Egusi Stew
Egusi stew is a rich West African main course made with ground melon seeds, tender beef topside, crayfish powder and fermented locust beans. The Thermomix TM7 grinds the melon seeds evenly and simmers the stew hands-free, so the flavours develop fully without constant stirring.
About this recipe
Egusi stew Thermomix TM7 brings one of West Africa's most beloved recipes straight into your all-in-one kitchen machine. This rich, nutty stew thickens naturally from ground melon seeds, while beef topside simmers until fork-tender in a deeply savoury broth of crayfish powder, fermented locust beans, turmeric and smoked paprika. Searching for egusi stew recipes usually means hours of standing at the hob, constantly stirring to stop the seeds from catching and burning — the TM7 solves exactly that problem, grinding the melon seeds to a uniform paste in seconds and then simmering everything at a controlled temperature. The result is an authentic, spoon-coating stew with the characteristic umami depth that locust beans and crayfish bring. Serve it as a warming weeknight dinner or weekend centrepiece with pounded yam, rice or flatbread, and let the Thermomix do the stirring while you set the table.
Preparation tips
- Toast the melon seeds lightly in the coconut oil before grinding; this deepens their nutty flavour and gives the egusi a richer, rounder taste in the finished stew.
- Cut the beef topside into even, bite-sized cubes so every piece becomes equally tender during simmering and the protein distributes nicely through the thick seed paste.
- For a milder family version, reduce the smoked paprika and crayfish powder slightly, then serve with plain rice so children can ease into the bold locust bean seasoning.
Recipe variations
- Vegetarian egusi: replace the beef topside with firm mushrooms and diced aubergine, use mushroom stock paste instead of beef stock paste, and keep the crayfish powder out for a fully plant-based stew.
- Festive egusi: add prawns and smoked fish in the final minutes of cooking and stir in a handful of chopped spinach for a celebration version served with pounded yam at gatherings.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Grinding the melon seeds in the Thermomix TM7 creates a fine, even paste that thickens the egusi without lumps. [Multi-Function]
- Weighing the coconut oil and beef stock paste directly in the bowl keeps the stew seasoning balanced to the gram. [Built-in Scale]
- The TM7 chops the onion finely in seconds, releasing its sweetness evenly throughout the thick seed base. [Multi-Function]
- Precise heating on the Thermomix simmers the beef topside gently, keeping the stew nutty and rich without scorching. [Precision Control]
- Mixing on the TM7 blends the crayfish powder and locust beans uniformly into a velvety, authentic texture. [Multi-Function]
Ingredients
- melon seeds
- coconut oil
- ground turmeric
- smoked paprika
- beef topside
- fermented locust beans
- crayfish powder
- fine sea salt
- beef stock paste, homemade
- red onion