My Weekly Food Highlight, Take a look ||29/01/2026

Hello steamians ;
I want to share with us the different meals i cooks and ate last week and some highlights on them.

So this first picture is melon(egusi) soup, actually an igbo native soup.
Melon soup! A classic Nigerian dish. It's a delicious soup made from melon seeds (egusi), leafy greens (like spinach or bitter leaf), and often with meat or fish.

Some key things about melon soup:

• Ingredients: Melon seeds, leafy greens, meat/fish, spices, palm oil
• Taste: Rich, slightly nutty, savory
• Serving: Often eaten with fufu, pounded yam, or rice
  Here's a simple melon soup recipe:
• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup melon seeds (egusi), ground
  • Meat or fish (beef, chicken, or fish)
  • Leafy greens (spinach, bitter leaf, etc.)
  • Palm oil
  • Onions, peppers, spices
• Steps:
  1. Blend melon seeds with onions, peppers.
  2. Cook meat/fish with spices.
  3. Add blended melon mix, cook till thick.
  4. Add leafy greens, palm oil.
     Melon soup is typically eaten with starchy sides like:
• Fufu (cassava or yam)
• Pounded yam
• Rice
• Semo (semolina)

You usually:

• Scoop some fufu or other side
• Dip into the soup
• Enjoy

This second picture is noddles (indomie) and fried egg.
Indomie and fried egg - a popular combo! It's a quick, tasty meal with:

• Indomie: Instant noodles, often spicy
• Fried egg: Sunny-side up or scrambled

Some people add:

• Veggies (peas, carrots)

• Sausages or meat

• Spices or sauces
  Add some extras!

• Veggies: Throw in some chopped spinach or carrots

• Protein: Add sardines or cooked sausage

• Flavor boost: Spruce it up with some fresh peppers or a dash of seasoning
  Indomie and fried egg combo gives you:

• Carbs: Energy from Indomie

• Protein: From egg, maybe meat/sausages

• Vitamins: From egg, veggies if added

• Fats: From frying oil, egg
  But it's processed, so balance with other nutrients.
  Let me share some tips if you want to make your idomie healthier
  Here are some tips:

• Add more veggies: Spinach, carrots, bell peppers

• Use less seasoning: Go easy on the packet spice

• Choose healthier protein: Grilled chicken or tofu

• Bake instead of fry: Try baked eggs or veggies

• Whole wheat Indomie: Switch to whole grain

• More fiber: Add beans or lentils

• Less oil: Use less for frying or air fry

• Herbs and spices: Flavor without extra salt

This third picture is palm oil rice, this one is very easy to prepare and it saves time and expenses, no too much money required to prepare it.
Palm oil rice is a Nigerian favorite made with:

• Palm oil
• Rice
• Spices
• Sometimes veggies or meat

Some call it Banga rice or Palm oil jollof. It's flavorful and aromatic.
I didn't really make my own palm oil rice a quality meal because of the expenses, but i will share incase you want to make your own quality
Here's a simple palm oil rice recipe:

• Ingredients:
  • 2 cups rice
  • 1/4 cup palm oil
  • Onions, peppers, spices
  • Meat or fish (optional), optional because i didn't put in mine because of expenses.
• Steps:
  1. Sauté onions, peppers in palm oil
  2. Add rice, spices, water
  3. Cook till rice is done
     In order to make your palm oil rice very delicious to take:
• Use fresh palm oil: Gives better flavor and color
• Add protein: Fish or meat makes it heartier
• Spice it up: Try adding ginger or garlic

This last picture is my okro soup.
Okro soup! 🍲 It's a Nigerian classic made with:

• Okra (fresh or frozen)
• Meat or fish
• Spices
• Sometimes leafy greens
  It's slimy, savory, and delicious.

Here's a simple okro soup recipe:

• Ingredients:
  • Fresh/frozen okra
  • Meat or fish
  • Onions, peppers, spices
  • Stock or water
• Steps:
  1. Cook meat/fish with spices
  2. Add chopped okra, simmer till tender

tips on reducing sliminess or adding flavor;

• Reduce sliminess: Add a squeeze of lemon or vinegar
• Boost flavor: Use smoked fish or crayfish
• Thickening trick: Mash some okra before adding

You can combine your okro soup with garri(eba) as seen in the picture, fufu or rice?
Trust me when i say okro soup is very nutritious and healthy to consume.

So those are some of the food that i ate last week and wanted to share with us.
Thank you.
I invite @emma-uttermost, @us-andrew and sampson01 to share their meals as well.