Moi moi
Contains egg (no meat or fish)
Mọ́in-mọ́in
A savoury steamed pudding of skinned black-eyed peas blended with red pepper, onion and scotch bonnet. Soft, protein-rich and served alongside jollof or with pap for breakfast.
Moi moi is a Nigerian side dish, ready in about 1 hour 40 minutes and made with black-eyed peas (dried), red bell pepper and onion. It serves 6 and is rated intermediate to cook.
No licensed photograph of this dish yet.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 50 min
- Rest
- 10 min
- Total
- 1 h 40 min
- Serves
- 6
- Level
- Intermediate
- Calories
- 263
Plus at least 4 hours (or overnight) soaking the peas.
Method
Step 1
Soak the peas in cold water for at least 4 hours. Rub them between your palms in plenty of water so the skins float off; skim and repeat until almost all skins are gone.
- 20 min
A few quick pulses in a blender with water loosens the skins faster.
Step 2
Blend the peeled peas with the pepper, onion (opens in a new tab), scotch bonnet and stock to a completely smooth, pourable batter.
Step 3
Stir in the oil and salt; the batter should drop thickly from a spoon.
- 2 min
Step 4
Oil six ramekins or heatproof bowls, fill each two-thirds full and press in a slice of egg (opens in a new tab) if using. Cover each tightly with foil.
- 8 min
Step 5
Steam over simmering water, covered, until firm and a skewer comes out clean. Top up the water as needed.
- 50 min
- medium-low heat
- Steamer (opens in a new tab)
- Stockpot / large pot (opens in a new tab)
Step 6
Rest for 10 minutes before turning out.
- 10 min
About this dish
- Origin
- Nigeria · Commonly attributedStrongly associated with Yoruba cooking in south-western Nigeria.Also popular in GhanaMore food from Nigeria
- Dish
- Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner · Side dishes · Main courses
- Cooking method
- Steamed, Blended
- Taste
- savoury, spicy (chilli heat), earthy
- Diet
- Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Dairy-free · No nut ingredientsWithout the optional extras: Vegan, Plant-based, Lacto-vegetarian, Egg-freeWorked out from the ingredients. How labels work
All labels
Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients · No added sugar · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · DASH-style · Carb-conscious - Good for
- Make-ahead · Freezer-friendly · Portable / lunchbox · Festive & celebration
- Cook more with
- Black-eyed peas (dried) · Red bell pepper · Onion · Fresh red chilli · Vegetable stock
- Techniques
- Simmering · Steaming · Wet grinding · Emulsification
Allergens
- Contains, can be adapted: Eggsfrom egg
- May contain: Glutenfrom vegetable stock
- May contain: Celeryfrom vegetable stock
Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.
Nutrition
263 kcal per serving
Calculated1 serving ≈ 141 g · recipe makes 6
Where the energy comes from
- Protein 18%
- Carbohydrate 49%
- Fat 33%
| Nutrient | Per serving | Per 100 g* |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 263 kcal | 187 kcal |
| Protein | 12.3 g | 8.7 g |
| Carbohydrate | 33.4 g | 23.7 g |
| Net carbohydrate | 27.4 g | 19.4 g |
| Sugars | 5.3 g | 3.8 g |
| Added sugars | 0 g | 0 g |
| Fibre | 6 g | 4.3 g |
| Fat | 9.8 g | 7 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.9 g | 0.6 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 521 mg | 370 mg |
| Salt equivalent | 1.3 g | 0.9 g |
Vitamins & minerals per serving
- Potassium
- 636 mg
- Calcium
- 62 mg
- Iron
- 4.3 mg
- Magnesium
- 97 mg
- Vitamin A (RAE)
- 38 µg
- Vitamin C
- 29 mg
- Vitamin D
- 0 µg
- Vitamin B12
- 0 µg
- Folate (DFE)
- 329 µg
How these numbers were made
- Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
- *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
- Optional ingredients are not included: egg.
- “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
- Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.
Good to know
Tips
- Ground dried crayfish and smoked fish are popular additions for extra savouriness.
Common mistakes
- Leaving skins on gives a grainy, grey pudding.
Serve with
- Serve with jollof rice, or with ogi/pap or custard for breakfast.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months.
Reheating
- Re-steam or microwave, covered, until hot throughout.
Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated
Recipe DNA
How this dish is built
Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.
What the dish is built around
Main ingredient
- Black-eyed peas (dried), soaked, skinned and drained300 g
- Red bell pepper, seeded1 piece · 120 g
- Fresh red chilli, stemmed1 piece · 6 g
- Egg, hard-boiled and sliced (optional)2 piece · 100 g
Reviews & corrections
Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.
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