Make the best homemade Moi Moi or Moin Moin with this authentic recipe! This is a traditional and popular comfort food in Africa. It’s a pudding made from beans, peppers, onions, toppings – sliced hard-boiled egg, boiled mackerel, and the best spices!
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In addition, you can customize this healthy recipe to suit your vegan or vegetarian diet. Use the best vegetables for the best Moin Moin!
How to Make Moi Moi
Using affordable ingredients, you can make Moi Moi at home!
Ingredients
Prepare the best ingredients to make it a genuine Nigerian experience.
Beans
Beans are sweet, moist, and versatile ingredients that can be used for many recipes, such as Moin Moin. These are easy to prepare, blend, and cook. Furthermore, you can use black-eyed peas or honey beans for the best results.
Beans are also rich in protein and antioxidants to help overall health and wellness. You can also cook High-Protein Beans to pair with this dish!
Red bell pepper
Red bell pepper adds aroma and sweetness to the dish. Its vibrant color also makes the dish appetizing. I also use these for Fried Rice, Egusi Soup, and Couscous!
Onion
The onion best helps with pungency, sweetness, and peppery flavor. It also has an aroma that pairs well with red bell pepper.
Scotch bonnet
Scotch bonnet is one of the spiciest ingredients that will improve the quality of the Moi Moi. Moreover, it balances the sweetness of the other elements of the dish. Did you know that you can make chili flakes with scotch bonnet?
Mackerel
Mackerel is a mildly sweet, and flavorful seafood used as toppings for the recipe. The liquid stock from cooking the mackerel also adds extra flavor to this dish.
If you love mackerel, you will also love Fish Rolls and Egg Omelet Toast!
Boiled eggs
Boiled eggs are optional toppings and they add a rich texture and delicious flavor. In case you’re having a hard time boiling an egg perfectly, I have an egg-boiling hack you can try!
Seasoning
Use salt, curry powder, thyme, and stock cubes to flavor the dish according to your preference. Once evenly distributed in the batter, these seasonings can give it a better flavor.
Cooking oil
Cooking oil will be used to improve the texture of the pudding. It can also be used as a greasing ingredient for containers.
If you have these ingredients in your kitchen, now is the perfect time to make Moin Moin. You can cook this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner for a wonderful dining experience!
Directions
Grab your apron, and let’s get cooking!
Prepare the batter
- First, soak the beans in lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes.
- Rinse and dice the red bell pepper, onion, and scotch bonnet.
- Combine the beans and some water in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Then, pour the contents into a bowl.
- Heat oil in a frying pan and pour it into the blended beans.
- Add the liquid fish stock.
- Season it with curry, thyme, salt, and two stock cubes.
Cook the mackerel
- Slice and rinse the fresh mackerel.
- Put it in a pot with a bit of water, and season it with salt, two stock cubes, and thyme.
- Then, cover and leave to cook for 10 minutes.
- Drain the liquid stock and set aside.
- Break the mackerel into chunks.
Steam the Moi Moi
- Grease the foil bowls, ramekins, or containers with butter or oil.
- Pour the mixture into the container halfway to prevent it from overflowing.
- Then, add the boiled mackerel and sliced boiled eggs and cover the containers with a lid.
- Boil some water and use stainless cutleries or an iron stand in the middle.
- Secure the containers and stack the containers into the pot.
- Cover the pot with aluminum foil.
- Steam-cook them on medium heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Finally, serve with your favorite side dishes once cooked!
Check at regular intervals and add water if needed. Once done, transfer the Moin Moin to a plate and serve it with your favorite African dishes and drinks!
Tips
How to Select and Store Moi Moi Ingredients
Beans
Selection. Beans are readily available in grocery stores. Use raw and fresh ones for better flavor and healthier quality. Additionally, the packaging should be free from holes, insects, or moisture.
Storage. These beans can last indefinitely at room temperature. Once opened, transfer them to an airtight container to extend their shelf life. Refrigerate soaked beans and use within five days.
Sweet and bell peppers and scotch bonnet
Selection. The bell pepper and scotch bonnet should have smooth and crisp skin. Then, check for any soft spots or discoloration to indicate freshness.
Storage. Store them in mesh bags in the refrigerator for two weeks. You can also add tissue to absorb moisture.
Onion
Selection. Buy onions with fresh-looking skin and a neutral aroma.
Storage. Onions are best stored in cool and dry areas away from the sunlight to extend their shelf life.
How to Mash Beans and Make the Batter Without a Blender
Aside from making the batter in a blender, you can use a food processor or similar appliances. Alternatively, use a grater to achieve a fine texture. Then, filter the mixture with a fine-mesh sieve.
Moi Moi Variations
You can use different varieties of beans, such as blackeyed beans, brown beans, or sweet beans, for a new flavor every time you make it. If you want to use alternative topics, I suggest cooked chicken, smoked turkey, prawns, and more.
The seasoning is also customizable; hence, you can use other herbs and spices, such as chili flakes, mixed herbs, and paprika, for intense flavor.
Moreover, you can add sweet peppers for an enriched taste and fragrance. Meanwhile, the mackerel can be replaced with salmon or other mild-tasting fish.
Depending on the servings you need, this dish can be cooked in other containers, such as ramekins and casseroles. It can be cooked in a pot to steam or in the oven at 160°C for 45 minutes.
If you only have a microwave with you, then try my Microwave Moin Moin recipe!
Recommended Tools
- Blender: Prepare the Moi Moi mixture in a blender.
- Pot: Cook the Moin Moin in a pot.
- Containers: Cook the mixture in different containers.
- Aluminum foil: Cover the Moi Moi with aluminum foil to cook properly.
- Spatula: Mix the ingredients using a spatula.
- Bowl: Pour the mixture into a bowl.
- Frying pan: Cook the batter in a frying pan.
- Iron stand: Place an iron stand in the pot to cook.
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How to Serve Moi Moi
Indeed, Moin Moin is delicious and satisfying as a stand-alone dish. But you can give yourself a better experience by serving it with side dishes. Below are some of my favorite home-cooked dishes that are perfect for Moi Moi:
- Jollof Rice
- Fried Rice
- Fried Plantains
- Green Plantain Porridge
- Sweet Plantain Pap
- Bread
- Basmati Rice
- Chicken Gizzard Stew
While it is a healthy dish, remember to consume it in moderation. Serve this for parties, gatherings, weekends, and potluck events to give your guests a meal to remember!
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Moin Moin is best consumed within two to four hours to enjoy its texture and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moi Moi called in English?
Moi Moi is also called steamed bean pudding or cake because it’s made of beans and steamed until soft.
Where did Moi Moi originate?
This dish is one of the most traditional Nigerian dishes that’s cooked with beans. Also, it is usually served as a comfort food or party dish for everyone to enjoy.
Is Nigerian Moi Moi healthy?
Nigerian Moi Moi is certainly healthy! It’s made of beans and vegetables that are good for your immunity, brain, and overall health.
Why does the Moi Moi feel firm?
Moi Moi should have a pudding-like consistency, but if it is tough to the touch, the batter may have been too thick when you cooked it. Add a bit of water to achieve a smooth consistency.
What happens if you don’t use aluminum oil in cooking Moi Moi?
If you don’t use aluminum foil, then it will take a while to cook the Moi Moi. The foil is also helpful for stacking to cook them all at once.
Moi Moi Recipe (+VIDEO)
Ingredients
- 1 kg beans (sweet beans or black eye beans)
- 1 onion (medium-sized)
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 scotch bonnet
- 100 ml cooking oil
- 1 mackerel (boiled)
- 4 boiled eggs
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 2 tsp thyme
- 4 cubes stock cubes
- salt to taste
Instructions
Prepare the mixture.
- First, soak the beans in lukewarm water for at least 30 minutes.
- Rinse and dice the red bell pepper, onion, and scotch bonnet.
- Blend them in small quantities with water until you blend all the ingredients.
- Use the high-speed setting until you achieve a smooth consistency.
- Pour contents into a bowl.
- Heat oil in a pan and pour it into the blended beans.
- Add the liquid fish stock. Season it with curry, thyme, salt, and two stock cubes.
Cook the mackerel.
- Slice and rinse the fresh mackerel.
- Add to a pot with water and season it with salt, stock cubes, and thyme.
- Cover and leave to cook for 10 minutes.
- Drain the liquid stock and set aside. Break the mackerel into chunks.
- Steam the Moi Moi. Grease your foil bowls or containers with butter or oil.
- Add the mixture into the container halfway to prevent it from overflowing.
- Add the boiled mackerel and sliced hard-boiled eggs and cover the containers with a lid.
- Boil a bit of water and use stainless cutleries or an iron stand in the middle.
- Secure the containers and stack the containers into the pot.
- Cover the pot with aluminum foil and steam cook on medium heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Video
Notes
- Add and substitute the ingredients as you see fit, especially the toppings and seasoning.
- You can cook the Moi Moi in a pot to steam, or in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
