Name: Gbegiri Soup (Honey Bean Soup)
Total time: 130 min
Ingredients: 4 cups dried Nigerian honey beans (see Tip); 10 cups water; 1 medium red bell pepper, coarsely chopped; 0.5 medium red onion, coarsely chopped; 1 habanero pepper, stem trimmed; 1.5 teaspoons salt; 0.5 cup organic unrefined red palm oil (see Tip); 2 tablespoons crayfish powder (optional; see Tip); Edible flowers and microgreens for garnish

Gbegiri Soup (Honey Bean Soup)

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Also known as ewa-olyin in the language of Nigeria's Yoruba people, which translates to "beans naturally coated with honey," honey beans, native to Nigeria, indeed have a hint of sweetness. They form the base of this popular Yoruba soup. Optional crayfish powder adds a smoky-sweet pleasantly fishy flavor.

Simileoluwa Adebajo

Published on May 11, 2022

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

gbegiri soup honey bean soup — Photo: photographer / Greg DuPree, Food Stylist / Margaret Dickey / Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Active Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

2 hrs 10 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

Dairy-Free Egg Free Gluten-Free Nut-Free Soy-Free Vegan Vegetarian

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

4 cups dried Nigerian honey beans (see Tip)
10 cups water
1 medium red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
½ medium red onion, coarsely chopped
1 habanero pepper, stem trimmed
1 ½ teaspoons salt
½ cup organic unrefined red palm oil (see Tip)
2 tablespoons crayfish powder (optional; see Tip)
Edible flowers and microgreens for garnish

Directions

Place honey beans in a large bowl and cover with hot water. Let soak for 15 minutes. Drain.
Transfer the beans to a large bowl and run water continuously into the bowl while agitating the contents with your hand until the skins rise to the top. Skim off the skins and discard. Repeat until all the beans have been skinned.
Combine the skinned beans, 10 cups water, bell pepper, onion, habanero and salt in a large pot; bring to a simmer. Simmer, covered, until the beans are tender, about 1 hour.
Transfer 2 cups of the bean cooking liquid to a bowl; drain the beans. Transfer the bean mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. (Use caution when blending hot mixtures.)
Heat palm oil in the large pot over medium heat. Add the bean puree and reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Add the reserved bean cooking liquid and crayfish powder, if using. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the soup reaches desired consistency, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve garnished with edible flowers and microgreens, if desired.

To make ahead

Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Tips

If you've cooked or eaten black-eyed peas, Nigerian honey beans will look familiar—they have a similar "eye" on the inward curve but are a darker hue.

Extracted from the oil palm tree, unrefined red palm oil gets its deep hue from healthful antioxidant pigments called carotenoids, which are important for eye health. Its high smoke point makes it a good choice for frying.

Made from dried and ground crayfish, crayfish powder adds flavor to soups and rice dishes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

409	Calories
15g	Fat
50g	Carbs
18g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 cup
Calories 409
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 50g	18%
Dietary Fiber 16g	57%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 18g	36%
Total Fat 15g	19%
Saturated Fat 7g	35%
Vitamin A 557IU	11%
Vitamin C 29mg	32%
Vitamin E 1mg	4%
Folate 491mcg	123%
Vitamin K 5mcg	4%
Sodium 174mg	8%
Calcium 60mg	5%
Iron 6mg	33%
Magnesium 126mg	30%
Potassium 687mg	15%
Zinc 3mg	27%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.