Season and drizzle with olive oil. It has many advantages as meal eaten on its own or in conjunction with other meals. Apart from enjoying cooking and eating tripe and goat meat pepper soup with Ugu leaves, I equally enjoy eating the cooked leaves with Moi moi and fresh fish pepper soup! BPH is a … Well, the size of your harvest is generally dependent on th… Yoruba people in general and quite notably the people of Ọṣun State – especially the Ijesha people – eat "iyan and egusi", a pounded yam and egusi soup. Normally fluted pumpkin are cultivated across lowland humid tropics of West Africa including Ghana and Sierra Leone. While roasted pumpkins seeds are probably best known for their role as a perennial Halloween treat, these seeds are so delicious, and nutritious, that they can be enjoyed throughout the year. Egusi seeds are similar in flavor to pumpkin seeds. “Pepita” is the Mexican Spanish word for pumpkin seed, literally translating to “little seed of squash.” It can be used to prepare popular soups like egusi, ogbono and edi kain kong. The fruit of the plant is usually very large reaching up and including 13-15kg. Spinach is a green leafy vegetable that is not native to Nigeria so it does not have a Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa Nigerian name. God is a Great God and it doesn't matter whether you believe in him or not! Whether rich or poor, ugwu is an affordable option for many families. The coverings had to be thoroughly washed to remove the poisonous toxins. Find more Yoruba words at wordhippo.com! Pumpkin seedsalso known as pepitasare flat, dark green seeds. [2] The characteristics and uses of all these seeds are broadly similar. The Yoruba for pumpkin is elegede. After reading this article, you will be well educated enough to realise the importance as well as the medicinal values of Ugu leaves! Typical other vegetables include tomatoes and okra. It is an uncommon leafy vegetable which is not a climbing plant like ugu instead, it is rather a kind of leafy tree called Oha tree! Why Pumpkin Seeds Are the Hero and at the center. Not until recently (around 2005) have the white pumpkins been developed for their own charm and oddity, whereas before they’d be a random shade showing up amo… Or learn how I turned MYhobby and knowledge intoa popular web site. Sprouts Farmers Market labels there pepitas as pumpkin seeds. Learn the wonderful story about the Nigerian Edika Ekong soup. Fluted pumpkin is massively cultivated and massively eaten by the Igbo people of Eastern part of Nigeria. Sign Up To My Healthy Eating Newsletter And GetThe Free And Unique Edika Ekong Report. Pumpkin seeds are a delicious and nutritious snack. History of the Jack-o-Lantern. The Latin name is (Telfairia occidentalis). Apart from the nutritional, agricultural and industrial importance, the plant has been found to be great and medicinally useful. I have eaten the leaves all my life and so have members of my family especially since I discovered that the leaves have many medicinal values! Roast in the oven and cook for 45 minutes. This type of dark green leafy vegetable is so versatile and can be recognised as a panacea to cure some of our hunger as well as illness if only we can look deep into its benefits. In many food markets, pepitas are available in a… These two factors are very critical factors for the growth of your ugwu plant. Hope that helps! It is a tropical climber grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and as edible seed. I ask again, what kind of soup can you cook in Nigeria without Ugu leaves? People have been making jack-o-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. google_ad_client="ca-pub-4272949779699961";google_ad_slot="9364045745";google_ad_width=468;google_ad_height=15; Add Your Own Restaurant or Business Today! NIGERIAN FLUTED PUMPKIN (UGU) LEAVES AND SEEDS. [1], Authorities disagree whether the word is used more properly for the seeds of the colocynth, those of a particular large-seeded variety of the watermelon, or generically for those of any cucurbitaceous plant. The shelled seeds are ground for use in Nigerian recipes — especially the popular egusi soup. The seeds are red-blood or magenta colour. When ready … Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Food / The Health Benefits Of Using Pumpkin Leaf "Ugu" To Cook (711 Views) 5 Cooking Tips For People Who Hate To Cook But Don’t Eat Out / Simple Steps To Cook A Sweet Egusi Soup / What Is Pumpkin Seed Called Locally In Nigeria? Best used for Digestive Disorders and Acne. First, the pH of the soil should be neutral i.e 6.5-7. If you miss, ugu leaves, then, you have yourself to blame! Typical seasonings include chili peppers, onions, and locust beans. The origin of pumpkin pie occurred when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and filled the insides with milk, spices and honey. They are found in specific types of pumpkin… I ask again, what kind of soup can you cook in Nigeria without Ugu leaves? Put quite simply, pepitas are pumpkin seeds. If you plant it in the dry season, you will need … These are healthy eating diets second to none! Fluted pumpkin (ugu)is one of the commonly consumed dark green leafy vegetables in Nigeria. Many of us in Nigeria have been eating both the leaves and the seeds either on their own or using them in cooking all kinds of soups including pepper soups as well as yam pottage. The fruit body and pod is generally dark chalky colour and very hard. Egusi (also known by variations including agusi, agushi) is the name for the protein -rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants (squash, melon, gourd), which after being dried and ground are used as a major ingredient in West African cuisine. Humans have known the importance of pumpkin and the seed for over 8 thousand years. The seeds are usually small and oval, have a gray-green surface after the seed is removed, and are usually light green in color. The term pumpkin seed and pepitas are sometimes used interchangeably. [6] "It belongs to plants family of cucurbitaceae". Supports Heart Health. Fluted pumpkin (ugu)is one of the commonly consumed dark green leafy vegetables in Nigeria. This is the purpose of this article! The Igbo people of Nigeria and most Nigerians call it Ugu. It grows up to 90 Cm. Egusi seeds are small and flat. The seeds are then dried and the light brown husks removed by hand or mechanically. Pumpkin is a fruit of a plant. It is a tropical climber grown in West Africa as a leaf vegetable and as edible seed. [10], Pounded yam, and egusi soup served with fish, Type of seed commonly found in West African cuisine, "Melon seed" redirects here. Sunflower seeds come from the center of a big yellow flower called a sunflower. It is the outer layer of the seed. How long? The leaves are imported into UK by Nigerian and Asian grocers and can be bought fresh from Dalston, Barking, Shepard Bush,and Brixton markets in London every Tuesdays and Wednesdays in in the week all year round. It grows in a temperate climate. Pumpkin seeds come from inside of a pumpkin. You may be wondering what the size of your harvest should be irrespective of your farmland. [2], Species from which egusi is derived include Cucumeropsis mannii and Citrullus lanatus.[3]. Since pepitas are pumpkin seeds and pumpkins are creepers; therefore, they have a plentiful amount of mineral nutrients. The tree can grow from 1 year to up to 100 years and from a small foot to tower up to 200 feet or more. Major egusi-growing nations include Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Pumpkin seed oil, along with palmetto oil, has shown promising results as an alternative therapy for benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). google_ad_client="ca-pub-4272949779699961";google_ad_slot="6220974645";google_ad_width=300;google_ad_height=250; NIGERIAN FLUTED PUMPKIN (UGU) LEAVES AND SEEDS(Telfairia occidentalis) HAVE NOT ONLY HEALTHY EATING BENEFITS BUT HAVE COMMERCIAL AND MEDICINAL VALUES TOO! The young shoots and the stems are tender and are equally eaten. Pumpkin seeds are well endowed with arginine.3 L- arginine prevents arterial … Also, the land should have adequate sunlight exposure. High in Antioxidants. Nigerian recipes google_ad_client="ca-pub-4272949779699961";google_ad_slot="9364045745";google_ad_width=468;google_ad_height=15; Wherever, you are right now, look around you, can you see a fruit,seed, a plant, tree, some leaves; and vegetables? "Mature pumpkin seeds contain protein,and are high in potassium, iron and crude fat and can be further developed to increase world edible vegetable oil production". Pumpkin seeds, called pepitas in Spanish, are the edible seeds of a pumpkin or some other familiar cultivar of the vegetable pumpkin. Pumpkin seeds, also called pepitas, boost your intake of several essential nutrients. However, there is a difference between the two. [8], In the late 1980s, the Canadian government funded a project intended to develop a machine to help Cameroonians shell egusi seeds. Fluted Pumpkin Leaves is mainly grown in the southern part of Nigeria where it is used in various local cuisines and soup, but it is also grown in other West African countries like Ghana, Sierra Leona, and others. Just like their orange cousins, the carrot and the sweet potato, pumpkins are … were discovered in Mexico, making North America the pumpkin’s native land. I want shelled pumpkin seeds, not pepitas. The seed and its oil are used to make medicine. Materia Medica Pumpkin seeds are good for an enlarged prostate. If you try getting the seed out of the shell you will quickly understand why that is the chosen method of eating pumpkin seeds. Chop the rosemary and sprinkle over the pumpkin. [9] A machine has been developed in Nigeria to shell egusi. The Ghana people call it Krobonko, while people from Sierra Leone call it Gonugbe. Also commonly used are beef, goat, fish, shrimp, or crayfish. Some are encased in a yellow-white husk (often called the \"shell\"), although some varieties of pumpkins produce seeds without shells. At least a quarter of Nigerians eat ugwu leaves. Nature provides this coat, to protect the nut or "seed germ" inside, that will eventually emerge into a pumpkin plant. Pumpkin seeds are the white or cream-colored, oval-shaped seeds you find inside of pumpkins such as those you use to make jack-o-lanterns. Pumpkin can be found in six continents around the world – but its true home is Mexico. Ugwu is known as the Fluted Pumpkin. About 10 milligrams of zinc is present in per 3.5 ounces of pepita seeds. Overview Information Pumpkin is a plant. In Nigeria this is known as “ogiri-isi” and in Benin “avrouda.” It typically comes with or without dried shrimp. 4 Pumpkin seeds contain antioxidants like carotenoids and vitamin E (4, 5, 6). Pumpkin seeds have a malleable, chewy texture and a subtly sweet, nutty flavor. Peel and de-seed the pumpkin. The English name is Fluted pumpkin,fluted gourd and the Spaniards call it Costillada! You can use a pH meter to confirm the soil pH. Egusi soup is a kind of soup thickened with the ground seeds and popular in West Africa, with considerable local variation. Spinach is not Nigerian Pumpkin leaves (Ugu). Egusi seeds are high in protein and their flavor is said to be close to that of pumpkin seeds. The pods are like Cocoa pods when it is cut open. All the young shoots of the leaves are eatable. It is annual. From Left to right, and in order of number of calories; Pumpkin seeds, Almonds, Each seed is oval shaped and whitish in color with a light tan shell. Egusi (also known by variations including agusi, agushi) is the name for the protein-rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants (squash, melon, gourd), which after being dried and ground are used as a major ingredient in West African cuisine. After harvest, the gourds are left to ferment; the fermented flesh is then washed off the seeds. Many of us don't realise the importance of the plants, trees, fruits, seeds; roots, leaves and various vegetables God,In His infinite mercy and wisdom created and made available for our use. What kind of soup can any one in Nigeria cook without fluted pumpkin (ugu) leaves one may ask? Some pumpkin seeds dating back somewhere between 7000 and 5500 B.C. They are organically grown in gardens and some allotments in Nigeria. No other soup in the world has been so surrounded by myth like this one. Spinach is not Green Amaranth – that one we call “green” in Nigeria. The fresh leaves can be frozen for up to one month and can still retain their freshness. Leaf vegetables typically used for egusi soup include bitterleaf, pumpkin leaf, celosia and spinach. One end of the seed is rounded while the other is tapered. [4] Besides the seeds, water, and oil, egusi soup typically contains leaf vegetables, Palm oil, other vegetables, seasonings, and meat. It bears no fruits or seeds compared with other leafy vegetables. They are equally sold in Birmingham and Manchester cities to mention a few. Seed Coat - also called "seed jacket" or "seed shell". Is it Edika-ekong, Egusi, Ofe-owerre,okra; or ogbono soup? It looks like only the Christians partially realise the importance of these especially during harvest periods of the year! Egusi belongs to the family of water melons. J — August 19, 2018 @ 5:11 pm Reply. This article continues in another page entitled: 'THE MEDICINAL VALUES OF FLUTED PUMPKIN LEAVES'. They have rich varieties of antioxidants like pro-oxidant enzyme lipoxygenase, zinc, and manganese. The Health Benefits Of Using Pumpkin Leaf "Ugu" To Cook - Food - Nairaland. You need a piece of land with certain features. These green seeds look different than all of the other nuts on the shelf. Pumpkin is commonly used by mouth for symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (). In fact, every plant or tree he created has a purpose and if only we can look into them as the scientists and researchers do we will find so many wonderful secrets hidden in them be it for feeding or most importantly for healing purposes! Allspice is a regional species which appears in look alike form in most area of the world, the species in Nigeria is what is called black pepper and Yoruba call it IYERE. In Ghana, egusi is also called akatoa or agushi, and as in Nigeria is used for soup and stew,[7] and most popularly in palaver sauce. Its scientific name is Telfairia Occidentalis and is … An average fruit pod can contain as much as 100-150 seeds. In Ghana and a few other countries it is called “neri.” Egusi (some think the term derives from Yoruba; some from Hausa) has become the generic name for the seed across West Africa’s many linguistic boundaries. Pumpkin seeds are typically roasted in the shell. … And how YOU can do this too. While both raw and roasted pumpkin seeds offer health benefits, raw … As the pasta approaches the end of cooking, boil the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water according to the packet instructions. The seeds can be boiled or roasted like Chestnut. I'm excited to introduce it to the Western world or people from other countries of the world who may not have had the chance of seeing as well as eating this dark leafy vegetable.The photographic images of the leaves are featured in this page for your perusal. Have you ever asked who created them and for what purposes? Simply enter your e-mail address below and receive my free downloadable PDF ebook. The seeds have hard covering too. It is a vine plant that is native to West Africa and quite popular and heavily consumed in many parts of Nigeria. For the Chinese baked seed also known by this name, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Groundnut, Egusi, Palm Oil, and Other Soups", "13 Nigerian Foods That Are Eaten By Ghanaians But Have Different Names", "Development and performance tests of a melon (egusi) seed shelling machine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Egusi&oldid=1006043507, Articles needing additional references from July 2014, All articles needing additional references, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 10 February 2021, at 18:56. "It belongs to plants family of cucurbitaceae". Dice into 2.5cm/1in and place onto an ovenproof sheet. A pumpkin has hundreds of seeds. Beta Carotene Boost. Calabaza is a pre-Hispanic crop that dates back more than 8,750 years. Ugu is best planted in the garden in the rainy season. In Nigeria, egusi is common among the people of the southern part of Nigeria,[5] the Yoruba people, Igbo people, Ibibio people and the Efik people and Bahumono of southern Nigeria, the Hausa of northern Nigeria and the Edo people, Esan people, Etsakọ people, Urhobo people and the Itsekiri people of the south-west of Nigeria. We humans take many things for granted either through ignorance or through lack of interest. They become more effective when combined with Saw Palmetto and Pygeum. Pumpkins, also known as winter squash, have come in many colors for as long as there have been pumpkins. 3. One tasty result of this search is this delicious savory stew/ soup that was a big hit in my home and is native to the Northern parts of Nigeria: A delicious pumpkin stew locally called Miyan Taushe. Pepitas are seeds without a hull. When perusing the grocery store’s nut aisle, you may have come across a tasty looking product called “pepitas”. They grow in gourds which are mainly cultivated for their seeds as the flesh is neither sweet nor edible. The pumpkin was then baked in hot ashes. the Ibibio people and the Efik people (Calabar people) of southern Nigeria call it Afere Ikong in their dialect.