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Garden egg sauce
Garden egg stew: mashed Nigerian garden eggs cooked in palm oil with onion and pepper
Igbo families in Enugu, Anambra and Imo cook the little white-and-green garden eggs into a soft, chunky sauce to scoop up with boiled yam, plantain or rice. The aubergines are boiled, peeled and mashed, then simmered in palm oil with onion and fresh chilli, giving a smoky-sweet, slightly bitter, very savoury spread. Crayfish or dried fish is often stirred in; leave them out, as here, for a vegan sauce. Chef's tip: soften the garden eggs fully before mashing, or the sauce will be squeaky and raw-tasting instead of creamy.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb African white auberginesNigerian garden eggs, about 8; or small Thai or Indian aubergines
- 4 tbsp red palm oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 1 scotch bonnet chillifinely chopped
- 1 tomato (optional)chopped
- ¾ tsp saltto taste
- 6 scent leaves (nchanwu) or basil (optional)shredded
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Wash 1 ⅛ lb African white aubergines, remove the stalks and boil whole in water for 10 minutes, until soft and the skins wrinkle.
10 minStep 2: Drain, cool slightly, then peel off the skins if you like (they are edible). Mash the flesh coarsely with a fork.
4 minStep 3: Warm 4 tbsp red palm oil in a pan over a medium heat for about 1 minute, just until runny; don't let it smoke. Fry 1 onion and 1 scotch bonnet chilli for 3 minutes until soft.
4 minStep 5: Stir in 6 scent leaves (nchanwu) or basil, take off the heat and serve warm with boiled yam or plantain.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 160 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 10 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 5 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does garden egg sauce take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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