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Mchuzi wa mayai
Egg curry in coconut and tomato
Mchuzi wa mayai: Swahili-coast boiled eggs in a coconut and tomato curry
On the Swahili coast, from Mombasa and Malindi to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, mchuzi wa mayai is the curry made when there is no meat or fish in the house: boiled eggs simmered in a turmeric-yellow sauce of tomato and coconut milk with ginger, chilli and fresh coriander. It is a weeknight supper with white rice or soft chapati, and it costs very little. The mistake to avoid is boiling hard once the coconut milk goes in, which makes the sauce split and turn oily; keep it at a gentle bubble. Chef's tip: score each peeled egg with a few shallow cuts so the sauce seeps inside and the eggs don't slide around the pan.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 6 eggslarge
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onionfinely chopped
- 2 garlic clovesgrated
- 1 tsp fresh gingergrated
- 1 green chillifinely chopped
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 2 ripe tomatoesgrated, skins discarded
- ¾ cup coconut milk
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 tsp lemon juice (optional)
- 2 tbsp fresh corianderchopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Lower 6 eggs into boiling water and boil for 10 minutes, then cool in cold water, peel and score each one with 3 shallow cuts.
10 minStep 2: While the eggs boil, heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pan over a medium heat and cook 1 onion, stirring, until soft and golden.
5 minStep 3: Add 2 garlic cloves, 1 tsp fresh ginger and 1 green chilli and stir for 1 minute, then add 1 tsp ground turmeric, 1 tsp ground coriander and ½ tsp ground cumin and stir for 30 seconds, until fragrant.
2 minStep 4: Add 2 ripe tomatoes and ¾ tsp salt and cook, stirring, until thick and the oil begins to separate at the edges.
5 minStep 5: Pour in ¾ cup coconut milk and 50 ml water, bring to a gentle bubble and add the eggs. Simmer gently, spooning the sauce over, until it is thick enough to coat a spoon.
5 minStep 6: Stir in 1 tsp lemon juice if using, scatter with 2 tbsp fresh coriander and serve with rice or chapati.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 8 g
- Fat
- 21 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mchuzi wa mayai take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 8 minutes to prepare and 17 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 vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- 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 eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
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