Egusi soup stands out with its rich flavours and cultural significance. This delectable dish, made with ground melon seeds, various vegetables, and a blend of aromatic spices, holds a special place in the hearts and taste buds of Nigerians. In this article, we’ll take you on a culinary journey through the steps of preparing an authentic Nigerian Egusi Soup that will leave your taste buds dancing and your cravings satisfied.
This will be my second egusi recipe on this blog. The first Egusi soup recipe was the boiled method but today we will dive into how to make the soup using the fried method.
Ingredients for Egusi soup
Before you embark on your Egusi Soup adventure, gather these essential ingredients:
- 2 cups of Egusi (melon) seeds, ground
- 2 cups of assorted meats (chicken, beef, or goat meat), cooked and roasted
- 2 cups of spinach chopped
- 1 cup of palm oil
- 2 medium-sized onion, finely chopped
- 4 scotch bonnets,
- 2 chilli peppers
- 2 long bell peppers/tatshe
- Dry Catfish (Optional)
- 4 cups of stock or water
Spices for Egusi
- 1 teaspoon of iru (locust beans, optional)
- Seasoning cube
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons of ground crayfish
- 2 teaspoons of Cameroon pepper
Instructions:
- Cook meat: In a pot, cook the assorted meat with onions, seasoning cubes, and salt until tender. Then roast them in the oven at 325degrees for 15 minutes.
- Prepare pepper blend: Blend peppers together and boil in a pot till most of the water evaporates ( should take 10 minutes or less)
- Make egusi paste by mixing melon seeds and onion. Make sure paste is slightly thick
- In a separate pan, heat the palm oil and add the egusi paste. Stir fry for about 5 minutes until the egusi is fried and clumpy
- Add pepper blend, cooked meat, Cameroon pepper, crayfish, and some water to the pot. Stir well and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Add the chopped vegetables and season with more salt and seasoning cubes if needed. Cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Serve the egusi soup with pounded yam, or any other swallow of your choice
Conclusion
Embarking on the journey of creating Nigerian Egusi Soup in your own kitchen is not just about preparing a delicious meal; it’s about embracing the rich culinary heritage of Nigeria. This iconic dish encapsulates the heart and soul of Nigerian cuisine, and by following these steps, you’ll be able to savor its authentic flavors right at home. Whether you’re sharing it with friends and family or savoring it solo, Nigerian Egusi Soup is sure to leave you with a sense of fulfillment and a new appreciation for the diversity of flavors in global cuisine.
P.s if you try this recipe at home, remember to tag me @nigerianfoodiehub on instagram, tiktok or Pinterest so that I get to see it and I add you to my cabinet of honourable foodies.
Craving more bold spices and Nigerian favourites? Here are some tasty recipes for you to try out…
Egusi soup
Ingredients
- 2 cups Ground melon seeds
- 1 lbs Assorted meat oven roasted or fried
- 4 cups stock
- 3 cups chopped spinach
- 2 medium sized onions chopped
- 2 long bell peppers
- 2 chilli peppers
- 4 scotch bonnets
- Dried catfish optional
Spices
- Salt to taste
- Cameroon pepper to taste
- 2 stock cubes
- 1 tsp iru
- 2 tbsp crayfish
Instructions
Prep meat
- In a pot, cook the assorted meat with 1 scotch bonnet, 1onion, seasoning cubes, Cameroon pepper and salt for 30 minutes
- Separate meat from stock, Lay thee meat on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 325 for 10-15 minutes.
Prep pepper base
- Prepare pepper base by blending all the peppers into a rough paste and boiling it for 10-15 minutes or until all the water evaporates
Prepare Egusi soup
- Make egusi paste by mixing melon seeds and chopped onions. Make sure paste is slightly thick
- In a pot , heat the palm oil and add the egusi paste. Stir fry for about 5 minutes until the egusi is fried and clumpy
- Add pepper paste, cooked meat, Cameroon pepper, crayfish, and some water to the pot. Stir well and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Then add meat stock and season with more salt and seasoning cubes if needed
- Add the chopped vegetables . Cook for an additional 3 minutes.
- Serve the egusi soup with pounded yam, or any other swallow of your choice.
