How to Make the Best Nigerian Egusi Soup Recipe | Egusi Elemi Meje Made Easy

Hey my lovelies! Welcome back to my blog. On today’s delicacy, we’ll be making the most popular, delicious and orisirisi-filled egusi soup.

Egusi soup one of the easiest soups to prepare, yet the depth of taste it offers makes it a top favorite. Whether it’s a special occasion or just a regular meal, Egusi soup never disappoints.

This particular recipe was a special one. I made it for a friend traveling to Zambia as a send-off treat, and she couldn’t stop raving about it! Paired with pounded yam (which I made using a blender), it was a meal to remember.

Ready to make your own mouth-watering Egusi soup? Let’s get started!

Ingredients Egusi Soup:

• Chicken, goat meat, ponmo (or any mix of meats you prefer)
• Smoked fish
• Palm oil (red oil)
• Egusi
• Pepper Mix (Scotch bonnet, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger)
• Onion
• Grated ginger (optional)
• Thyme
• Curry powder
• Turmeric
• Crayfish powder
• Suya spice (optional)
• Black pepper (optional)
• Seasoning cubes
• Salt
• Ugu leaves (or any preferred leafy vegetable)

Preparation

1. Thoroughly wash the goat meat, chicken, and ponmo.
2. Blend the pepper mix (Scotch bonnet, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger)
3. Debone and remove the skin from the smoked fish.
4. Mix the egusi powder with water to form a thick paste (or blend the melon seeds if using whole seeds).
5. Clean and cut your preferred leafy vegetable (ugu, spinach, etc.).
6. Chop some onions and set them aside.
7. Clean and grate some ginger (optional).

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Meat

1. Add some water to the cooking pot.
2. Put in the chicken, goat meat, and ponmo.
3. Add chopped onions, grated ginger, thyme, curry, turmeric, and mix.
4. Add seasoning cube and salt to taste.
5. Cover the pot and cook for about 45 minutes until the meat is tender. Once cooked, set the meat aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Egusi Soup Base

1. Heat palm oil in a pot.
2. Add the blended or water-mixed Egusi to the oil and stir.
3. Add the blended pepper mix (Scotch bonnet, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger).
4. Stir in the blended crayfish and suya spice (optional) and black pepper (optional).
5. Add the meat broth or chicken stock to the mixture.
6. Add seasoning cubes and salt, stir, and let it boil until the palm oil rises to the surface.

Step 3: Add the Meat

1. Add the smoked fish, ponmo, and meats.
2. Stir everything together and cover the pot. Simmer for about 5 minutes.

Step 4: Add the Vegetables

1. Add your washed Ugu leaves or any leafy vegetable of choice.
2. Stir, cover, and let the soup boil for 5 more minutes.
3. Check to ensure the vegetables are tender.

Your delicious Egusi soup with assorted meats (orisirisi) is ready to be served! It pairs perfectly with pounded yam, eba, fufu, or any swallow of your choice.

How Do You Like Your Egusi Soup?

Now that you’ve got the perfect Egusi soup recipe, I’d love to hear from you! How do you like your Egusi soup—thick or light? What do you pair it with? Let me know in the comments below!

And don’t forget to share this recipe with your friends and family—especially if they love Nigerian food as much as we do! Stay tuned for my upcoming post on how to make pounded yam with a blender. Yes, you read that right!
Happy cooking!