Nigeria · Nigeria

Egusi Soup (Nigerian Melon Seed Soup)

Name: Egusi Soup (Nigerian Melon Seed Soup)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Nigeria
Ingredients: ground egusi (melon) seeds 200 g; beef chuck, cubed 400 g; dried stockfish, soaked and flaked 60 g; ripe tomatoes, chopped 300 g; red onion, chopped 150 g; scotch bonnet pepper, chopped 8 g; spinach or bitter leaf 200 g; red palm oil 60 ml; beef stock 800 ml; garlic cloves, minced 15 g; fresh ginger, grated 10 g; fine salt 8 g; stock cube 1 pieces

A hearty West African soup of ground melon seeds with greens, tomatoes and stockfish, served with swallow.

70 minutes · 4 servings · Moderate

Egusi soup is a Yoruba dish in which ground melon seeds do two jobs — thickening the broth and giving it a nutty depth that survives heavy seasoning. It is customary to serve it with swallow rather than rice, a starchy dough that is pulled apart and dipped. Stockfish dried in the sun is standard in the pot, and its funk is meant to be there, not removed.

Ingredients

ground egusi (melon) seeds200 g
beef chuck, cubed400 g
dried stockfish, soaked and flaked60 g
ripe tomatoes, chopped300 g
red onion, chopped150 g
scotch bonnet pepper, chopped8 g
spinach or bitter leaf200 g
red palm oil60 ml
beef stock800 ml
garlic cloves, minced15 g
fresh ginger, grated10 g
fine salt8 g
stock cube1 pieces

Directions

1
Blend tomatoes, onion, pepper, garlic and ginger into a coarse purée.
2
Heat palm oil in a pot; fry purée 12 minutes until thickened and oil surfaces.
oil separates from the tomato base
3
Add beef and stockfish; pour in stock and season; simmer 25 minutes until meat is tender.
meat is fork-tender
4
Mix ground egusi with a few tablespoons of broth to form soft balls.
5
Drop egusi balls into the simmering pot; cook 8 minutes.
6
Stir in greens and wilt 2 minutes.
7
Serve hot with pounded yam, fufu or rice.

Source: WorldBite Editorial · WorldBite Proprietary Editorial Content