1lb fresh shrimps or prawns(deveined with tail on)
3 tbsps. of dry grinded pepper or red chili flakes(add more or reduce according to heat preference)
3 habanero peppers or ata-rodo(smoothly blended or chopped)
1 large red bell pepper(minced)
1-1½ cooking spoons of palm oil (you may leave it out or use 2 tbsps. of coconut oil if you prefer)
1-2 tbsps. of locust beans or iru (you may leave it out)
4 tbsps. of crayfish
1 large dry or smoked fish
1 knorr cube(any bouillon works)
salt to taste
¼tsp baking soda(mix with just a little water)
1 cup of any chopped green vegetable of your choice(I used none)
Instructions
Preparation:
Pound or blend one cup of the chopped okra and set aside
run iru through a little water to remove stones. Do not over wash as it will loose it's flavor
blend the fresh habaneros
mince the bell pepper
soak the dry fish in warm water and wash; then drain
Method:
in a medium pot, season the meat with salt, 1 tbsp. of dry pepper and the knorr cubes. Do not add any water. The meat would begin to simmer and produce it's own water. Let it cook until the liquid dries up a bit; then pour in some water to the level or a little above the level of the meats and check for seasonings.
once the meat has cooked and is tender, pour in the baking soda and oil and cover the pot. Bring to a simmer on medium heat and cook for another 10 minutes or until the oil is cooked and no longer has the oil taste. Stir in the crayfish, iru and dry pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Pour in the Okra; both the pounded and the chopped one and stir really well (do not cover the pot) Add the dry fish. Cook for another 10 minutes or less; then add the habaneros, shrimps and bell pepper and stir(if using any green vegetables, pour it in at this point) Check for seasonings, cook until the shrimps turn pink; then set aside and serve with or without any side
Notes
If using edible potash, just melt a pea size in a little water and pour that water into the soup; leaving the residue out
Recipe by Nigerian Lazy Chef at https://www.nigerianlazychef.com/2015/06/ila-asepo-okra-soup/