Moi moi (also known as Moin moin) is a tasty, savoury steamed bean pudding popular in Nigeria prepared with a blend of black-eyed peas or beans, peppers, onions and spices. This tasty savoury pudding with skinless black-eyed peas is a traditional Nigerian comfort meal learn more about the moi moi recipe.

Ingredients for Moi Moi

• You can substitute black-eyed peas with brown beans or West African honey beans (also known as ewa oloyin).
•  Use a large bell pepper and Scotch bonnet/habanero peppers, or any other preferred chilli pepper.
• Unflavored oil: I used sunflower oil.
• Large onion: I used a red onion, but white onions are also suitable.
• Smoked, deboned fish, broken into small pieces. 
• Bouillon and salt to taste.

Simple Guide to Prepare Moi Moi 

Step 1: First, start by peeling the beans. Simply soak the beans in water for 3 minutes; after 3 minutes, the beans’ skin should begin to wrinkle slightly. To skin them, rub them between your palms

Step 2: Blend the beans, 1 cup water, bell pepper, scotch bonnet peppers, onions, and bouillon. I simply combined mine with a high-powered blender. Blend your beans for a longer period, stopping every 30 seconds to allow for 10 seconds of respite. If the blender’s blade does not move at all, add a small amount of water.

Step 3: In a mixing bowl, combine the beans, oil, and salt. Thin with hot water until the texture is similar to a light cake batter. You may use less than 1/2 cup of water. 

You can taste the mixture to adjust the salt (don’t expect it to taste well at this time because the beans are still raw).

Step 4: Prepare the ramekins by coating them with oil on the inside, just like a cake pan. Fill each ramekin with the mixture to 3/4 full and top with a piece of fish.

Step 5: Place a sheet of banana leaf in a deep pot with a properly fitting pot cover, then pour in boiling water until it is about 1 inch deep. Place the ramekins in the saucepan, on top of the banana leaves. The heated water should not reach more than halfway up the ramekin. Cover the ramekins with a sheet of banana leaves.

Step 6: Depending on the width of your pot, you may need to layer the ramekins. To add more ramekins, place them on top of the second sheet of banana leaf that was covering the first layer. Then, cover that layer with another sheet of banana leaf.

Step 7: Cover the saucepan and let it steam on low heat for 50 minutes. After 50 minutes, check on the moi moi. A skewer inserted in the centre of the cake should come out clean. If not, let it steam for another 10 minutes.

Allow the Moi moi to rest for 5 minutes before being heated in the ramekin or unmolded.

What is Nigerian Moi Moi made of?

Moin-moin (Yoruba) or moi-moi is a steamed or boiled bean pudding cooked with cleaned and peeled beans and onions, fresh red peppers, spices and sometimes fish, eggs and/or crayfish. It is a protein-rich Yoruba meal that is widely consumed throughout Yorubaland and neighbouring regions in West Africa.

What is the English name for Moi Moi?

Bean Pudding, steamed bean cake or bean custard (depending on your preferred English), however, we at Souldeliciouz prefer the name moi moi. This Nigerian cuisine is high in protein. It is cooked using oloyin beans (honey beans) or black eye beans, smoked fish, shellfish, and eggs.