HOW TO PREPARE EGUSI SOUP 🍲

 

A classic Nigerian dish! 🍲 Egusi soup is a delicious and nutritious melon seed-based soup that's popular in West Africa. Here's a simple recipe to make egusi soup:

Ingredients:🛍️

- 2 cups of ground egusi seeds (melon seeds) 🌼

- 1 pound of beef, goat meat, or chicken (your choice of protein) 🍖️

- 2 medium onions, chopped 🍠

- 3 Scotch bonnet peppers (or substitute with habanero peppers), chopped 🔥

- 2 cloves of garlic, minced 💡

- 1 teaspoon of grated ginger 🌿

- 1 tablespoon of ground crayfish (optional) 🦐

- 1 teaspoon of salt 💸

- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper ❗️

- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil 💧

- 2 cups of beef or chicken broth 🍜

- 2 cups of water 💧

- 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley or bitter leaves (for garnish) 🌿

Instructions:📝

1. Prepare the egusi seeds: Grind the egusi seeds into a fine powder using a blender or food processor. 🌪️

2. Cook the protein: Boil the beef, goat meat, or chicken in a large pot until it's tender. Remove the protein from the pot, and set it aside. 🍲

3. Sauté the onions and peppers: Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until they're translucent. Add the chopped peppers and sauté for another 2-3 minutes. 🔪

4. Add the garlic and ginger: Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the pot and sauté for 1 minute. 💡

5. Add the ground egusi seeds: Add the ground egusi seeds to the pot and stir well. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly, until the egusi seeds are lightly toasted. 🌰

6. Add the broth and water: Add the beef or chicken broth and water to the pot. Stir well to combine. 🍜

7. Add the cooked protein and crayfish (if using): Add the cooked protein and ground crayfish (if using) to the pot. Stir well to combine. 🍴

8. Season with salt and black pepper: Season the soup with salt and black pepper to taste. 💸

9. Simmer the soup: Simmer the soup over low heat for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened and the flavors have melded together. 🔥

10. Serve and enjoy!🍴: Serve the egusi soup hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley or bitter leaves. 🌿

Tips and Variations:🤔

- You can use beef, goat meat, or chicken as your protein source. 🍖️

- If you can't find egusi seeds, you can substitute with pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. 🌼

- You can add other vegetables like spinach, kale, or carrots to the soup. 🥗

- You can use fish or seafood instead of meat or poultry. 🐟

- You can add a little bit of palm oil or peanut oil to the soup for extra flavor. 💧

I hope you enjoy this recipe! 😋 Let me know if you have any questions or if you'd like any variations. 🤗