Names in other languages The egusi stew delicacy is now widely eaten across large portions of West and Central Africa where it is known by various local names, many of which are variants of the word egusi itself. Some of the other names egusi goes by across the region include;
Yoruba : Egusi / Egushi (Ẹ̀gúṣí) Hausa : Agusi, Agushi (via Yoruba) Sierra Leone Krio : Egusi (via Yoruba) Cameroonian Pidgin : Egusi (via Yoruba) Twi : Akatowa Ga : Agushi, Egushi (via Yoruba) Igbo : Élìlì, Énìnì, Ekeke, Ahụ, Élìlè, Ilolo, Iroro, Éyìyè, Ogili, Nwanru, Ègwúsí (Onitsha Igbo; via Yoruba) Edo : Ogi, Ikpogi Ibibio, Efik : Íkpán, Ikon Fon : Gúsí (via Yoruba) Nupe : Epín, Epíngi, Paragi Urhobo : Ikpogri Tiv : Icegher Kikongo, Lingala : Mbika
Usage Egusi seeds are used in making egusi soup; the soup is thickened with the seeds. Melothria sphaerocarpa, which egusi seeds are from, grows throughout central to western Africa and is used by different ethnic groups in these regions to prepare the soup, and the origins of the soup are deeply rooted in the Yoruba culinary Egusi soup is a very popular soup in West Africa, with considerable local variations. Besides the seeds, water, and oil, egusi soup typically contains leafy greens, other vegetables, seasonings, and meat. Leafy greens typically used for egusi soup include Efo Tete, scentleaf, okazi/afang (wild spinach), bitterleaf (onugbu), pumpkin leaf (ugu), uziza leaf, celosia and spinach. Other commonly used vegetables include tomatoes, okra and bell peppers. Typical seasonings include chili peppers, onions, salt and locust beans. Also commonly used ingredients are beef, goat, chicken, fish, periwinkle, shrimp or crayfish as sources of protein. In Nigeria, egusi is common throughout the country, and the seeds are used in making stews and soups. The Igbo refer to it as "egwusi," a borrowed term from the original Yoruba word "egusi." In Ghana, egusi is also called akatoa, egushi or agushi, and is used for soup and stew, most popularly in palaver sauce. In the late 1980s, the Government of Canada funded a project intended to develop a machine to help Cameroonians shell egusi seeds. A machine has also been developed in Nigeria to shell egusi.
Seed oil Egusi seed oil contains linoleic acid (53%) and oleic acid (19%).
Gallery See also Egusi sauce Yoruba cuisine List of African dishes List of melon dishes and foods List of stews Pumpkin seeds Watermelon seed oil
== References ==