Gambia | Soup

Supakanja

Gambian okra soup with palm oil, dried fish, shrimp, chile, and a silky draw texture for rice or fufu.

Country
Gambia
Region
West Africa
Time
60 min
Serves
6
Level
medium
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Recipe overview

What to know before you cook

Use this overview to check the occasion, serving ideas, regional context, and cooking commitment before you begin.

When to cook it

Best for Everyday meals. Plan on a medium cook and about 60 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

White rice, fufu, cassava, or rice balls

Regional lane

Gambia national table. A structured Gambia dish in the AfroKitchen archive.

Chef watch-outs
  • Adding too much liquid after the rice goes in.
  • Stirring too often once the grains should be steaming.
  • Stopping the base before the pepper, onion, or spice edge has mellowed.
How you know it is ready
  • The grains should be tender but still distinct, with steam carrying the seasoning upward.
  • The sauce should coat the spoon and taste rounded, not watery or raw.
  • Greens should be cooked through but still look alive and glossy.
Chef board

Build the table around Supakanja

White rice, fufu, cassava, or rice balls

Best route from here

Gambia national table

Collections to keep cooking
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Servings 6

Scale the dish before you shop, then use the checklist while you cook.

How to cook it

Step-by-step method

Keep the rhythm calm, watch the texture, and adjust seasoning at the end.

Back to Gambia
5 steps 20 min prep 40 min cook 60 min total medium
1
Draw the okra
Heat palm oil and add sliced okra. Cook, stirring, until glossy and beginning to draw.
Cook okra 10:00
2
Add fish and aromatics
Add onion, dried fish, and peppers. Stir gently until fragrant.
Build soup 05:00
3
Simmer
Add water or fish stock and simmer until the soup thickens. Add greens if using.
Simmer 15:00
4
Finish seafood
Add shrimp or seafood and cook just until done. Season with salt.
Cook seafood 05:00
5
Serve
Serve hot with rice or fufu, making sure each bowl has fish, okra, and broth.

Some cooks add leafy greens, crab, smoked fish, beef, or extra dried seafood.

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