Egusi and Spinach Soup with Well-Done Goat Meat

Egusi soup is West African comfort food at its richest — ground melon seeds fried down with onions and pepper until they form a thick, nubbly base, then built up with greens and meat. Here we lean extra hard on spinach for volume and color, and we make sure the goat meat is simmered low and slow until it's completely tender and well done throughout, no pink left anywhere.

Between the iron in the spinach and the goat meat, plus the protein from both the meat and the egusi seeds themselves, this bowl earns its anemia-support tag honestly — it's a genuinely iron-and-protein-dense meal, which matters as your body works harder to build blood volume during pregnancy. It's rich, so a modest portion alongside a starchy side goes a long way.

Serve it hot over pounded yam, semolina, or brown rice for a filling, satisfying dinner.