Egusi soup is very common in Nigeria and generally referred to as UNITY SOUP. This is because it is eaten by virtually every tribe and ethnic group in the country, although prepared in different ways.  Here in Nigeria, this is eaten in the north, south, east and west.

Egusi is very popular amongst  igbos of the  southeast, the ibibio and the Efik  of South south, the Hausa in the North and the Yoruba. Edos, the Esan  and Etsakos  in the southwest  also relish this soup a    great  deal. Any swallow like pounded yam, fufu, tuwo,semo, eba can enjoyed with the soup! This  melon soup is usually garnished with assorted vegetables ranging from bitter leaves to water leaves, ugu [pumpkin] leaves, okazi leaves and many others. But for this particular soup the vegetables will be mixed together to get a fine blend and taste. Bon appetite!

Recipe for 4 servings

2  smoked catfish

1 kilogram lean beef

3 bunches waterleaves[washed, shredded]

2 bunches ugu leaves [washed, shredded]

2 small stockfish

3 cups egusi [ground]

2 tablespoons ground crayfish

1 onion [shredded]

4 red pepper [ground]

Method:

Wash, salt, season, and cook the beef, stockfish and fish until the meat is quite tender. Continue the boiling and add the palm oil, crayfish, pepper and the onions, boil for another thtee minutes. Stir and add the ground egusi, cover and simmer for two minutes, before adding the shredded waterleaves and ugu leaves. Stir thoroughly and simmer for two minutes. Remove from heat and serve alongside  hot iyan, that is pounded yam or any other swallow of your  choice.