Egusi seeds

الوصف

Egusi or Agushi is the name for the fat-and protein-rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants (squash, melon,guard) which after being dried nd ground are used as a major ingredient in West African Cuisine. Egusi belongs to the family of water melons. They grow in guards which are mainly cultivated for their seeds as the fresh is neither sweet nor edible. The seeds are small and flat. This plant is a creeping annual with hairy stems,forked tendrils and three-lobed leaves.
Egusi seeds are comprised of 50% oil, 78% of which is unsaturated fatty acid, and 35% protein. The seeds are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C and alphatocopherol, in addition to palmitic , stearic, linoleic, and oleic acid. Minerals found in egusi seeds include phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper.

Origin: Ghana, West Africa