Name: Egusi soup
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Nigeria
Ingredients: 1.5 cups ground egusi (melon seeds); 1/3 cup palm oil; 1 onion; 2 peppers, blended; 500 g assorted meat or beef; 200 g smoked fish; 4 cups spinach or bitterleaf, chopped; 2 cups stock; 1 tbsp ground crayfish; 2 stock cubes; salt to taste

Where it comes from

Egusi is a beloved dish of southern and western Nigeria, with versions across West and Central Africa. The seeds come from a type of melon grown for its protein-rich kernels.

Explore the cuisine of Nigeria.

Recipe

Make Egusi soup at home

Serves 6Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

1.5 cups ground egusi (melon seeds)
1/3 cup palm oil
1 onion
2 peppers, blended
500 g assorted meat or beef
200 g smoked fish
4 cups spinach or bitterleaf, chopped
2 cups stock
1 tbsp ground crayfish
2 stock cubes
salt to taste

How it's made

Cook the meat in stock with onion and salt until tender.
Heat palm oil in a pot, add blended peppers and cook 10 minutes.
Mix egusi with a little water to a thick paste, spoon in clumps into the oil and fry gently for 8 minutes without stirring much.
Add the meat, stock, crayfish and fish and simmer for 15 minutes.
Stir in the greens and cook another 5 minutes.
Adjust seasoning and serve hot with pounded yam or fufu.