Egusi Soup 101: The King of Nigerian Soups
By: Chimdindu Ken-Anaukwu
If Nigeria had a culinary crown, Egusi soup would wear it proudly. Rich, thick, flavorful, and deeply satisfying, this soup is beloved across many Nigerian ethnic groups and eaten with pride from Lagos to Enugu. Whether you're Igbo, Yoruba, or Edo, there's a version of Egusi soup you swear by. And if you've never made it before, today is your day.
Let’s get into it.
🍛 What is Egusi Soup?
Egusi soup is made from ground melon seeds, which thicken the soup and give it a nutty, hearty flavor. It’s usually cooked with leafy greens, palm oil, meats (like goat, beef, or fish), and seasoned with crayfish, pepper, and local spices. Some tribes add tomatoes or locust beans; others keep it minimal.
One thing is consistent: it’s always delicious.
🫕 Ingredients
2 cups ground egusi (melon seeds)
1/2 cup palm oil
1–2 lbs assorted meats (beef, goat, tripe, cow leg, smoked turkey, etc.)
1 stockfish head (optional but recommended)
1/2 cup ground crayfish
1 tablespoon ground pepper or chili flakes
1 onion (blended or finely chopped)
2 bouillon cubes (or seasoning of choice)
Salt to taste
1 bunch ugu (fluted pumpkin), spinach, or bitterleaf
2 cups meat stock or water
👩🍳 Instructions
Prepare the meats: Wash, season, and boil your meats with salt, onions, and seasoning cubes until tender. Set aside the stock.
Make the egusi paste: Mix your ground egusi with a few tablespoons of water until it forms a thick paste.
Heat palm oil in a pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook for 2 minutes.
Add the egusi paste by spooning it into the oil in clumps. Allow it to fry and cook on low-medium heat without stirring too much. You want it to form lumps.
Add your meat stock gradually and stir. Then, add the crayfish, pepper, and seasoning.
Add the meats and fish, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Add your leafy greens, cook for another 5 minutes, and adjust salt/seasoning to taste.
Serve with pounded yam, eba, semo, or rice.
🌍 Learn the Language of Egusi
Since Egusi soup is pan-Nigerian, let’s learn some food-related words in three of Nigeria’s major languages:
❀ Igbo
Egusi = Egwusi
Meat = Anu
Soup = Ofe
Palm oil = Mmanu nri
Water = Mmiri
❀ Yoruba
Egusi = Egusi
Meat = Eran
Soup = Obe
Palm oil = Epò pupa
Water = Omi
❀ Hausa
Egusi = Taushe (the soup)
Meat = Nama
Soup = Miyar
Palm oil = Manja
Water = Ruwa
Want to dive deeper and speak fluently in any of these languages? You’ll love NKENNE.
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Audio guides from native speakers
Cultural insights like this one
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📸 Made Egusi soup?
Tag us on Instagram @nkenneapp so we can show off your creation to our TRiiBE community!