Name: Egusi Soup
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Nigeria, West Africa
Ingredients: 2 cups ground egusi (melon seeds); Â½ cup palm oil; 300 g assorted beef and tripe, cut into pieces; 200 g stockfish, soaked and deboned; 2 cups chopped spinach or ugu leaves, washed; 2 medium onions, chopped; 3 whole scotch bonnet peppers, blended; 2 cubes seasoning cubes

Egusi Soup

A thick, hearty soup made from ground melon seeds, leafy greens, and assorted meats. The egusi forms satisfying clumps in a rich, peppery palm oil broth.

Country

Nigeria

Region

West Africa

Time

75 min

Serves

Level

medium

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Egusi Soup is a staple across southern Nigeria. The Igbo lumpy style uses balls of egusi paste, while the Yoruba style fries it smooth. It is always served with a swallow like pounded yam.

What the dish tastes like

A thick, hearty soup made from ground melon seeds, leafy greens, and assorted meats. The egusi forms satisfying clumps in a rich, peppery palm oil broth.

When to cook it

Best for Everyday meals and family gatherings, with a medium cooking level and about 75 minutes total.

What to serve alongside it

Pounded yam, eba, or fufu

Cook the meats

Season beef and tripe with onions, seasoning cubes, and salt. Boil until tender, about 25 minutes. Reserve the stock.

The meat stock is the flavour backbone of the soup.

Cook meat 25:00

Prepare egusi paste

Mix ground egusi with a small amount of warm water to form a thick paste.

Build the soup base

Heat palm oil in a pot. Add chopped onions and fry until softened. Add blended peppers and cook for 10 minutes.

Fry pepper base 10:00

Add egusi

Scoop egusi paste in spoonfuls into the pot forming lumps. Add reserved meat stock and stir gently. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

Do not stir too much â€” let the egusi clumps set.

Simmer egusi 15:00

Add meats and greens

Add cooked meats and stockfish. Stir gently and cook for 5 minutes. Add chopped greens and cook 3-5 minutes until wilted.

Add greens last so they keep their colour.

Cook greens 05:00

Serve

Adjust seasoning and serve hot alongside pounded yam or any preferred swallow.

Egusi Soup

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Step-by-step instructions

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