Efo Elegusi

Efo Elegusi is one of the most popular and nutritious Nigerian Vegetable Soups. The most commonly used leafy green vegetables for Efo Elegusi Soup are spinach, kale, and Ugu, or a combination of spinach and kale, spinach and ugu, and efirin (scent leave), ewuro (bitter-leaf).

This leafy green vegetable, Efo Elegusi, is more than just a side dish. It is a staple in many dishes and adds a unique depth of flavor – garnished with assorted beef, iru (locus beans), egusi (ground melon seeds), smoked turkey, and mackerel. It is seriously delectable!

If you’ve had Egusi Soup before, then Efo Elegusi will not be new. Efo Elegusi Soup is a kind of Egusi Soup with the addition of leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale. 

This soup is traditionally cooked in Western Nigeria by the Yorubas and now, you can make it at home! It’s also a rich, filling, and savory dish that’s complete with assorted meat, stock fish, mackerel, vegetables, and the best-blended pepper sauce. 

You will undoubtedly love every spoonful of this Ego Elegusi Soup!

How to Make Efo Elegusi

With its quality, Efo Elegusi is surprisingly easy to make. You just need to mix and season them together until you get the right flavor and texture. It’s going to be a crowd favorite in your home! 

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need to make Efo Elegusi Soup:

Melon seeds

Melon seeds have a nutty and sweet taste that will pair perfectly with meat and vegetables. They’re dried and processed seeds usually used for Asian and African dishes. 

These are not just good for your appetite but also for your immunity, skin, and bones. Moreover, melon seeds are best used to flavor and thicken soups, stews, and sauces. 

Blended pepper sauce

What is blended pepper sauce? It’s a rich African sauce made of red bell peppers, sweet peppers, onions, and scotch bonnet. This sauce is also rich and savory to improve recipes. 

Use your leftover pepper sauce for cooking Smoked Mackerel Stew, Jollof Rice, and Fish Stew.

Leafy greens

There are many vegetables you can add to Ego Elegusi Soup, but I highly suggest using spinach and kale. Spinach has a sweet and robust flavor, while kale has an earthy and nutty taste. 

Once cooked into the soup, they will add an appetizing color and amazing texture!

Assorted meat

Give the soup a savory and meaty flavor by adding assorted meat. I usually use tripe, abodi, ribs, and the kidney because of how tasteful they are. 

Don’t throw away the assorted meat liquid stock because you will also need it for this recipe. 

Stockfish

Why should you add stockfish to this soup? Stockfish has a pungent aroma, chewy texture, and mild flavor. It also complements the meat and pepper sauce for a wholesome quality!

Smoked mackerel

Smoked mackerel is a delicious and tender fish topping that you can add to soups and stews. It also adds a smoky aroma and taste to the dish. Did you know that you can easily make smoked mackerel at home?

Seasoning

Since Ego Elegusi Soup is already made of flavorful ingredients, it uses simple herbs and spices only. I suggest adding stock cubes, curry powder, mixed herbs, locust beans, and sea salt to further improve this recipe.

Palm oil

Palm oil is one of the best oils to use for cooking this dish. It also has a savory and earthy quality that makes the soup tastier. Bleaching it on the stove can enrich its flavor. 

Can you imagine how delicious, savory, smoky, and meaty this Efo Elegusi Soup will taste? Even the mix of textures will give you the best experience!

Directions

Let’s turn up the heat and cook this Ego Elegusi Soup.

Prepare the sauce

1. Heat palm oil in a pot over medium fire.
2. Cook the blended pepper sauce in the palm oil.
3. Season it with stock cubes, curry powder, mixed herbs, and locust beans. 
4. Then, mix everything with a spatula.
5. Pour in the assorted meat liquid stock. 
6. Cover and leave to cook for 10 minutes. 
7. Toss in the assorted meat. 
8. Leave to cook for five more minutes. 
9. Then, add the stockfish.
10. Taste and season with sea salt as needed. 
11. Cook for another 5 minutes.

Make the thickener

1. In a small glass bowl, mix chopped onion and blended melon seeds.
2. Use your hands to mix them until sticky.

Cook the soup

1. Add chunks of the melon seeds mixture into the soup. 
2. Reduce the heat and cook for 10 minutes. 
3. Then, give it a stir. 
4. Cook for five more minutes on low heat. 
5. Add the kale, spinach, or other vegetables of your choice. 
6. Cover and cook for three minutes. 
7. Mix the leafy greens into the soup. 
8. Then, add the smoked mackerel. 
9. Cover and let it simmer for two minutes.
10. Finally, serve the soup in a glass dish with your favorite side dishes and drinks!

How delicious did your Efo Elegusi Soup turn out? Don’t forget to share some with your family and friends for celebrations! It is certainly an all-in-one dish.

Tips

Blended Pepper Sauce

Here’s how you can make blended pepper sauce at home:

1. Use a knife to deseed the red bell peppers, sweet peppers, and scotch bonnet. 
2. Then, peel and slice the onions. 
3. Combine them in a blender until pulpy and thick.

Store in a resealable bag to refrigerate or in a freezer bag to freeze.

Leafy greens

Selection. Buy leafy greens like spinach and kale with vibrant green colors. They should also have crisp and full leaves. Make sure to buy organic vegetables. 

Storage. According to Food Network, store the leafy green by loosely wrapping them in paper towels. Then, put them in resealable bags or containers to refrigerate.

Assorted meat

Tender meat and savory meat liquid stock in one recipe? Let’s cook it!

1. Rinse the meat parts. 
2. Put the meat in a pot and cook over high to medium heat. 
3. Add chopped garlic and onions. 
4. Season it with spices such as curry powder, stock cubes, thyme, and salt. 
5. Then, let it cook until the meat is tender. 
6. Drain the meat liquid stock and set it aside. 
7. Store the meat separately. 

Freeze the liquid stock in ice cube trays. Then, transfer them into freezer bags for weeks or months. Meanwhile, refrigerate the cooked meat for five days. 

Smoked Mackerel

Enjoy delicious and tender smoked mackerel by cooking it at home! Remember to buy fresh mackerel on your next grocery run. You can also just cook it in the oven and use it for your favorite recipes. 

Mixed Herbs

Did you know you can make homemade mixed herbs with basil, parsley, marjoram, oregano, sage, thyme, and tarragon? Mix them with a spice grinder and store them in a jar for long-term use! 

Efo Elegusi Variations

Efo Elegusi Soup has many ingredients you can mix and match. For instance, you can choose not to add stockfish, smoked mackerel, or assorted meat. Instead, you may use chicken, mixed seafood, or turkey for more flavor. 

Aside from meat liquid stock, you can also use chicken or vegetable stock. There are also plenty of other spices you can use, such as chili powder or smoked paprika! 

Recommended Tools

• Pot: Cook the Ego Elegusi Soup in a pot.
• Spatula: Stir the soup using a spatula.
• Small glass bowl: Mix the melon seeds in a small glass bowl.
• Glass dish: Serve the soup in a glass dish.

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How to Serve Efo Elegusi

The best thing about Efo Elegusi Soup is that you can serve it differently every time! African soups and stews are usually served with swallow foods such as Amala Fele Fele, Plantain Fufu, Fufu, Semolina Fufu, Oat Fufu, Banana Fufu, and Pounded Yam.

You can pair it with rice, such as Roasted Plantain, Boiled/steamed Plantain, Boiled Yam, Jollof Rice, Fried Rice, and Basmati Rice. Here are some drinks to help you better enjoy this soup:

• Zobo Drink
• Pineapple Pomegranate Juice
• Iced Tea
• Apple Ginger Juice

I suggest serving Ego Elegusi Soup as a main dish for lunch or dinner. Balance it with other healthy recipes for added nutrients and flavor. 

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Eat the Efo Elegusi Soup within a few hours to enjoy its flavor and texture. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Efo Elegusi Soup made of?

Efo Elegusi Soup is traditionally made of melon seeds or egusi, pepper sauce, assorted meat, stockfish, smoked mackerel, spices, and leafy green vegetables. You can also substitute it for other ingredients for more variations. 

What are the ingredients of Egusi Soup?

Egusi Soup is made of ground almonds, pepper sauce, leafy greens, assorted meat, turkey, fish stock, locust beans, and spices. It is cooked similarly to how you prepare Efo Elegusi Soup. 

How do you make Amunututu Soup?

Amunututu Soup is a kind of Egusi Soup mainly made of spinach. The amunututu leaves are also cooked with pepper sauce, beef, melon seeds, and beef stock. 

Cook the pepper sauce first, then add the beef. Gradually add the melon seeds and the beef stock. Then, season it with spices for added flavor. 

What does Nigerian Egusi Soup taste like?

Nigerian Egusi Soup tastes rich, nutty, earthy, meaty, smoky, spicy, and savory. It is undoubtedly a mix of the best and tastiest ingredients, from the leafy greens to the meat. It is also very healthy!