How to make efo elegusi.This traditional Nigerian dish combines rich, savoury, sour flavours and is filling enough to feed the whole family.
Efo elegusi is something really near and dear to our hearts here at Sims Home Kitchen. It’s one of the most unique dishes you will ever try, we guarantee it! This soup combines some of the local flavours of Nigeria with strong spices and fish that offers a world-class tasting experience.
What is Efo Elegusi?
Egusi is the West African Yoruba name for plant seeds that come from melons, squash, and the like. These seeds have become a staple of the West African diet because when they are dried and ground, they act like rice and provide a great source of protein.
Efo Elegusi is a soup that combines egusi and a myriad of other delicious ingredients for a filling meal. While traditional “Egusi” describes the basic soup version of this dish, efo elegusi means that this is an Egusi dish made with the highest-quality and quantity of green vegetables. We like to add things like kale or spinach as a topping, or into the mix while the vegetables are cooking in the saucepan.
There are many different types of Egusi soups, and this is just one of them for you to try out. We hope you enjoy this meal as much as we do!
Here’s our recipe!
How to Make Efo Elegusi
1. In a blender, add 2 scotch bonnets, 1 red bell pepper, 1 large onion, and 2 plumbed tomatoes and blend together until thoroughly mixed.
2. In a large saucepan, add oil that covers its entire base. Pour in the blended veggie mixture and bring it to a boil. Add salt and 2 tsp of iru (or 1 maggi cube) and mix to combine. Let it cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
3. Add pre-cooked assorted meat (or any meat combination of your choice) to the stew and let it cook for 10-15 more minutes.
4. Add 4 bunches of spinach (we recommend red root spinach!) and lower the heat to a simmer. Meanwhile, take your melon seeds and roll them into balls using oil to keep it together. Add these balls to the stew and stir. Let it cook for another 10-12 minutes.
5. Serve and enjoy!
Well-Preserved Soup
Efo Elegusi is really easy to store and preserve. Since it contains mostly vegetables and the meat is already cooked, you can store it for several days in the refrigerator. In most cases, though, it is best to enjoy it fresh!
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How to Make Efo Elegusi
Ingredients
- 2 plumbed tomatoes
- 2 scotch bonnets
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 large onion
- Salt to taste
- 2 tsp of iru or 1 maggi cube
- pre-cooked assorted meat
- 4 bunches of spinach
- 1/4-1/2 a cup of grounded melon seeds
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a blender, add 2 scotch bonnets, 1 red bell pepper, 1 large onion, and 2 plumbed tomatoes and blend together until thoroughly mixed.
- In a large saucepan, add oil that covers its entire base. Pour in the blended veggie mixture and bring it to a boil. Add salt and 2 tsp of iru (or 1 maggi cube) and mix to combine. Let it cook on medium heat for 10-15 minutes.
- Add pre-cooked assorted meat (or any meat combination of your choice) to the stew and let it cook for 10-15 more minutes.
- Add 4 bunches of spinach (we recommend red root spinach!) and lower the heat to a simmer. Meanwhile, take your grounded melon seeds and roll them into balls using oil to keep it together. Add these balls to the stew and stir. Let it cook for another 10-12 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!

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