Egusi Soup Recipe

There are many soups and stews you can cook, and the Egusi Soup (or Almond Vegetable Stew) should definitely be one of them!

Egusi is an African recipe traditionally cooked with egusi seeds and made perfectly with meat, fish, turkey, and vegetables. It certainly has the right level of sweet, nutty, spicy, and savory flavors for a hearty meal.

In this recipe, you will learn how to cook the best Egusi Soup – Almond Vegetable Stew you will be proud to serve your family. You won’t believe how amazing the overall quality will be.

Don’t miss out on this all-in-one dish because it is going to be worth your while. Let’s get stewing with an extraordinary Egusi Soup recipe!

How to Make Egusi Soup

It may take time to cook the Egusi Soup, but every minute is worth it. There are even bonus recipes for the famous African pepper sauce, mackerel, assorted meat, and more!

Once you try it, you won’t be able to get enough of it!

Ingredients

If you want to make the perfect egusi soup, then these are the ingredients that you will need:

Leafy greens

Put the “vegetable” in Egusi Soup by adding spinach and kale to make the stew tasty.

Spinach is a sweet, crunchy, leafy green that becomes a moist and creamy ingredient once cooked. It also adds color to the dish to make it more appetizing. 

Meanwhile, kale has a powerful, nutty, earthy, and robust flavor that enriches the taste of spinach. They taste delicious, whether raw or cooked.

When it comes to leafy greens, spinach, and kale are an excellent duo. Not only are they delicious, but they’re also good for the health!

Bell peppers and sweet peppers

To make the African pepper sauce, you will need two kinds of peppers: bell peppers and sweet peppers.

I suggest using red bell peppers because of how fruity and sweet they are. When cooked, these bell peppers also release a fragrant aroma to improve the dish.

On the other hand, sweet peppers have a mildly spicy and saccharine taste. They pair perfectly with red bell peppers and spices such as scotch bonnet.

These are my go-to peppers whenever I cook Smoked Mackerel Stew, Fish Stew, and Okra Soup!

Scotch bonnet 

A little bit of scotch bonnet goes a long way. Pepper Scale mentioned that the scotch bonnet’s spice level could reach 350,000 Scoville heat units!

Adding scotch bonnet to the Egusi Soup certainly makes it better. It’s also one of the best spices for Fried Rice, Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry, and Grilled Tilapia!

Red onion 

Whenever you have spices, remember to pair them with aromatics. In this recipe, I suggest using red onions because of how subtle their sweet and pungent flavors are.

Since they are aromatics, they are guaranteed to give the dish an appetizing fragrance. Once they are cooked, they will have a caramelized quality.

Locust beans 

Have you tried cooking with locus beans before? This is the perfect time to try. They are fermented beans usually used in African soups and stews for a warm, umami flavor.

Locust beans taste like a mix of chocolate and cheese that will taste so much better once cooked. These are great for adding flavor to meat, fish, turkey, and vegetables.

Ground almonds 

Escalate the quality of the Egusi Soup – Almond Vegetable Stew with ground almonds to add texture and flavor. Aside from the nutty and earthy taste, the ground almonds also serve as thickeners for the broth.

Since they are already ground into granules, you can easily mix and dissolve them in the stew. You buy these in grocery stores or make them at home with fresh almonds.

Assorted meat 

Give life to the stew by adding assorted meat such as beef, tripe, abodi, cow foot, and cow skin. These are going to give a smoky, meaty, and beefy taste to the dish.

The meat will also add a chewy yet tender texture to the stew. Cook it at home, and you also get meat liquid stock to cook more dishes!

Turkey 

Are you looking for something to do with leftover smoked turkey? Well, add them to Egusi Soup to infuse them with delicious flavor while adding a tender texture.

It adds a smoky and savory taste to pair well with the assorted meat. I love cooking turkey recipes like Turkey Pie and more!

Mackerel

Let’s complete the stew toppings with mildly sweet, savory, and salty mackerel. Cook it in a perfectly seasoned broth, and you’ve got yourself a simple yet absolutely delicious mackerel.

Aside from the mackerel itself, you will also get fish stock that you will add to the stew. It’s an excellent two-in-one dish that you will appreciate in stews.

Seasoning

Since the recipe already uses lots of flavorful and savory ingredients, the seasoning can be as simple as sea salt and stock cubes to balance out the flavors.

You can also use other herbs and spices to season the dish to your liking. Make it as spicy, sweet, or savory as you want!

Palm oil 

It may take time to cook the stew, so you need oil with a high smoke point, like palm oil. Palm oil will also make the meat and vegetables taste better.

It’s surely everything you can ask for in a stew. There’s a sweet and rich sauce, delicious vegetables, meat, turkey, fish, and the best seasonings!

Directions

Following these steps, you can cook the best Egusi Soup perfectly, even on your first try!

Pepper sauce

1. Slice the bell peppers and sweet peppers using a knife.
2. Puree them in a blender or food processor.
3. Then, filter the contents with a colander.
4. Heat palm oil in a frying pan.
5. Cook the pepper sauce and scotch bonnet for 25 minutes on low to medium heat.

As the sauce cooks, let’s prepare the mackerel and leafy greens.

Mackerel

1. Slice the mackerel into four pieces.
2. Arrange them in a pot with water.
3. Season it with salt and stock cubes.
4. Then, cook for up to seven minutes. 
5. Debone and break it into chunks with a knife or fork. 

Leafy greens

1. Boil water in a pot.
2. Then, place the steaming basket inside.
3. Steam the spinach and kale until tender.
4. Drain the excess water.

Egusi Soup

Now, let’s check the sauce.

1. Pour in the fish stock from the mackerel.
2. Season the soup with sea salt, chicken stock cubes, and locust beans.
3. Then, allow cooking for 10 minutes on low heat.
4. Blend onions until smooth.
5. Mix the onion paste with the ground egusi or almonds.
6. Roll a teaspoon of the paste into a ball. 
7. Mix in the assorted meat and smoked turkey.
8. Let them cook for five minutes.
9. Add the egusi or almond paste.
10. Cook for another five minutes. 
11. Stir together with a spatula and cook for eight minutes on low heat.
12. Mix in the spinach and kale.
13. Add the mackerel fish and let it simmer for two minutes.
14. Once you’re satisfied with the flavor and texture, take it out of the heat, and enjoy your Egusi Soup – Almond Vegetable Stew!

The Egusi Soup has always been a family favorite in our home, and now that you know the recipe, you can surprise your family with such an excellent dish!

Tips

Spinach

Buying spinach

• My Food and Family suggests buying dark green spinach with a fresh scent.
• Avoid bundles with wilted leaves. 

Storing spinach

• Refrigerate unwashed spinach in resealable bags and use them within four days.
• I also have a spinach storage tip you can try.

Kale

Buying kale

• Buy kale with crisp green leaves.
• They should have a subtle earthy odor to indicate freshness. 

Storing kale

• According to Foolproof Living, you can wrap the kale in paper towels and store it in resealable bags.
• Dry the kale as much as you can before storing it in the fridge or freezer.

Peppers and scotch bonnet

Buying peppers and scotch bonnet

• Buy brightly colored and smooth-skinned scotch bonnet and peppers.
• The stems should still be attached and should feel heavy for their size.

Storing peppers and scotch bonnet

• Store the peppers and scotch bonnet in resealable bags and refrigerate them for several weeks. 

Red onion

Buying red onion

• Red onions should feel firm and smooth.
• Avoid ones with soft spots and discoloration. 

Storing red onion

• Store the onions in cool areas of your kitchen.
• Keep the sliced onions in containers and use them within several weeks. 

No-Blender Pepper Sauce

In case you don’t have access to a blender, you can use a food processor or a miller. Otherwise, use a knife to chop the ingredients finely.

Push the slices against the colander to extract the juices for a finer texture. Alternatively, you can use a grater for more even pieces and extracted juices.

Assorted Meat

If you want to make the best Egusi Soup, you’ve got to check out these tips on preparing your assorted meat!

According to Real Simple, buy assorted beef with purple or bright red. Avoid ones with dark spots because these are prone to spoilage.

Refrigerate it in resealable bags to use within four days. You can also freeze them in freezer bags for up to several months. 

1. Rinse the meat.
2. Then, put them in a pot and add your favorite herbs, spices, and seasonings like onions, sea salt, mixed herbs, garlic, pepper, bay leaves, and more! 
3. Set fire to low to medium heat.
4. Add enough water to cover the beef.
5. Let this simmer for ten minutes.
6. Check the tenderness of the beef parts.
7. Cook for another 30 minutes or until soft. 
8. Drain the meat from the stock and store the stock for beef broth.
9. Freeze the beef stock in ice cube trays and transfer them into freezer bags to use within several months. 

Smoked Turkey

Whichever method you choose, the smoked turkey will be an amazing addition to the stew!

Smoker

1. Preheat the smoker to 120°C.
2. Grease the aluminum pan with oil.
3. Prepare the turkey by stuffing the wings inside the cavity.
4. Stuff it with onions and other herbs you prefer. 
5. Rub the seasoning mix on the turkey.
6. Let it cook in the smoker for at least six hours or until done.
7. Baste it with broth from time to time.
8. Once contended with the tenderness, allow it to cool and slice or serve!

Oven

1. Brush the aluminum baking pan with oil.
2. Bake the turkey in a preheated oven for up to four hours.
3. Baste it with broth every thirty minutes after the one-hour mark. 
4. Once satisfied, let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes before slicing.

Slow cooker

Aside from using a smoker, you can also cook it in a slow cooker for eight hours. Simply season the turkey and stuff the cavity with your preferred herbs. 

Egusi Soup Variations

To make it a vegetarian egusi soup recipe, don’t add the assorted meat, turkey, and mackerel. Trust me; the egusi soup will still taste divine! You can also try pumpkin leaves, waterleaf, and other vegetables for the leafy greens. 

For the ground almond and onion paste, you can substitute it with egusi or ground melon seeds paste to thicken the soup. You may still add the onion paste but mix them thoroughly to avoid lumps. 

Recommended Tools

• Blender: Make the pepper sauce using a blender.
• Colander: Filter the sauce and the leafy greens in a colander.
• Frying pan: Cook the egusi soup in a pan.
• Pot: Prepare the steamed greens and the mackerel in a pot.
• Spatula: Stir the ingredients using a wooden spatula. 
• Knife: Peel and slice the vegetables with a knife. 
• Steaming basket: Cook the spinach and kale with a spatula.

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How to Serve Egusi Soup

You can serve this Egusi Soup – Almond Vegetable Stew with other African recipes and steamed fruits. For instance, you can relish this soup with a side of:

• Amala Fele Fele
• Plantain Fufu
• Oat Fufu
• Banana Fufu
• Steamed Plantains
• Roasted Plantains
• Moi Moi
• Jollof Rice

This dish is so flavorful, in texture, and healthy that you will be cleaning out your plate in no time! Quench your thirst with any of the following drinks:

• Beetroot Pomegranate Juice
• Zobo Drink
• Pineapple Juice
• Hibiscus Tea

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Eat the Egusi Soup within two hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a vegetable stew made of?

In this recipe, the vegetable is made of pepper sauce, meat, turkey, mackerel, leafy greens, locus beans, spices, fish stock, and more! There are plenty of other veggie stew varieties you can try.

What vegetables are good in a stew?

You can use almost any vegetable to make stew. For instance, the best options include carrots, leafy greens, cabbage, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, and other veggies.

What is the main ingredient in a stew?

It depends on the stew recipe, but in this recipe, the main ingredient is ground egusi or almonds. It adds the best flavor and a thick and creamy texture.

What is the secret ingredient in the stew?

The secret ingredient may vary, depending on the stew recipe. For this stew recipe, the secret ingredient you will need is ground egusi or almonds. It can work wonders for the flavors and consistency of the stew.