How to make Moin Moin
Traditional steamed moin moin made from peeled blended beans and peppers, gently cooked until firm and served with boiled egg for a classic West African dish.
Updated : 13 February, 2026
Easy
About 20 min.
Ingredients
1.5 cup
Bean
1
Red bell pepper
1
Scotch Bonnet pepper
0.75 cup
Onion
2 tablespoon
River crayfish
0.75 cup
Vegetable oil
2
Broth cube
0.75 cup
Fish mince
3
Eggs
to taste
Salt
piece
Ginger
Table
Table of volume measurements:
- teaspoon - 5 ml
- dessert spoon - 10 ml
- tablespoon - 20 ml
- glass - 200 ml
Preparation
Step 1
Soak the beans (black eyed peas or brown beans) for 15 minutes, adjusting slightly depending on how dry they are - very dry beans tend to loosen their skins more quickly.
Step 2
Transfer the beans to a blender and add twice their volume of water. Pulse for 3-4 seconds at a time, repeating this 3-4 times. The goal is to loosen the skins, not to blend the beans.
Step 3
Pour the beans into a large bowl and add enough water to fully cover them. Agitate vigorously with your hands - the skins will float to the surface. Pour through a sieve to separate and discard the skins. Repeat if necessary until most of the skins are removed.
Step 4
Place the peeled beans back into the blender along with the red pepper, scotch bonnet and onion. Blend to the smoothest consistency possible.
Step 5
Transfer the blended mixture to a bowl and mix in the remaining ingredients, except for the boiled eggs.
Step 6
Lightly spray or brush your cooking containers with oil. Pour the mixture into each container and place a boiled egg on top. Cover with a lid or seal tightly with foil.
Step 7
Line the base of a large pot with foil, sticks or leaves. Add water, ensuring there is enough to steam but not so much that it submerges the containers. This prevents sticking if the water reduces during cooking.
Step 8
Arrange the containers in the pot and steam for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the quantity in each container.
Step 9
To check for doneness, insert a toothpick into the centre - it should come out mostly clean and not wet.
Step 10
Remove from the heat and serve.
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