West Africa · Soup
Egusi Soup with Pounded Yam (Ofe Egusi & Iyan)
Rich ground melon seed soup studded with tender meats and leafy greens, paired with smooth, stretchy pounded white yam.
The story
Egusi is a culinary cornerstone shared across Nigerian ethnic groups, from Yoruba weddings to Igbo home kitchens. Ground seeds from Cucumeropsis mannii yield a luscious, nutty gravy that emulsifies with red palm oil and savory stock. Traditionally, Iyan (pounded yam) is rhythmically beaten in heavy wooden mortars until velvety and lump-free.
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