WorldMainGluten-Free

Nigerian Egusi Soup

Name: Nigerian Egusi Soup
Prep time: 30 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Yield: 6
Cuisine: World
Ingredients: 2 cups ground egusi (melon seeds); 1 lb beef, cut into chunks; 1/2 lb dried fish, cleaned and deboned; 1/4 cup palm oil; 1 large onion, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp ground crayfish; 2 stock cubes; 2 tsp ground pepper (scotch bonnet or cayenne); 1 tsp ground ginger; 4 cups spinach, chopped; 2 cups bitter leaf or collard greens, chopped; 1/4 cup locust beans (iru), optional; Salt to taste; 4-5 cups water or stock

Prep

30 minutes

Total

1 hour 15 minutes

Serves

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Ingredients

Units

2 cups ground egusi (melon seeds)
1 lb beef, cut into chunks
1/2 lb dried fish, cleaned and deboned
1/4 cup palm oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp ground crayfish
2 stock cubes
2 tsp ground pepper (scotch bonnet or cayenne)
1 tsp ground ginger
4 cups spinach, chopped
2 cups bitter leaf or collard greens, chopped
1/4 cup locust beans (iru), optional
Salt to taste
4-5 cups water or stock

Instructions

1
Season beef with salt, half the onions, and stock cube. Boil in water until tender, about 25 minutes. Reserve the stock.
2
Heat palm oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add remaining onions and sauté until translucent.
3
Add garlic, ginger, and ground pepper. Cook for 2 minutes until fragrant.
4
Add the ground egusi and stir continuously for 5 minutes to prevent burning.
5
Gradually add the reserved beef stock, stirring to prevent lumps. Add more water if needed.
6
Add cooked beef, dried fish, crayfish, locust beans, and remaining stock cube. Simmer for 15 minutes.
7
Add the bitter leaf or collard greens first, cook for 5 minutes.
8
Add spinach and cook for another 5 minutes until wilted.
9
Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
10
Simmer for 5 more minutes until the soup reaches desired consistency.
11
Serve hot with pounded yam, fufu, rice, or your preferred Nigerian staple.