Efo Riro Soup Recipe : How to Cook Efo Riro with tomatoes

Efo Riro Soup

Efo Riro is a traditional Vegetable Soup of the Yoruba Tribe in Nigeria. It is well known for its savory taste and richness. It is actually the Yoruba version of the Efik’s Edikang Ikong Soup, but with a big twist ☺.

Efo Riro is prepared with assorted meat, fish, large quantity of green vegetables and peppers(tomatoes are added, sometimes). This is one of my go-to dishes , because I’m a big fan of vegetables. This spicy ,savory soup can be accompanied with  bolus meals, such as Amala, Elubo, Pounded yams, Fufu (akpu), Eba or Tuwo Shinkafa .It also goes pretty well with boiled Rice, plantains or yams.

Although it is a Yoruba soup, Efo Riro is enjoyed in all parts of Nigeria.

If you love healthy soups, this is a must-try….excite your palate with this spicy soup .

Here’s a detailed video on How to Cook Efo Riro and below, an easy to follow recipe.. enjoy!

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Ingredients for Efo Riro
* 2kg Shoko/ Spinach leaves(about 8 wraps if you buy in Nigerian market)
* 250 gr Assorted Meat (tripe,cow skin(ponmo), beef)
* 250 gr Assorted Fish (stock fish, smoked fish)
* 3 Fresh Tomatoes or 2 Bell peppers(tatashe)
* 2 Scotch Bonnets Peppers (atarodo)
* 1 teaspoon Iru /dawadawa/ogiri (fermented locust beans ) (optional)
* 1- 2 Cooking-spoonful Palm oil
* 1 medium sized onions
* 1 tablespoonful Ground crayfish
* 2 stock cubes
* Salt to taste

Cooking Method

** Before cooking Efo Riro Soup, pick and wash the vegetables;shred/cut into tiny bits. To get less liquid in the soup,you can blanch the vegetables and set side.

**Wash the assorted meat and fish. De-bone the smoked fish, and set all aside.

** Blend the peppers and tomatoes, and set aside,

Now to cook the soup…

1. Season and cook the assorted meat and fish with onions, one stock cube, a little salt and other seasoning of choice. Remember to cook the tougher meat first(in my case;tripe(shaki)
Cook until the liquid in the pot is well absorbed(dried up) and the meat and stock fish are tender .

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2. In another dry pot, heat up the palm oil, until it begins to smoke a little. Add the ground tomatoes & peppers and fry until the mixture loses its sour taste; this takes about 15- 20minutes.

3. Now add the cooked meat & fish. Add ground iru, ground crayfish and stock cube. Mix thoroughly, cover and leave to boil for 10 minutes.

4. After 10 minutes, add the vegetables and salt to taste. Mix well and leave to simmer for 5 minutes and your delicious Efo Riro soup is ready.

Efo Riro is one of my favorite Yoruba soups. So get your taste bud rolling with this rich and tasty soup. Enjoy☺!

Other Related Recipes

* Bitter leaf Soup (Ofe Onugbu) 
* Nigerian Beef Stew
* Banga Soup : Urhobo Isoko Banga Soup Recipe
* Nigerian Chicken Stew
* How to Cook Okazi Soup (Ukazi Soup)
* Obe Ata Dindin : Nigerian Fried Pepper Stew
* How to Cook Edikang Ikong Soup
* Nigerian Tomato Stew(Vegan Stew)
* How to Cook Afang Soup
* Nigerian Pepper Soup
* Nigerian Ogbono Soup :How to Cook Ogbono  Soup
* Nigerian Fish Stew (Obe Eja Tutu) 
* How to Cook Nigerian Egusi Soup(Ofe Egusi/Obe Efo Elegusi)
* Nigerian Okra Soup

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68 Comments

  1. Oluwanifemi reffell John samuel
    December 10, 2022 / 8:58 pm

    God bless you ma continue to teach us how to make efo riro soup God bless and strengthen our family Amen

  2. Faithia11
    September 24, 2018 / 8:58 am

    Thanks a lot ma'amYou're blessing women herePlz what leaves can I use in place of spinach?

  3. Anonymous
    September 11, 2017 / 1:43 pm

    pls how many people can this recipe serve?

  4. blessing
    July 12, 2017 / 2:58 pm

    Thank you this was a lot helpful I want to use ugwu in place of spinach I really hope it comes out nice thanks

  5. bright
    June 22, 2017 / 9:10 am

    Enter your comment…please where can I download the videos??

  6. Anonymous
    February 28, 2017 / 7:30 am

    Thank you veryyy much

  7. grace ogorry-ogboji
    December 2, 2016 / 7:36 pm

    Greetings dear…love ur post it's vry interesting n inspiring,but pls where I stay there is no shoko vegetables here so can I use ugwu or green leaves(alefo)for this recipe,thk u

    • Nky Lily Lete
      December 12, 2016 / 6:48 pm

      Yes you can use ugwu or spinach, but green amaranth will add more liquid to the soup if you use as it is, so only use it blanched.

  8. grace ogorry-ogboji
    December 2, 2016 / 7:30 pm

    Greetings dear…love ur post it's vry interesting n inspiring,but pls where I stay there is no shoko vegetables here so can I use ugwu or green leaves(alefo)for this recipe,thk u

  9. Anonymous
    November 22, 2016 / 5:15 pm

    Just prepared ma delicious efo riro.ma hubby loves it.tanks for d recipe.

    • Nky Lily Lete
      December 12, 2016 / 6:52 pm

      You're welcome

  10. Yemi
    August 12, 2016 / 4:26 pm

    Can I use bitter leaf in this recipe, to replace the spinach?

    • Nky Lily Lete
      August 12, 2016 / 4:28 pm

      Mmmm, No and Yes! No because bitterleaf is not used in the original recipe.And Yes, because, you can always cook it to your preference. But if you are cooking Efo riro for the first time, try preparing it just the way it is in the post, then you can make substitution the next time you prepare it.

  11. Onyinye Onyenezi
    August 11, 2016 / 12:31 am

    Wow!what can i say about this amazing cook???you have turned me into all-sorts cook.i love to experiment and try different dishes and ur site has made me more than a queen in my home.thank you for your wonderful works.God bless you plenty.

    • Nky Lily Lete
      August 12, 2016 / 4:17 pm

      Onyinye love, it's comment like yours that makes all the effort worth it :)Thanks for your lovely feedback and God bless you too hun.

  12. Ilori Ola
    July 30, 2016 / 10:17 pm

    It came out fine, despite that I was fasting couldn't taste while cooking. I have finally silenced all my female friends that thought I can't cook… Lol

    • Nky Lily Lete
      December 12, 2016 / 6:51 pm

      Wow dear, that's good to know.Thanks for the feedback hun 🙂

  13. Michael Woods
    July 8, 2016 / 3:27 pm

    Tried it and it worked Good Job Mama…Jah bless you

    • Nky Lily Lete
      December 12, 2016 / 6:50 pm

      Bless u too Michael 🙂

  14. Kola Alabi
    July 2, 2016 / 1:03 pm

    I did it today for the first time in abidjan cote d ivoire thank you so much sexy NKY and GOD BLESS YOU

    • Nky Lily Lete
      December 12, 2016 / 6:44 pm

      You're welcome Kola 🙂

  15. Anonymous
    April 8, 2016 / 9:56 am

    Thumbs up for this palatable #eforiro. Delicious-o

    • Nky Lily Lete
      December 12, 2016 / 6:44 pm

      🙂

  16. babyblogger
    March 26, 2016 / 10:09 am

    Yes you can use it

  17. babezena
    November 13, 2015 / 2:10 pm

    Can I use waterleaf in place of spinach?

    • Nky Lily Lete
      August 12, 2016 / 4:25 pm

      Yes you can 🙂

  18. Jennifer
    August 31, 2015 / 4:14 pm

    Hi Nky I really love ur blog it has helped me a lot.. Anyway I have a little problem with my tomatoes and pepper it keeps getting watery before I put the efo

    • Nky Lily Lete
      September 1, 2015 / 4:19 am

      Hi Jennifer, next time make sure you grind the tomatoes and peppers with less water and also dry the grinded mixture in a pot before adding it to the hot palm oil.In this way, it will be thicker before putting the efo.

  19. Morefun
    August 7, 2015 / 3:56 pm

    I'm addicted to your recipes! For years I have been looking to learn to cook like my mama and now I can

    • Nky Lily Lete
      August 16, 2015 / 11:48 pm

      I'm glad to be of help dearie 🙂

  20. Anonymous
    July 9, 2015 / 1:40 pm

    Wooow,am so happy I saw this on Google today.Please how do I join this group because am so much interested.Thanks and more grace ma'am(Mrs D.Roland)

    • Nky Lily Lete
      July 9, 2015 / 2:58 pm

      You're welcome Mrs D.Roland, good to have you here. You can subscribe above the page, on the right hand side 🙂

  21. Anonymous
    July 6, 2015 / 1:33 pm

    i love your blog nky…jst keep posting more.u hve bin a great help to me in all the recipes…thanks dear

    • Nky Lily Lete
      July 9, 2015 / 3:03 pm

      You're welcome hun 🙂

  22. Luch
    April 20, 2015 / 8:27 am

    Hello… Please is spinach the same as 'green'? Just wondering… Thanks. You are doing a fantastic job I must say….

    • Nky Lily Lete
      April 22, 2015 / 10:29 am

      No dear, spinach is not the same as green amaranth.thanks 🙂

  23. Anonymous
    September 12, 2014 / 11:54 am

    hope my fiance loves dis he asked me to cook him efo riro nd am just scared but ayleast you've really helped me out thanks

    • Nky Lily Lete
      September 12, 2014 / 1:41 pm

      He sure will and I'm sure you will prepare it well, just make sure you follow the recipe, step by step.

    • Eva Emma
      January 3, 2015 / 9:15 am

      Thank u, will try it someday

    • Nky Lily Lete
      January 3, 2015 / 1:11 pm

      ok dearie 🙂

  24. Anonymous
    July 9, 2014 / 1:00 pm

    GOOD.

    • Nky Lily Lete
      July 9, 2014 / 4:34 pm

      thanks 🙂

  25. Anonymous
    July 9, 2014 / 12:59 pm

    OFTEN TIMES, THE EFO ITSELF IS BOILED BEFORE STEWED. YOU DIDNT MENTION. WHY?

    • Nky Lily Lete
      July 9, 2014 / 4:33 pm

      I mentioned it dearie, read the first step, under cooking method. It is actually called ''blanching''.

  26. laraabdul
    July 7, 2014 / 5:36 am

    will try cook for break fast today.. wish me luck 🙂

    • Nky Lily Lete
      July 7, 2014 / 2:37 pm

      Ok dear, I'll be expecting your feedback, I'm sure it will come out fine 🙂

  27. Anonymous
    June 17, 2014 / 8:24 pm

    Awesome;understandable and appreciated

    • Nky Lily Lete
      July 7, 2014 / 2:38 pm

      Thanks hun 🙂

  28. Anonymous
    June 7, 2014 / 4:14 pm

    Using his recepi tonight

    • Nky Lily Lete
      June 9, 2014 / 8:36 am

      Great 🙂

  29. Anonymous
    March 15, 2014 / 7:38 am

    Trying this today for my sister's birthday party. Hope d guests enjoy it!

    • Nky Lily Lete
      March 17, 2014 / 11:04 am

      They definitely will dear, let me know how it turns out 🙂

  30. Anonymous
    March 9, 2014 / 10:37 am

    lovely

    • Nky Lily Lete
      March 13, 2014 / 4:25 pm

      thanks 🙂

  31. Anonymous
    March 9, 2014 / 10:35 am

    lovely

  32. Anonymous
    February 19, 2014 / 4:14 pm

    Well done ma'am! Gonna try it ds wkend

    • Nky Lily Lete
      February 22, 2014 / 1:45 pm

      thanks and let me know how it turns out 🙂

  33. Amaka
    November 26, 2013 / 9:54 am

    Nice one.. Going to try dt today

    • Nky Lily Lete
      November 26, 2013 / 3:09 pm

      Please do Amaka, you'll love it 🙂

  34. Laura
    October 8, 2013 / 8:58 pm

    …This is my favourite Blog. You're doing an excellent job, ma'am. THUMBS UP!!

    • Nky Lily Lete
      October 9, 2013 / 8:05 am

      Thanks Laura 🙂

  35. Gee Emmy
    July 17, 2013 / 1:54 pm

    wow nice

    • Nky Lily Lete
      July 17, 2013 / 4:33 pm

      Thanks Gee , well appreciated 🙂

    • Eva Emma
      January 3, 2015 / 9:17 am

      Can u make use of pumpkin leaf

    • Nky Lily Lete
      January 3, 2015 / 1:12 pm

      Yes you can 🙂