The Recipe of Egusi Soup
Egusi soup is a popular Nigerian dish that is made from ground melon seeds and various vegetables. It is a delicious and nutritious soup that is often served with pounded yam, eba, or fufu. If you want to try making this delightful dish at home, here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 2 cups of egusi (melon) seeds
– 500g assorted meat (beef, chicken, or goat meat)
– 2 cups of assorted vegetables (spinach, bitter leaf, or ugu)
– 2 medium-sized onions
– 3 medium-sized fresh tomatoes
– 3 tablespoons of palm oil
– 1 tablespoon of ground crayfish
– 2 stock cubes
– Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
1. Start by preparing the egusi (melon) seeds. Toast them in a dry pan until they turn slightly brown and release a nutty aroma. Allow them to cool and then grind them into a fine powder using a blender or mortar and pestle. Set aside.
2. Wash and season the assorted meat with salt, pepper, and one diced onion. Cook the meat until it is tender and set it aside.
3. In a separate pot, heat the palm oil on medium heat. Add the remaining diced onion and sauté until it becomes translucent.
4. Add the diced tomatoes and cook until they have softened. Stir in the ground crayfish and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
5. Pour in the ground egusi (melon) seeds and stir continuously to prevent it from forming lumps. Cook for about 5 minutes until the egusi begins to thicken.
6. Gradually add the meat stock from the cooked assorted meat to the pot and stir well. Add the stock cubes and salt to taste. Cover the pot and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes.
7. Add the cooked assorted meat and the assorted vegetables to the pot. Stir well and cover the pot. Allow the soup to simmer for an additional 5 minutes until the vegetables are cooked but still retain their vibrant colors.
8. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Serve the egusi soup hot with pounded yam, eba, or fufu.
This recipe yields approximately 4-6 servings and takes about 1 hour to prepare and cook. Enjoy the rich flavors of Nigerian cuisine with this delicious egusi soup!