Vegan Egusi Soup

Vegan Egusi soup is a vegetarian-friendly version of the typical egusi soup. Egusi soup is made from melon seeds rich in fat and protein that have been dried and ground up, this soup or stew typically contains leafy vegetables, meat, or fish.

Popular among the Ibo people of Nigeria, variations of this rich stew can be found all over West Africa. In Nigeria, it’s usually eaten with pounded yam.

Vegan egusi soup still gives you the same awesome flavor of egusi soup with a twist and it’s perfect for vegetarians.

Egusi seeds are harvested from an inedible gourd. Egusi gourd is similar in appearance to a small watermelon, with the inside similar to a pumpkin or kabocha squash. It is harvested year-round in parts of Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Sierra Leonne. Egusi means melon in Igbo and Yoruba. Other names for egusi are ibara, agushi, guna shanu, ikopoghiri and neri niri.

The Egusi seeds are removed from the gourd, air dried, then dehusked. You end up with smooth beige seeds. Although pumpkin seeds have a similar shape to egusi seeds, these two seeds are not the same and are not interchangeable.

Egusi must be cooked/fried thoroughly before consuming, I recommend at least simmering for 40mins to an hour before consuming. Not to worry, this recipe cooks the egusi for a while.

Egusi soup is considered a difficult dish to master and I believe that is attributed to the number of steps needed to be completed before actually making the dish. Here’s everything you need to do in no particular order before combining them all:

1. Blend whole egusi
2. Mix egusi with stock
3. Steam/boil okazi leaves, squeeze out excess water
4. Blend peppers, onions
5. Defrost frozen spinach, squeeze out excess water
6. Rinse eru (dawadawa/locust beans)
7. Make veggie stock

Ways To Enjoy Your Vegan Egusi Soup

Egusi is a versatile side dish. I often eat it with something else. My favorite is fufu or pounded yam. Vegan Egusi soup can be eaten on its own as a soup or a sauce for rice, potatoes, yam or plantains. The options are limitless.

Storage

Store in any container for up to 7 days in the fridge, or freeze for up to a month in the freezer.

 Tips

1. Be sure to prep before starting to cook your egusi soup. Egusi soup requires a lot of attention, it is important that you get the tedious tasks out of the way.
2. Cook egusi for at least 30-45 minutes before serving. Egusi can cause stomach upset if not cooked properly