Egusi (also known by variations including agusi, agushi) is the name for the fat- and 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. Egusi soup does not just benefit your stomach, it is a healthy meal rich in iron, calcium, Vitamin A and C, sodium, potassium, protein and carbohydrate and low in fat, cholesterol, fiber, saturated fat, and sugar. 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 characteristics and uses of all these seeds are broadly similar. Major egusi-growing nations include Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Nigeria, and Cameroon. Species from which Egusi is derived include Cucumeropsis mannii and Citrullus lanatus.