Green Abunabuna Soup with Snails

Name: Green Abunabuna Soup with Snails (Ntohuro Nkwan / Kontomire Nkwan)
Cuisine: Ghanaian
Ingredients: Chili peppers, to taste (in Ghana, they would likely use about 5 small green kpakpo shito peppers; you could substitute 1 small seeded jalapeno [mild], or 1 small green or red seeded cayenne [hot], or 1 green seeded habanero [hot], or 2 red seeded habanero or Scotch bonnets [very very hot], or ½ teaspoon [mild] or ¾ teaspoon [medium] ground dried red pepper); Chili peppers, to taste (in Ghana, they would likely use about 5 small green kpakpo shito peppers; you could substitute 1 small seeded jalapeno [mild], or 1 small green or red seeded cayenne [hot], or 1 green seeded habanero [hot], or 2 red seeded habanero or Scotch bonnets [very very hot], or ½ teaspoon [mild] or ¾ teaspoon [medium] ground dried red pepper); Chili peppers, to taste (in Ghana, they would likely use about 5 small green kpakpo shito peppers; you could substitute 1 small seeded jalapeno [mild], or 1 small green or red seeded cayenne [hot], or 1 green seeded habanero [hot], or 2 red seeded habanero or Scotch bonnets [very very hot], or ½ teaspoon [mild] or ¾ teaspoon [medium] ground dried red pepper); Chili peppers, to taste (in Ghana, they would likely use about 5 small green kpakpo shito peppers; you could substitute 1 small seeded jalapeno [mild], or 1 small green or red seeded cayenne [hot], or 1 green seeded habanero [hot], or 2 red seeded habanero or Scotch bonnets [very very hot], or ½ teaspoon [mild] or ¾ teaspoon [medium] ground dried red pepper); 8 ounces dried smoked fish of choice (such as mackerel, whitefish, or whiting); 8 ounces dried smoked fish of choice (such as mackerel, whitefish, or whiting); Chili peppers, to taste (in Ghana, they would likely use about 5 small green kpakpo shito peppers; you could substitute 1 small seeded jalapeno [mild], or 1 small green or red seeded cayenne [hot], or 1 green seeded habanero [hot], or 2 red seeded habanero or Scotch bonnets [very very hot], or ½ teaspoon [mild] or ¾ teaspoon [medium] ground dried red pepper); Chili peppers, to taste (in Ghana, they would likely use about 5 small green kpakpo shito peppers; you could substitute 1 small seeded jalapeno [mild], or 1 small green or red seeded cayenne [hot], or 1 green seeded habanero [hot], or 2 red seeded habanero or Scotch bonnets [very very hot], or ½ teaspoon [mild] or ¾ teaspoon [medium] ground dried red pepper); 2 medium red or green tomatoes; 2 medium red or green tomatoes; 1 teaspoon Ground fresh ginger (optional); Several fresh mushrooms of your choice (e.g., about 6 cremini), rinsed, wiped dry, the tip of the stem removed, halved or sliced if desired (optional); Chili peppers, to taste (in Ghana, they would likely use about 5 small green kpakpo shito peppers; you could substitute 1 small seeded jalapeno [mild], or 1 small green or red seeded cayenne [hot], or 1 green seeded habanero [hot], or 2 red seeded habanero or Scotch bonnets [very very hot], or ½ teaspoon [mild] or ¾ teaspoon [medium] ground dried red pepper); 1 square inch salted cod and/or a dash of Thai fish sauce (optional); 1 square inch salted cod and/or a dash of Thai fish sauce (optional); 1 large or 2 medium onions, chopped; 5 to 12 snails (depending on whether each person wants 1 or 2 snails); 1 pound cocoyam/taro/kontomire leaves or other greens (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens, spinach), or frozen spinach; 5 to 12 snails (depending on whether each person wants 1 or 2 snails); 1 pound cocoyam/taro/kontomire leaves or other greens (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens, spinach), or frozen spinach; 1 pound cocoyam/taro/kontomire leaves or other greens (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens, spinach), or frozen spinach; 8 ounces dried smoked fish of choice (such as mackerel, whitefish, or whiting); 8 ounces dried smoked fish of choice (such as mackerel, whitefish, or whiting); 1 pound cocoyam/taro/kontomire leaves or other greens (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens, spinach), or frozen spinach; 1 pound cocoyam/taro/kontomire leaves or other greens (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens, spinach), or frozen spinach; 1 pound cocoyam/taro/kontomire leaves or other greens (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens, spinach), or frozen spinach; 1 pound cocoyam/taro/kontomire leaves or other greens (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens, spinach), or frozen spinach; Several fresh mushrooms of your choice (e.g., about 6 cremini), rinsed, wiped dry, the tip of the stem removed, halved or sliced if desired (optional); 1 teaspoon powdered herrings if available (or to taste), or substitute seasoned salt; 1 teaspoon powdered herrings if available (or to taste), or substitute seasoned salt

Ntohuro Nkwan / Kontomire Nkwan

Preparation info

Makes
5 to 6
servings

Difficulty
Easy

Appears in

The Ghana Cookbook

By Fran Osseo-Asare and Barbara Baëta

Published 2015

About

My husband, an Akwapim from the Eastern Region, loves this Akan soup that is notable for its green color. Unlike him, I am not fond of snails, but it can also be made with smoked game and fish (see Variations). Ghanaians’ beloved fermented fish (momoni) or kobi (salted tilapia) give this soup a distinctive flavor that is generally unavailable to those of us outside Ghana, though adding a little salted cod and/or a dash of Thai fish sauce approximates it. Akans commonly include

Ingredients

Africa
Ghana
Soup
Gluten-free
Pescatarian

Ingredients

Method