Easy African Basil and pumpkin seed soup (Essrou dessi or sauce tchiayo, tchayo)

This easy African Basil and pumpkin seed soup (Essroudessi) is so healthy for you! Growing up my  paternal grandma  who is Ife like my mom will make this soup at least once a week. We will eat it with foufou. I can tell you this soup is one of my favorite herbal soup. My paternal grandpa is pescatarian and when he visit us he will always ask for this soup with smoke fish. As an adult and mom, I will cook this recipe often for myself or friends that share the same background, because it is not the favorite soup of the rest of my small family!

What is Occimum Gratissimum or African Basil

Also known as west African wild clove basil or African basil, tchiayo, Essrou, adefetchi, alumaba, nchanwu, basilic Africain,  Occimum Gratissimum is a super food!  This plant is native to Africa, South east Asia, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia…

Health Benefits of Occimum Gratissimum

This plant can be really calming as its aroma is so relaxing and helps with mental clarity!
Scientific evidence shows that Ocimum Gratissimum has antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-hyper lipidemic, antiviral, and antioxidant properties, immune-modulating, antispasmodic, antidepressant, decongestant and more……

How to cook Occimum Gratissimum

This plant can be eaten raw, or used as spinach in recipes, or use for tea or pureed the fresh leaves to make a green soup like in the below recipe. Since it is not grown in America, my parents will dry the fresh leaves and turn it into fine powder. The powder is then shipped to me from Africa. I always save it in air tights containers for months.

If I am ready to make the soup, I just add water to the powder and start cooking. I also add the powder to a hot water for tea sometimes. My ife background recipe is always mix with pumpkin seeds powder. You can cook it without the pumpkin seeds powder. Also you can make this soup vegan by not using meat at all!

For this recipe, you will need:

• African Basil leaves puree
• Pumpkin seed puree
• Optional precooked meat
• Soup Seasonings