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Moin Moin

Also known as Moin Moin (Children's Version — Mild and Egg-Filled)

Children's Moin Moin is one of the most nutritious and child-friendly Nigerian foods — a mild, slightly sweet, protein-rich steamed bean pudding with a boiled egg or small piece of fish hidden inside each one as a delightful surprise. Nigerian children are often given Moin Moin as a weaning food after pap, and it remains beloved throughout childhood as the snack that can be packed in a school lunchbox, served at birthday parties, given as an after-school treat or eaten at any

Moin Moin, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 big cups of black-eyed peas, soaked for 4 hours and peeled
  • 1 big onion
  • 1 Tatashe (red bell pepper) only — for colour without heat
  • 1 Atarodo only — very mild for children
  • 2 cooking spoons of vegetable oil or palm oil
  • 2 big handfuls of ground dried crayfish
  • 2 seasoning cubes (Knorr), crushed
  • Salt to taste — go easy for children
  • Warm water as needed for blending
  • Banana leaves or aluminium foil cups for wrapping FILLING OPTIONS:
  • 6 to 8 small boiled eggs — 1 per Moin Moin — the classic children's surprise
  • OR small pieces of canned sardine — 1 piece per Moin Moin

Method

  1. 01

    Blending the Batter. Drain soaked, peeled beans. Blend with onion, Tatashe and the single Atarodo using minimal warm water until completely smooth and lump-free. The children's version batter should be smooth and uniform.

  2. 02

    Seasoning the Batter. Add oil, ground crayfish, crushed seasoning cubes and a little salt to the blended batter. Mix very thoroughly. Taste — the batter should be mildly savoury and pleasant. Beat the batter in circular motions for 3 minutes to incorporate air and ensure a light, fluffy texture.

  3. 03

    Filling and Wrapping. Prepare the banana leaf or foil wrappers. Ladle a portion of batter into each wrapper. Press 1 whole small boiled egg or 1 piece of sardine into the centre of each. Cover with a little more batter to completely enclose the filling. Wrap and seal each one.

  4. 04

    Steaming. Arrange the wrapped Moin Moin in a covered pot over vigorously boiling water. Steam for 45 to 55 minutes until firm throughout.

  5. 05

    Serving. Cool for 5 minutes before unwrapping. When children unwrap their Moin Moin and discover the egg or fish inside, it creates genuine delight — one of the small joys of Nigerian childhood.

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