Cooking Nigeria’s Most Popular Egusi pepper soup + Fufu | African life

egusi (melon seeds)

🥗Healthier: pumpkin seeds

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Pumpkin seeds offer similar texture with fewer calories.

beef

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: pork

Chicken is lower in fat and pork is often less expensive.

palm oil

🥗Healthier: olive oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Olive oil is healthier, while vegetable oil is widely available.

fufu

🥗Healthier: mashed potatoes

💰Cheaper: rice flour

Mashed potatoes provide a similar texture and flavor.

Blend egusi seeds until fine.

Boil water in a large pot over medium heat.

Add beef and cook until tender, about 30 minutes.

In a separate pot, heat palm oil until hot.

Add chopped onions and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.

Stir in blended egusi and cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add fish and season with cubes and salt.

Pour in enough water to achieve desired soup consistency.

Add chopped pepper and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Incorporate bitter leaf and uziza leaves, simmer for 5 minutes.

Prepare fufu according to package instructions or traditional method.

Serve hot egusi soup with fufu on the side.

Cooking Techniques

Spice Level: