Egusi soup
Spicy soup thickened with melon seeds
Think of it as: Like a peanut-butter stew, but made with melon seeds
Forget the melon. Eat the seeds.
What does it taste like?
Toasty and nutty, with the richness of palm oil. Properly hot from the chilies.
SweetSpicySourSaltyFunkSmellTextureCrumbly and thick
What is it?
A thick, rich soup made with egusi, ground seeds from a melon relative. It's loaded with orange palm oil and leafy greens, and eaten with fufu.Source: Wikipedia
How locals eat it
Tear off pieces of fufu or pounded yam by hand and scoop up the soup.
Watch it
EnglishTap to play (YouTube)Where is it from?
🇳🇬Nigeria
CapitalAbuja
Populationabout 242 millionUN estimate for 2026
IndustriesOil and natural gas, Farming (cassava, yams), Film (Nollywood)
Famous peopleChinua AchebeWriter known worldwide for the novel Things Fall Apart
HelloHello (English is the official language)
CurrencyNaira
Fun factAfrica's most populous country. Its booming film industry is called "Nollywood"
The flag🇳🇬 Green stands for the rich forests and farming, white for peace.
From Tokyoabout 12,960 kmstraight line, Tokyo to Abuja
Getting thereabout 20 hours from Tokyo (with transfers)rough guide
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeThe dry season from November to February is the most comfortable. Also trySuyaPounded yamMoi moi More from here🐐 Isi ewu
✈ Check cheap flights Best timeThe dry season from November to February is the most comfortable. Also trySuyaPounded yamMoi moi More from here🐐 Isi ewu
🇳🇬 Sounds & life in Nigeria
HelloHello（Hello (English is the official language)）
Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
Right now…
Anthem"Nigeria, We Hail Thee"
MusicAfrobeats A mix of African rhythms and pop
SportSoccer
Jay-Jay Okocha (soccer; famous for his dazzling skills) World HeritageOsun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and more FestivalOsun-Osogbo Festival (August, a festival in the sacred grove)
MusicAfrobeats A mix of African rhythms and pop
SportSoccer
Jay-Jay Okocha (soccer; famous for his dazzling skills) World HeritageOsun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and more FestivalOsun-Osogbo Festival (August, a festival in the sacred grove)
Ingredients
- Egusi (ground melon seeds) 1 cup
- Palm oil 4 tbsp
- Beef or dried fish 300 g
- Onion 1
- Chilies, as many as you like
- Spinach 1 bunch
- Bouillon cube 1
Can't find it? Use ground pumpkin seeds instead of egusi (melon seeds).
How to make it (one way)
- Boil the meat with half the onion and the bouillon to make a stock
- Mix the egusi with a little water into a paste
- Heat the palm oil in a pot and fry the rest of the onion and the chilies
- Add the egusi paste and fry until it turns crumbly
- Add the stock and meat, simmer for 20 minutes, and stir in the spinach at the end