Ofé Egwusi
Ofé Egwusi (Igbo: Ofé egwusi) is an indigenous soup of Ndị Igbo (Igbo people) in Nigeria [1] [2] . Ofé Egwusi is made from grounded or pounded egwusi seeds (melon seed). In Igbo cuisine, ofé egwusi plays an important role, it is served at home and on special occasions like weddings and funeral event.
Ofé Egwusi is mostly cooked with Olugbo (bitter-leaf) or Ugụ (pumpkin leaf) with smoked fish and in some cases with fresh fish. Okporoko (stock fish) and crayfish is always added. Ofé Egwusi is unique because of it rich ingredients and thickness.
History
[change | change source]The word egwusi is often replaced with the popular word "egusi". This happened because during the colonial era, European writers removed the unique "gw" sound because they found it hard to pronounce. This is also similar to how the sound "gb" was stripped out from the word Igbo to Ibo by the European writers.
Uniqueness
[change | change source]Ofé egwusi made by Ndị Igbo (Igbo people) is unique and different from other Egusi soup cooked by others because of its rich and unique ingredients, its thick texture and its unique style of preparation and acting as a soup for special events[3] .
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Nwafor-Ejelinma, Ndubisi (2012). Ndi-Igbo of Nigeria: Identity Showcase. Trafford Publishing. p. 159.
- ↑ Okere, L. C. (1983). The Anthropology of Food in Rural Igboland, Nigeria: Socioeconomic and Cultural Aspects of Food and Food Habit in Rural Igboland. University Press of America.
- ↑ Anya, Ngozi O. (2015). Total Recall I. Xlibris Corporation.