Nuts & seeds · Seeds
Egusi (ground melon seeds)
Ground, protein-rich melon seeds (egusi) that thicken and enrich West African soups and stews.
Also called: egusi seeds, ground egusi, melon seeds, agushi, agusi, neri
Around the world: ẹ̀gúsí (yo) · egwusi (ig) · agushi (ha)
Photo: Zz411 at English Wikipedia, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
What it is
Egusi are the seeds of certain wild melons and gourds, shelled to small, flat, cream-white kernels and usually sold ground into a coarse, oily meal. Cooked in soup, the ground seeds form soft, curd-like clumps and thicken the broth. They are not pumpkin seeds, though they look similar whole.
Citrullus lanatus (egusi types) and related gourds
How it’s used
- Cooked into Nigerian egusi soup with leafy greens and palm oil
- Thickening Ghanaian palaver (kontomire) sauce
- Made into fried or steamed egusi balls
- Added to stews as a protein-rich thickener
Characteristics
- Taste
- Nutty and mildly rich.
- Texture
- Forms soft curds in soup.
- When cooked
- Fry the paste in palm oil or mix with a little water to form lumps before adding stock, or stir in for a smoother sauce.
- Sold as
- ground, whole
- Cooking uses
- Commonly cooked, Used for thickening
- Common in
- Nigerian, Ghanaian, West African, Cameroonian, Sierra Leonean
Storage
Refrigerated. Ground egusi is oily and turns rancid: keep sealed in the fridge or freezer. Discard if bitter or musty.
Diet, allergens and safety
No major allergens in typical versions.
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Dairy-free
- Egg-free
- Gluten-free
- Nut-free
- Soy-free
- Caffeine-free
Nutrition per 100 g
- Energy
- 557 kcal
- Protein
- 28.33 g
- Carbohydrate
- 15.31 g
- Fat
- 47.37 g
- Fibre
- — g
- Sugars
- — g
USDA FoodData Central: Seeds, watermelon seed kernels, dried (a close stand-in).
Substitutes
Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.
- Pumpkin seeds — Grind hulled pepitas finely; similar texture, slightly greener taste.
Related ingredients
Recipes with egusi (ground melon seeds)
Egusi soup
Nigerian · 1 h 40 min · 577 kcal
Kontomire stew
Ghanaian · 55 min · 353 kcal
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