 Stock cubes (e.g., Maggi)
- 4-5 cups Water(divided)
- to taste Salt
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced (optional))
- 1 Bay leaf
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a pot, combine the meat with 1 cup of water, chopped onion, 1 stock cube, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer until the meat is tender, about 45-60 minutes. Add more water if needed.
- 2
While the meat is cooking, prepare the palm butter. In a separate pot, heat the palm nut concentrate with about 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. This helps to extract the palm butter.
- 3
Carefully skim off the rich palm oil that rises to the surface and set it aside. The remaining liquid is the palm butter base.
- 4
Add the cooked meat (with its cooking liquid), smoked fish, Scotch bonnet pepper, remaining stock cubes, and bay leaf to the palm butter base. If using, add minced garlic.
- 5
Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for another 30-45 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the soup to thicken. Stir occasionally. Add the reserved palm oil towards the end of cooking for extra richness.
- 6
Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Serve hot with steamed rice or fufu.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓If fresh palm nuts are available, they can be used instead of canned concentrate. They will need to be boiled, mashed, and the pulp extracted with hot water.
- ✓For a spicier soup, add more chili peppers or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- ✓Ensure the soup is stirred regularly to prevent the palm butter from sticking to the bottom.
- ✓The reserved palm oil can be used in other dishes.
🔄 Variations
- Seafood: Use shrimp, fish, or a combination of seafood instead of meat.
- Vegetarian: Omit meat and fish, and add extra vegetables like eggplant or okra.
- Spices: Experiment with other West African spices like uziza or dawadawa.