Moi Moi (Moin Moin): Nigerian Bean Pudding - Yummy Medley (2024)

Not too long ago, if you asked me what my favorite food was, I would have said moi moi, hands down. Nowadays, I have a handful of favorite foods, but moi moi remains close to the top of the list. Moi moi (also called moin moin) is a delicious, savory Nigerian bean pudding made commonly in Nigeria from a mixture of blended and steamed black eyed peas or beans, peppers, onions, and spices. This recipe uses smoked trout, but you can switch it out for any other cooked fish, corned beef, boiled eggs, or omit the animal protein altogether and make it vegan.

Growing up, my mom’s moi moi recipe always utilized steamed bean batter wrapped with leaves locally called‘Ewe eran‘ in Lagos. These leaves are also called ‘uma’ leaves or simply moin moin leaves. The native method of steaming moi moi involves wrapping them in these leaves and steaming in a pot of water. Moinmoin leaves are a broad papery leaf, similar to banana leaves that are able to hold the blended beans while they cook. I remember this being made in small tins as well, but the moin moin made in the leaves, locally called moimoi elewe, always tasted the best. Nigerians typically prefer this method of cooking moi moi because of the almost imperceptible sweetness and flavor the leaf adds to the taste. Since I do not have ready access to moin moin leaves, I decided to use a combination of banana leaves and stainless steel ramekins.

Moi Moi/Moin Moin Ingredients

• Black eyed peas: You can also use brown beans or the West African honey beans also called ewa oloyin.
• Large bell pepper
• Scotch bonnet/ habanero peppers: feel free to use any chili pepper of your choice.
• Neutral unflavored oil:I used sunflower oil
• Large onion:I used a red onion but white onions will also work
• Smoked de-boned fish broken into small pieces
• Bouillon
• Salt to taste
• Boiling water
• 3-4broad sheets of banana leaves: I did not use banana leaves alone because I was not sure how to wrap the banana leaves to prevent the blended beans from leaking. This method makes it simple to make the moi moi using the traditional method, while retaining the fresh taste of the banana leaves without stress.

How to Peel Black Eyed Peas/Beans Quickly (Need a Food Processor)

You can peel beans extremely quickly using a food processor. Place the beans in a food processor, with some water, just enough to cover it. Pulse the food processor about 5- 6 times to agitate the beans. This process breaks the beans up and separates the skins of the beans from the beans themselves. Be careful, some water might splash out of the processor while pulsing the beans.

Pour the skinned beans in a bowl. Rinse several times to separate the beans from the skin, draining the skins with the water with each rinse. The skins should come off easily because the skins are lighter and should float easily to the top. Once the beans are clean, soak them in water for at least 4 hours or over night.

After the beans have soaked, drain the water that they have been soaking in, and rinse the beans one more time.

How to Make Moi Moi/Moin Moin

Step 1: First of all, start by skinning the beans. Simply soak the beans in water for 3 minutes, after about 3 minutes, the skin of the beans should start wrinkling a little bit. Skin them by rubbing them between your palms or using the faster food processor method outlined above.

Step 2: Blend the beans with 1 cup of water, the bell pepper, scotch bonnet peppers, onions and bouillon. I blended mine easily using a high powered blender. If using a normal blender allow your beans to blend for longer, stopping the blender every 30 seconds to allow it rest for 10 seconds. If the blade of the blender is not moving at all, add a little bit of water (just a little to allow the blade to move, not more).

Step 3: Place the blended beans in a bowl, mix in the oil and salt thoroughly then thin out the mixture with the hot water until it resembles the texture of a light cake batter (you may need less than 1/2 a cup of hot water, just make sure the texture is like a light cake batter). You can taste the mixture to adjust for salt ( you are just tasting for seasoning , so don’t expect it to taste good at this point since the beans are still raw).

Step 4: Prep the ramekins by brushing each one with oil on the inside like you would a cake pan. Fill each ramekin with the mixture till it is about 3/4 full, and then top it with a piece of fish.

Step 5: In a deep pot with a properly fitted pot cover, place a sheet of banana leaf, and pour boiling water into the pot till it is about 1 inch deep. Place the ramekins into the pot, on top of the banana leaves. The hot water should not be more than half way up the ramekin. Cover the ramekins with a sheet of banana leaf

Step 6: Depending on how wide your pot is, you may need to layer the ramekins in the pot. To do that, simply place the additional ramekins over the second sheet of banana leaf that covered the first layer of ramekins, then cover that layer with another sheet of banana leaf.

Step 7: Cover the pot, and allow it to steam on low heat for 50 minutes. After 50 minutes, check the the moi moi. Just like a cake, a skewer inserted into the middle of it should come out clean. If it doesn’t, allow it to continue steaming for another 10 minutes.

Allow the Moi moi to sit for 5 minutes then serve warm in the ramekin or unmolded.

I used 4 oz stainless steel ramekins, but you may use larger ramekins, it would probably just take a little more time to cook through.

There we go…Bon appetit! I daresay, this is arguably one of the most delicious dishes to be found in the wide variety of tasty Nigerian cuisine. This Nigerian bean pudding is another common staple that you will find featured in most Nigerian parties, weddings or even Nigerian homes. Moin moin is commonly eaten as a side with jollof rice, rice and stew, fried rice or on its own as a main dish with a side of garri, pap (or akamo) and yes also similarly to its fried bean fritter cousin Akara, as a burger!

Frequently Asked Questions

If you want to try another bean recipe, why not check out my delicious Vegan Akara: West African Black Eyed Pea Frittersrecipe or explore some of my other West African recipes by clicking here.