Egusi soup: Different Methods On How To Cook Egusi Soup
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| Egusi soup and garri |
Egusi soup is a popular soup eaten by most tribes in Nigeria. Egusi (melon seed), is a soup preferred by many. The taste is yummy, the outcome of the soup is also appealing. Egusi soup can be prepared in various ways. The cooking methods sometimes differs from tribe to tribe.
Egusi soup is mostly served with pounded yam, which many people consider as the best. It can also be eaten with fufu, eba/garri, semolina. And in some people, they prefer to eat egusi soup with rice.
Even if there are variations in cooking egusi soup, however, the ingredients for whatever cooking method you choose to use are the same.
To cook egusi soup, here are the ingredients for egusi soup:
- Egusi (Melon seeds)
- Meat-Beef, goat meat, ponmo-cow hide
- Stock fish
- Dried fish
- Ugu/bitter leaf/spinach
- Palm oil
- Fresh pepper- Yellow pepper
- Salt
- Seasoning cubes (Maggi)
- Onion
How to cook egusi soup sometimes, is based on choice. It can also be because one is only acquainted with a particular method. As earlier stated, there are different ways to prepare egusi soup. In this article we shall list the methods.
Directions and methods on how to cook egusi soup
Frying method of cooking egusi soup
This is a popular method. The taste and aroma is simply nice. To cook egusi soup using this method, you first add palm oil in a pot, allow it to heat up a little, and don’t make the oil very hot. Add onion and egusi. Start frying the egusi (melon seed)
Stir until the egusi is dried. While doing this, do not allow the egusi get burnt.
Add the cooked meat and stock into the egusi and stir until it completely dissolves.
Cook for 10 minutes and add pepper, crayfish, stock fish, and dried fish.
Allow it cook for another 10 minutes. Then add vegetable. If it is ugu, once you add the ugu to the pot, bring it down immediately. For bitter leaf, you can allow it cook for 5 minutes.
Bring down and serve with any bolus (swallow of your choice).
Boiling method/non-frying of cooking egusi soup
Wash the meat. Season the meat with stock cubes, salt, a bulb of onion and boil until it is tender. If you are using tripe and ponmo, you may cook them before the beef or goat meat as they take time to cook.
Wash the stock fish properly and add to the pot.
Pour the grounded egusi into the pot, stir and allow it cook for 15 minutes. Add sufficient water so that the egusi won’t get burnt.
Add palm oil, pepper, dried fish and allow it to cook for 10 minutes
Now, add the vegetable-Ugu/spinach/bitter leaf.
Food is ready. Serve with hot pounded yam or any bolus of your choice.
Molding method of cooking egusi soup
This is another great way of preparing egusi soup. To get this done, you are to mold the grounded egusi into balls and add to a boiling water that contains the assorted meat and stock fish.
Using this method to prepare egusi soup is healthy. No frying and if you enjoy eating the balls like meat, then this method should be your best.
Important note:
Egusi soup is one of the most sought after soups in gatherings. It is a soup you get to see in social events.
Egusi soup is a delicious meal. Aside that it is a great soup, egusi (melon seeds) has some great health benefits such as:
Egusi helps promote heart health. It is very good for the heart.
It improves vision. Egusi has a considerable amount of vitamin A, which helps to improve eye vision.
Reduces inflammation.
Egusi contains some anti-inflammatory properties.
Whatever ever method you choose to cook egusi soup, do not add too much palm oil. Egusi is known to be very rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. It contains oil. It is also high in cholesterol.
Egusi soup indeed is a special delicacy, it is also important to note that the fats content in egusi is quite high and can lead to excessive weight gain. If you can’t stay without eating egusi soup every day, it is crucial you add adequate vegetables.
The different methods listed here are great. It is good you try out on other methods to see for yourself.
Egusi soup is easy to prepare. Do ensure you cook the egusi properly. Uncooked egusi can cause stomach upset and if not well cooked, the egusi soup will not taste nice.
