How to Cook Egusi Soup |Frying and Boiling Method
Do you know how to cook egusi soup? Or are you just a lover of egusi soup? Get in here let me show you the way to make the most delicious egusi soup of all times. This recipe is a banga!
Egusi soup is one soup that when you taste it, you will fall in love forever especially if you are using this recipe.
Although there are people who detect egusi soup no matter how it is prepared. For me I am a big fan of egusi and in this article, I am going to show you how I cook egusi in a very delicious way.
How to Cook Egusi Soup
What is egusi? Let start with is first. egusi refers to the seeds of a melon ((Citrullus lanatus).
The seeds are usually oval and flat and they are mostly used in cooking soup here in Nigeria and other West African countries.
This seed are so rich in fats, protein and other essential nutrients, so aside eating egusi soup for its delicious taste it is a nutritional and a valuable food source .
Egusi seeds are often light colored ranging from white to pale yellow. The seeds are encased and nurtured in a melon fruit that looks more like a watermelon.
Before cooking the seeds are harvested, washed, dried, peeled and ground in powder and used for cooking.
Egusi soup is so nutritional because of what it is made of. Egusi seeds are rich in plant based proteins and a significant amount of oil (fat) which contributes to the richness and flavour of the soup.
Vitamins and minerals are not left out of the nutritional constituents of egusi soup; they contain some vitamins like vitamin A and C as well as mineral like calcium, iron and magnesium.
Egusi soup being one of the most popular soups in Nigerian cuisines is a thick and savory dish that is mostly served with varieties of meat, fish and vegetables.
Aside cooking it egusi alone as a soup itself) it can be used as a thickener in other soups like okra etc. and even in stews.
It can also be used in the preparation of cakes, snacks and sometimes combined with flour to make delicious and savory dough.
During events, it is common for people to gather and prepare a large pot of soup and serve it to guest alongside some starchy food like poundo, pounded yam, semo, eba (garri), fufu or and swallow of your choice.
It is very important to note that there are different varieties of egusi soup, depending on the area, region and location.
Here in Nigeria, egusi soup is cooked alongside with veggies like bitterleaf, hot leaf (oziza), ugu (pumpkin leaf), scent leaf etc.
This vegetables increase the nutrients and richness of the food making it healthier.
Ingredients Used in Cooking Egusi Soup
As stated earlier there are so many varieties of egusi soup, for this particular recipe I will using the ingredients as listed below:
300g ground egusi
1kg beef (or any proteins of your choice)
100g Palm oil
30g onions
30g hot pepper (you can adjust it depending how you love it)
30g stockfish
100g dryfish or smoked fish
2g salt
40g crayfish
100g pumpkin leaf(ugu or any other vegetable of choice)
16g Seasoning cube
Shelled Periwinkle(optional)
Add stock water gotten for the meat you are using in desirable amount but for this recipe I am using 30g of stock and 700g water.
Note: All ingredients stated above can be adjusted.
Best Methods on How to Cook Egusi Soup
There are so many ways of cooking egusi soup and it will still come out yummy and delicious.
Among all this is my easiest way of cooking egusi(the boiling method), there is also a frying method of cooking egusi and trust me it still come out very delicious.
All this method is similar and just different at the point at which each ingredient goes into the cooking pot.
Without wasting much of your time, let gets started on how to cook egusi soup perfectly using the boiling method with the steps below:
Step 1: Prep all the Ingredients
Measures the desired amount of blended/ground egusi into a bowl, add a little amount of oil and water (very little; because you need it as thick paste). Mix it properly with a little amount of salt.
Wash and slice the vegetable into tiny slices and set aside.
Wash and blend the pepper, cut onions into small dice, wash the periwinkle (if you are using it) and set aside.
In your clean pot season the washed meat and cook for 30minutes. After the said time add your was stockfish cover and allow it to cook for another 10 minutes (till the stock fish and meat is soft and tender.
Step 2: Lets Cook (Boiling Method)
In the pot of proteins, add the mixed equsi in lumps (don’t stir) cover the pot and allow it to cook for 10-25mins (make sure there is enough water to cook the egusi well).
After 10-15 minutes (by now some of the egusi lumps must have scattered on it, and some will be left), Stir now.
Add the blend pepper, crayfish, seasoning cubes, fish, periwinkle, onions, and palmoil. Stir cover and allow it to cook for another 10miutes.
After 10 minutes taste the soup to adjust seasonings and stir it.
(Please note: some melon takes time to cook, so for a good and delicious experience when eating this soup, I will recommend hand peeled melon)
Add the slice ugu leaves, take it off the heat, stir and set aside. You delicious is ready to be serves with ant swallow of your choice.
Frying Method of Cooking Egusi
For this method, what differs it from the boiling method is that the egusi is put into a hot oil that ghad some chopped onoins sauteed in it.
Then cover the pot and allow it to cook for 5 minutes before add the proteins and stock.
In conclusion, the process of cooking egusi soup is very easy and straightforward. Each preparation process brings together a wide variety of flavorful ingredients to create a satisfying and delicious meal.
By grinding egusi and cooking it with any protein of your choice, alongside vegetables and seasonings, you have created a rich and delicious soup that is perfect with your favorite swallow.
The key step to note if you are using the frying method is to saute the onions, add the egusi, proteins, stock and seasoning, then let the flavors blend together.
With the right amoumt of ingredients in this soup alongside patience, egusi soup will be the most delicious and filling soup ypou will rmjoy after cooking.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Other Recipes to try!!
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What is Pickle Juice Good For?
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What is the Difference Between Yam Pottage and Yam Porridge?
