Ofe Egusi
Ofe Egusi is a popular Igbo soup made from ground melon seeds (egusi), palm oil, and assorted meats or fish. It is rich, thick, and highly nutritious, and is commonly served with fufu, pounded yam, or eba. Recipe source: “Ofe Egusi”, Wikibooks Cookbook contributors, en.wikibooks.org, CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted). Photo: Bibisuccess, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- Total time
- 105 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 1125
- Protein
- 71g
Ingredients
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Open the appInstructions
Step 1
Wash and cook the assorted meat with onion, seasoning cubes, and salt until tender.
Step 2
Add stockfish and continue cooking until soft.
Step 3
In a bowl, mix ground egusi with a small amount of water to form a thick paste.
Step 4
Heat palm oil in a pot (do not bleach), then add a little onion if desired.
Step 5
Scoop small portions of the egusi paste into the hot oil and allow it to fry lightly without stirring too much.
Step 6
Gradually add meat stock and stir gently to form a thick base.
Step 7
Add dried fish, crayfish, pepper, and ogiri (if using).
Step 8
Allow the soup to simmer for 10–15 minutes.
Step 9
Add vegetables (bitterleaf or spinach) and stir gently.
Step 10
Adjust seasoning with salt and seasoning cubes.
Step 11
Simmer for another 3–5 minutes, then remove from heat.
Step 12
Serve hot.
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