Nigerian Egusi Soup

This Nigerian Egusi Soup recipe will show you how to make this popular West African soup with melon seeds.

Egusi is a West African name for the seeds of plants like squash, melons, and gourds that, when dried and ground become a staple ingredient in many West African dishes. Particularly, in Nigerian culture, egusi is a popular with pounded yam. These seeds are rich in fat and protein, and add these essential nutrients into West African Cuisine.

Nigerian Egusi Soup is a soup thickened with ground melon seeds and contains leafy and other vegetables. It is one of the most popular soups prepared by most tribes in Nigeria with considerable variation and often eaten with dishes like Pounded Yams, Amala, Plantain fufu, Mashed sweet potatoes Prepare the soup with fish

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Melon
• 1 Cup Palm Oil or a little more or less depending on preference
• 3 Tbsp locust beans
• 24 oz chopped spinach
• 3 Red Bell Pepper
• 4 scotch bonnet Peppers
• 2 Onions
• Stock Cube Optional
• 1 Dry Fish,
• Salt To Taste
• 3 cups fish stock

Instructions

1. Blend the peppers and Onions together until smooth and set aside.
2. Blend the Egusi melon,
3. Heat the Palm Oil in a pan and allow it to melt over medium heat but don’t overheat the Oil. Add half onion (diced) and half of the Locust bean. Let it cook for about 3 minutes on medium heat.
4. Add the blended pepper and cook till the water is reduced this should take about 15 minutes on medium heat until the water is reduced stirring about every 5 minutes to prevent burning.
5. Add the remaining locust bean, fish stock, and salt to taste. Cover and leave to cook for another 5 minutes
6. Gently introduce the blended Egusi inside the sauce but don’t stir it at this point. Just cover it and leave it to cook for about 20 to 30 minutes Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn but try not to stir it until the Egusi turns into a soft compact mass. Then, gently stir together and add more stock or water if necessary.
7. Add the Fish and leave to cook again for another 5 minutes.
8. Stir in the Spinach and leave to simmer for about 5 minutes (stir constantly). Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
9. Serve while still hot.