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A bowl of Egusi soup with meat, vegetables, and herbs next to a round serving of pounded yam on a white plate highlights the deliciously rich flavors of Nigerian cuisine.

Traditional Egusi Soup with Pounded Yam

A man with a beard and a beard.Lucas Brown
A traditional Nigerian soup made with ground melon seeds, spinach, and assorted meats, served with pounded yam.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Meal Type Dinner
Cuisine Nigerian
Servings 4
Calories 988 kcal
Difficulty Medium
Ingredient Cost $15
Shopping Cost$28

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Blender or food processor
  • Wooden spoon
  • Potato masher or food processor for pounded yam

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup egusi ground, melon seeds
  • ½ cup palm oil
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ⅓ pound beef assorted meats
  • ⅓ pound goat assorted meats
  • ⅓ pound chicken assorted meats
  • 4 cups water or broth
  • 2 cups spinach chopped, fresh
  • 2 teaspoons crayfish ground
  • 1 teaspoon ground pepper optional
  • Salt to taste

For Pounded Yam:

  • 2 large yams peeled and cut into chunks
  • Water for boiling

Instructions
 

Prepare the egusi paste:

  • Blend the ground egusi with a little water to form a thick paste. Set aside.
    1 cup egusi

Cook the meat:

  • In a large pot, heat the palm oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and garlic, sautéing until fragrant. Add the assorted meats and cook until browned.
    1/2 cup palm oil, 1 large onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1/3 pound beef, 1/3 pound goat, 1/3 pound chicken

Add broth and simmer:

  • Pour in the water or broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes until the meat is tender.
    4 cups water

Add egusi paste:

  • Stir in the egusi paste, ground crayfish, and ground pepper. Cook for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    2 teaspoons crayfish, 1 teaspoon ground pepper

Add spinach:

  • Add the chopped spinach and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
    2 cups spinach, Salt to taste

Prepare pounded yam:

  • Boil yam chunks in water until tender. Drain and mash using a potato masher or food processor until smooth and stretchy.
    2 large yams, Water

Serve:

  • Serve the egusi soup hot, with a side of pounded yam.

Notes

You can substitute spinach with other leafy greens like kale or collard greens.
Adjust the thickness of the soup by adding more or less water as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 988kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 13gFat: 76gSaturated Fat: 29gPolyunsaturated Fat: 11gMonounsaturated Fat: 31gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 93mgPotassium: 2058mgFiber: 10gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1856IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 133mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Egusi Soup, Nigerian Cuisine, Pounded Yam, Traditional Recipe

Ingredient Costs: Cost of Recipe by Ingredient Measurements

Shopping Costs: Cost of Recipe with Brand New Ingredient Purchases

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