How to Cook Delicious Nigerian Egusi Soup
Nigerian Egusi soup is a savoury soup made with with ground melon seeds fried in palm oil, garnished with delicious protein and chopped spinach.
Ingredients
- 10-15 pieces of fresh cow meat
- 5 pieces of cow skin
- 5- 10 Stock fish strips
- 4 cubes of beef or chicken bouillon
- Salt to taste
- 2 cups of water add as needed
- Blended pepper mix 3 tomatoes, 2 red bell peppers, 2 scotch bonnets and 1 onion
- 1 1/2 cups ground egusi
- 1 cup palm oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 full smoked catfish
- 10 pieces of fresh shrimp
- 2 Tbsp dry ground crayfish
- 3 Tbsp dry locust beans
- 2-3 cups chopped spinach for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the meats, cow skin and stock fish pieces into a large pot.
- Add in chopped onion, season with the bouillon cubes and salt.
- Add the water and let cook for 20 mins.
- While the meats are cooking, boil water to clean the dry catfish, add some salt before immersing fully the dry fish in the hot water.
- Debone the catfish and set aside.
- Blend your pepper mix and pour into the meats.
- Add ground crayfish, cover and keep on cooking for 15 mins on high heat.
- Add the washed dry fish and palm oil into the meats, keep cooking on medium heat for 10 mins.
- In a bowl, pour in the ground melon seeds, some chopped onion and 1 cup of warm water. Mash fully till broken down, should not be smooth.
- Pour the egusi mix into the soup, combine well and cover to cook for 25-30 mins on medium heat.
- Add the locust beans, cook for another 5 mins.
- Add in the chopped spinach and shrimp. Let cook for another 10 mins while stirring, adjust seasoning if needed.
Video
Notes
An important part is to let the egusi cook properly. This reflects in the time allocated above, the time it is added in till it is ready is about 45 mins, this is deliberate. Not cooking well enough could affect the taste and overall outcome of the soup. Pair with your favourite swallow or rice.