All in one contest W18: Food challenge and Writing expedition contest update||Making a soup with Mushrooms and Oha leaves

INTRODUCTION

Mushrooms and Oha soup

I present to everyone in this kids and parents community, a popular food consumed in my area. Preparing the food is so simple that even kids when taught well, can prepare the food. Allowing the kids into the kitchen to learn how to prepare some meals, is even important as parents are now becoming more engaged and busier everyday.

Combining mushrooms with the Oha leaves to make a soup, is very delicious as both of them are enriched with vitamins and minerals which our body needs to function well. On this very day, I am pleased to some tips about the Oha soup cooked with mushrooms. In my next post, I will specifically concentrate on mushrooms and it's health benefits.

About Oha Leaf
Oha is a popular leaf used to make local and intercontinental soup. It is a leaf with green color mostly used for making soup in the eastern part of Nigeria most especially, the Igbo speaking tribes. Its agricultural or scientific name is called Pterocarpus mildbraedii

The ha leaf as called by other Igbo speaking tribes in my country, has a sweet taste and softness that releases attractive aura when used to make soup.

Notable Features Of The Oha Leaf

Oha Leaf has features that differentiates it from other leaf. I would be pointing out some of the features here.

• It is seasonal: Though this leaf may be available at all times, it would at smaller quantities unlike during the main season. In my area, the leaf sprouts, grows and flourishes from September after when the old leaves must have been plucked away to give room for new ones to grow out. This is when the rains must have started to subside.

• Taste:
  This leaf has an irresistible aroma with sweet, and feels mild.

• It is soft and delicate in texture : While other leaves may require the use of knives to cut them, Oha leaves does not require knives to cut them. They could be torn to small sizes with the hands.

• Oha leaves are greenish in color, has oval shape with broard and smooth when felt with the hands.

Nutritional Composition of Oha Leaf

Oha leaf is said to have different kinds of nutrients that are good and needed by the body. Some these nutrients are as follows:

• Amino acids
• Calcium
• Dietary fiber
• Vitamins A, B, and C.
• Antioxidants
• Magnesium and other essential vitamins and minerals that are needed by the body.

How I made the Oha soup with mushrooms.

Here are some steps I took to prepare the Oha soup. Actually, I bought the mushrooms from the market along with the Oha leaves.

Step One: I sliced the mushrooms and the Oha leaves with my hands into small sizes.

Step Two: After slicing the mushrooms and Oha with my hands, I washed them with water and then, put the mushrooms into the mortar and pounded it.

Step Three: I brought other ingredients like pepper, seasoning cubes, crayfish, salt, my boiled meat, and red oil. As I brought them all together, I poured a little red oil into the pot and and added other ingredients. I placed it on the fire and I stirred it properly to make them mix properly as a fry.

Step Four: After thirty seconds, l added the meat and poured 2½ cups of water into the pot and stirred well.

Step Five:
After about 12 minutes of boiling, I brought the Oha leaves that I washed and poured into the pot. At this point, the soup is almost done. I left it for just more three minutes so that the leaves will not lose its color and fresh taste. I now had to bring it down as it is now ready to be eaten.

To enjoy this delicacy, I ate it with fufu so delightfully and to my satisfaction. Some other time, I would be discussing about the health benefits of this Oha leaves.

If you know more things about how this Oha leaves and mushroom could be used together to make a soup, let's share about it. I know steem kids and parents would really appreciate to see your own ideas in the comment section.