Nigerian Egusi Soup

Egusi soup is a delicious Nigerian dish made with ground melon seeds and typically cooked with vegetables and meat or fish. This food is native to the Igbo tribe but is also widely enjoyed in other parts of West Africa. This soup has a rich, nutty flavor that is sure to please any palate!

To make Nigerian Egusi soup, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of ground Egusi (melon) seeds
• 2-3 pounds of assorted meat (beef, chicken, or goat)
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 red bell peppers, chopped
• 2 scotch bonnet peppers, chopped
• 2 cups of stock or water
• 2 cups of chopped vegetables (spinach, pumpkin leaves, or bitter leaf)
• 1 tablespoon of palm oil
• Salt to taste
• Seasoning (Maggi, Knorr, or any other seasoning of your choice)

Preparation

• In a large pot, add your meat, diced onions, seasoning, and salt to taste. Cook until the meat is tender, then set it aside.
• In another pot, add your palm oil and heat it up until it is hot. Add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent.
• Add the chopped red bell peppers and scotch bonnet peppers to the pot, and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground Egusi seeds to the pot and stir until the seeds are well coated with the pepper and onion mixture.
• Add the stock or water to the pot and stir well. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the cooked meat to the pot and stir well. Let it simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
• Finally, add the chopped vegetables to the pot and stir well. Let it cook for about 5-10 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked to your liking.

Your Nigerian Egusi soup is now ready to serve! This dish is typically served with a side of fufu, a starchy staple food made from cassava or yams.