19/07/2022
HOW TO PREPARE EGUSI SOUP(MELON SOUP)
INGREDIENTS
1. Egusi (Melon) seeds
2. Red palm oil
3. Beef, Goat meat, Shaki (cow tripe) or any protein of your choice
4. Dry Fish and Stock Fish
5. Ground crayfish
Pepper and Salt (to taste)
6. Vegetable: Nigerian pumpkin leaves, spinach or bitter leaves
7. 1 stock cubes
8. Ogiri Okpei (traditional locust bean seasoning: optional)
Preparations:
This Method is called caking method, it produces a healthier egusi soup as there is no frying involved. It requires less oil too.
1. Wash the beef, goat meat, the shaki and stock fish thoroughly, (depending on the protein you choose) and put in a pot.
2. Add onions, 1 seasoning cube and salt
3. Cook till its soft
4. As soon as the meats are done, remove all the meat from the stock (water used in cooking the meat and stockfish), and place in a different pot or plate.
5. Add a little water to the stock and allow to boil
6. When it boils, add your red oil
6. After adding red oil, add your pepper and crayfish
7. Stir and then add your grounded Egusi(melon) and stir
8. If the water in the cooking soup is not enough to give you a medium consistency, add some water to get the consistency of evaporated milk or a bit thicker. It will not be as smooth as evaporated milk though.
9. Add your dry fish, the cooked meat and stockfish, cover and cook till the egusi cakes. Stir and add a little bit more water. watch it closely so that it does not burn.
10. After about 20 minutes, you will notice the clear egusi oil coming to the surface of the soup.
11. Add 1 seasoning cube and your ogiri Okpei ( traditional lucust beans seasoning (optional)
12. Stir and taste for salt
13. After 2 minutes,
14. Add any leaves of your choice (bitter leaves, Pumpkin leaves or spinach) stir the soup.
15. Taste for salt and leave to simmer for 2 minutes maximum.
16. Turn off the heat. Leave to stand for about 3 minutes before serving.
17. Served with Garri (Eba), Semolina, Fufu, Pounded Yam or any swallow of your choice.