Egusi -  the most popular soup in Nigeria...

Here we have a fantastic Nigerian spread featuring some uniquely African flavours and ingredients. To start, we have peppery fried plantain - the fruit is a West African staple (banana works just as well!) - that is delicious served here with grilled fish. For the main, there’s egusi soup – a dish found throughout Nigeria with many local variations.

Flavoured with a deep red oil, it’s a spicy, stew-like soup named after the seeds (usually melon, pumpkin or gourd) which are used to thicken it, and features a key flavour derived from dried shrimp. We’re serving it with a fiery hot sauce, spinach salad and rice or bread to mop up all the delicious juices. 

This is this months allergen friendly option (free from dairy, gluten and nuts!)

EGUSI BLEND: Green bell pepper, shrimp powder (shrimp, starch), grains of paradise, chilli flakes, onion, thyme, garlic, bay

RED OIL SPICES: Paprika

PUMPKIN SEEDS.

GRAINS OF PARADISE.

PEPPER SAUCE SPICES: Red bell pepper, sweet paprika, smoked paprika, chilli, garlic, ginger

PLANTAIN BLEND: Chilli, ginger, star anise, grains of paradise

FISH BLEND: Garlic, ginger, chilli, red bell pepper, onion, chives

SALAD SPICES: Red bell pepper,  shrimp powder (shrimp, starch), coriander, chives

*Allergens

• 600g diced stewing beef
• 400g firm-fleshed fish fillets
• 1 large onion
• 1 clove of garlic 
• 1 large carrot 
• 300g baby spinach
• 3 tomatoes 
• 2 large plantains or 3 underripe bananas 
• 1 lemon
• 30g peanuts or your favourite seeds (as a nut-free alternative) 
• Rice or white bread for 4 to serve
• 2 tbsp vinegar (white wine or cider vinegar is best!)
• Oil for frying (vegetable or sunflower oil is best!)
• 20g tomato puree