World Flavors Cookbook

Egusi Soup

Nigeria's rich, hearty melon seed soup — ground egusi seeds cooked with palm oil, spinach, and assorted meats and fish.

Cuisine: Nigeria

Ingredients

• 200g ground egusi (melon seeds)
• 500g assorted meat (beef, tripe, cow foot)
• 150g stockfish, soaked
• 200ml palm oil
• 3 onions
• 3 scotch bonnet peppers
• Seasoning cubes, crayfish powder
• 300g spinach or ugwu (pumpkin leaves)
• Salt

Instructions

1. Boil assorted meats with seasoning until tender. Reserve stock.
2. Heat palm oil (not bleached). Add diced onion and pepper.
3. Mix ground egusi into a paste with water. Add to pot in lumps.
4. Let egusi lumps cook 10 minutes before breaking apart gently.
5. Add meat, stock, stockfish, and crayfish. Simmer 15 minutes.
6. Add spinach/ugwu leaves in last 5 minutes. Season with salt.