Egusi, Spinach and Egg Recipe

This is an African delicacy. Egusi is ground melon seeds used in various foods in Africa. Here is the recipe -

Making time: 20 minutes
Difficulty level: Average.

Ingredients: 

• 2 tbsp egusi (powder).  
• 500 gm fresh spinach leaves.  
• 3 tbsp of oil. 
• 2 tomatoes (cut into quarters)  
• 2 medium sized onions sliced. 
• 1 tsp garlic crushed. 
• 1 red chilli.  
• 1 inch ginger cut into thin juliennes.  
• Salt to taste.  
• ½ cup vegetable stock.  
• Oil for frying.

For Garnishing - 3 boiled eggs cut into halves elliptically.

Method:

=> Discard the stalks of the spinach and cut the rest into strips. Wash well and drain out all water.

=> Place the washed spinach in a bowl and pour hot water over the spinach and keep for 2-3 minutes. After that drain the excess water by passing it through a sieve, followed by squeezing etc. 

=> Place the melon seed fines (egusi) in a bowl. Add 3-4 tbsp water slowly and stirring simultaneously to obtain a uniform paste.

=> Heat oil in a saucepan and fry the onions till translucent. Add the tomatoes, garlic and ginger and stir fry for another 2-3 minutes. Mix in the egusi paste, chilli and stock and bring to boil.

=> Add the spinach into above and cook for 10-12 minutes on a low flame till most of the water is evaporated.    

=> Serve hot after garnishing with white hard boiled eggs on the top.