West African Pumpkin Soup with Melon

There are many names attached to the West African pumpkin soup with melon. The Pumpkin soup with melon popularly called Egusi soup in West Africa (Nigeria) is not only a traditional delicacy but also an International Cuisine.

There are different ways to prepare this West African pumpkin soup with melon. There is how to cook Egusi soup boiling method. There is also the fried Egusi method, each giving separate taste and flavor.

In Preparing these international and traditional long age West Africa Egusi soup delicacies, the same ingredients are applied but the cooking time may differ. The West African Pumpkin Soup with melon can be eaten with gari (ground cassava), fufu (made out of soaked cassava), pounded yam, and wheat. Etc.

EGUSI SOUP (WEST AFRICAN PUMPKIN SOUP)

Pumpkin leaf for preparing Egusi soup or west African pumpkin soup with melon

Egusi soup also known as melon soup is a very popular food crop in Nigeria (West Africa) and other African countries. It comes with lots of health benefits which are vital for children, young and Old (Men and Women).

Melon seed is fortified with essential minerals and vitamins which improves skin and hair, promotes eye vision, improves appetite, contains antioxidant properties, helps in digestion, and reduces inflammation and so on.

In other to cook Egusi soup with boiling method or frying method, you will need the ingredients below;

INGREDIENTS FOR PREPARING FRIED EGUSI SOUP

  1. 4 Cups of Egusi melon seeds(ground)
  2. ½ – 1 Cup Palm Oil
  3. 1 Cup Blended Onions and some red chili peppers
  4. Blend about 3 to 4 Onions Balls
  5. Salt
  6. Ground Crayfish
  7. Raw Meat and fish quantity and variety to personal preference
  8. 2 Cups cut Pumpkin leaves
  9. Seasoning cubes

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO COOK WEST AFRICAN PUMKIN SOUP WITH MELON

how to cook west African pumpkin soup with melon

STEP 1; Place your washed raw meat and fish in a pot, and add salt, pepper and seasoning cubes, add some chopped Onions. Allow to cook for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, add water to cover up the meat and fish. The Water should be a little bit above the meat and fish. Allow to cook for 25 minutes.

STEP 2; In a Large Pot, heat the palm oil on medium for a minute and add your Blender Onions and chilies.

STEP 3; Allow to fry a minute then add your ground melon seeds and stir fry. This should be done on low heat. Continue to stir fry and add more palm oil if needed.

STEP 4; After about 10 – 15 minutes of the ground melon seeds frying, pour your cooked meat and fish stock into the fried Egusi Pot. Stir and allow to boil for 15 minutes but this time on high heat.

STEP 5; Add your ground crayfish, salt (if you feel the salt isn’t enough) and seasoning cubes. Allow to boil for 2 minutes.

STEP 6; Stir, check seasoning and adjust accordingly.

STEP 7; Sprinkle in your cut pumpkin leaves and allow to cook for 2 minutes. Your fried West African pumpkin soup with melon or fried Egusi soup is ready.

READ ALSO: HOW TO COOK AFRICAN BEANS

HOW TO COOK EGUSI SOUP BOILING METHOD

how to cook Egusi soup by boiling method

As I explained earlier in the introduction, one of the methods to cook Egusi soup or pumpkin soup with melon is the boiling method.

Ingredients for preparing Egusi soup using the boiling method is the same ingredients above for preparing fried Egusi or pumpkin soup with Melon.

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO COOK EGUSI SOUP BOILING METHOD

STEP 1; Get the following ingredients ready; Meat, dry fish, stock fish or Snail, Palm Oil, Salt, fresh Pepper or Dry pepper, Onions, Crayfish, Seasoning cubes, Periwinkle, Vegetable or Butter leaf.

STEP 2; Wash the meat and fish and stockfish and steam all together with salt, seasoning cubes, and Pepper.

Best Vitamix Explorian Blender for grinding Egusi seed used for west African pumpkin soup.

STEP 3; Allow it to boil for 10 – 15 minutes, then add the ground melon (Egusi) using a blender to the Boiling pot and allow it to boil for another ten minutes.

STEP 4; Then add the already prepared pumpkin leaf or bitter leaf as preferred by you. Allow it to boil for 2 minutes and its ready.

HOW TO COOK EGUSI SOUP WITH WATERLEAF

how to cook Egusi soup with waterleaf

There are various vegetables you could use to prepare the West African Pumpkin Soup with Melon apart from Vegetable Pumpkin leaf and Bitterleaf, you could also use waterleaf.

Ingredients to use on how to cook Egusi soup boiling method using waterleaf are; Egusi, waterleaf vegetable, stock fish, meat, seasoning cubes, salt, Palm Oil, Crayfish and Onions.

Below are the instructions on how to prepare Egusi soup with waterleaf;

STEP 1; Wash your stock fish and meat properly. Place them inside your cooking pot. Season with seasoning cubes, onions, a little salt on medium heat on gas stove.

STEP 2; After like 15 – 20 minutes, empty the meat stock into a bowl and place that same pot on the gas stove to dry off.

STEP 3; Pour some quantity of palm oil into the cooking pot and allow it to heat on low heat. Add your sliced onions and simmer for a while.

STEP 4; Pour your blended Egusi (melon seed) into the pot with palm oil and allow to boil to paste level, stir occasionally and add a little water in case you need to.

STEP 5; Cut and wash your fresh waterleaf vegetable and pour into the pot. Keep stirring the waterleaf until water comes out of it.

STEP 6; While the waterleaf releases its water, add seasoning cubes, salt to taste, blended crayfish and any other ingredients you use for your Egusi soup (Pumpkin soup).

  STEP 7; Now it’s time to pour in the meat stock in STEP 2. Stir thoroughly so the recipe comes out perfectly. You are allowed to add little water if the one from the meat stock is insufficient.

STEP 8; Cover the pot and allow it to steam for a few minutes then turn off the heat. Your waterleaf Egusi soup or West African soup with melon is ready.

IS EGUSI THE SAME AS PUMPKIN SEED?

west African melon seed

There exist many arguments about if Egusi is the same as pumpkin seed. Egusi isn’t the same as pumpkin seed. Egusi is gotten from Melon Pod when you break the Pod, you remove the seed from the Pod called Melon. Dry it, peel it and then used for the Egusi soup.

Pumpkin fruits and leaf called ugu
The Pumpkin seed is inside the Pumpkin Pod

While, Pumpkin seed is gotten from Pumpkin Vegetable Plant, the seed can be eaten or use for planting.

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