Main Course · Dinner · African ·

Nigerian Egusi Stew with Pumpkin Leaves and Crayfish

Name: Nigerian Egusi Stew with Pumpkin Leaves and Crayfish
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 90 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 1 cup egusi seeds, ground; 1/4 cup water, for mixing; 1 teaspoon bouillon powder, for flavor; 500g beef or goat meat, washed and cut into chunks; 200g smoked fish, shredded and deboned; 200g crayfish, ground; 1 medium onion, chopped; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tablespoons palm oil, for richness; 2 tomatoes, chopped; 2 small bell peppers, chopped; 2 scotch bonnet peppers, whole; Salt, to taste; 1 cup stock, beef or vegetable; 2 cups pumpkin leaves (ugu) or spinach, chopped; 1 medium bitter leaf, optional; Rice or pounded yam, for serving

Nigerian Egusi Stew is a flavorful and comforting dish made with ground melon seeds (egusi), mixed greens, and seafood, creating a savory, nutty delight perfect for any meal.

4.8(0 reviews)

·By Troy·February 1, 2026

Nigerian Egusi Stew with Pumpkin Leaves and Crayfish

Prep

30 min

Cook

1 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Egusi Paste

For the Stew Base

For the Vegetables

For the Accompaniments

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 521 kcal
Protein: 45.8 g
Carbs: 20.5 g
Fat: 30.3 g
Fiber: 3.7 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 3124 kcal
Protein: 275 g
Carbs: 123 g
Fat: 182 g
Fiber: 22 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
1 cup egusi seeds ground	600	28	12	52	4
1/4 cup water for mixing	0	0	0	0	0
1 teaspoon bouillon powder for flavor	5	1	1	0	0
500g beef or goat meat washed and cut into chunks	950	90	0	70	0
200g smoked fish shredded and deboned	400	70	0	12	0
200g crayfish ground	350	70	2	6	4
1 medium onion chopped	44	1	10	0	2
3 cloves garlic minced	13	1	3	0	0
3 tablespoons palm oil for richness	360	0	0	40	0
2 tomatoes chopped	44	2	10	0	3
2 small bell peppers chopped	60	2	14	0	4
2 scotch bonnet peppers whole	18	0	4	0	1
Salt to taste	0	0	0	0	0
1 cup stock beef or vegetable	20	2	2	1	0
2 cups pumpkin leaves (ugu) or spinach chopped	30	3	5	0	3
1 medium bitter leaf optional	10	1	1	0	1
Rice or pounded yam for serving	200	4	45	1	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Marinating the Meat

1
Combine Meat and Seasoning
In a bowl, combine meat pieces with the bouillon powder.
2
Marinate
Allow to marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
3
Bring to Room Temperature
Remove and bring to room temperature before cooking.

Preparing the Egusi Paste

1
Mix Egusi and Water
In a small bowl, mix ground egusi seeds with water to form a thick paste.
2
Season the Paste
Stir the bouillon powder into the paste.
3
Set Aside
Set aside until needed.

How to Make Nigerian Egusi Stew with Pumpkin Leaves and Crayfish

Total time: 2 h · Yields 6 servings

1
Frying the Meat
Heat palm oil in a large pot over medium heat and fry the marinated meat until browned.
2
Creating the Stew Base
Add onions, garlic, tomatoes, bell peppers, and scotch bonnet to the pot. Sauté until soft and fragrant.
3
Integrating the Egusi Paste
Drop spoonfuls of the egusi paste into the pot, allowing it to cook for several minutes. Stir to combine with the stew.

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Preparation

Marinating the Meat

Combine Meat and Seasoning

Marinate

Bring to Room Temperature

Preparing the Egusi Paste

Mix Egusi and Water

Season the Paste

Set Aside

How to Make Nigerian Egusi Stew with Pumpkin Leaves and Crayfish

Frying the Meat

Creating the Stew Base

Integrating the Egusi Paste

Chef's Tips

Frequently asked questions

Explore more from TastyFood