Egusi Soup with Assorted Meat
Ground melon seeds, leafy greens and assorted meat in a rich palm-oil broth. Estimated preparation cost: ₦14,000–₦18,000 for four servings, including eba.
- Estimated cooking cost
- ₦14,000–₦18,000
- Servings
- 4
- Preparation & cooking
- 60–80 minutes
This photograph features thick egusi soup with leafy greens and assorted protein. Ground melon seeds give this Nigerian favourite its texture; a little stock keeps it rich without making it excessively oily.
Ingredients for four: 1½ cups ground egusi, 600 g assorted beef, tripe or ponmo, 150 g smoked fish, 1 bunch ugu, 3 red bell peppers, hot pepper to taste, 1 onion, 4 tablespoons palm oil, 2 tablespoons ground crayfish, seasoning and 2 cups garri for an eba accompaniment.
Preparation — 60–80 minutes: clean and season the meat, cook until tender and keep the stock. Debone the smoked fish and wash the greens. Blend the peppers and onion. Mix the egusi with a little water to make a thick paste.
Cook the pepper base in warmed palm oil, add meat stock and spoon in the egusi paste. Cover and simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring gently as the melon cooks. Add the meat, fish and crayfish, simmer until everything is piping hot, then fold in the greens for the final few minutes.
Serve with freshly prepared eba. Estimated cost to prepare: ₦14,000–₦18,000 total including eba, about ₦3,500–₦4,500 per serving. The photographed assorted-protein style costs more than a simpler egusi made with one protein.
Costs are illustrative October 2026 Nigerian home-cooking budgets, not verified market quotes. They cover the ingredients used and a small cooking-fuel allowance for four servings, not equipment or full packs of pantry staples. Prices vary by location, season and protein choice. These are suggested recipes inspired by the photographs; the original recipes were not supplied.