Garden Egg Stew (also known as aubergine stew or Nigerian eggplant sauce) is one of those delicious recipes I remember eating back at home with boiled yam or fried plantains on weekends.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time30 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: West African
Servings: 4-6
Calories: 235kcal
Author: Yummy Medley
Ingredients
15Thai eggplantsaka green garden-egg
6plum tomatoes
1large white onion
¼cuppalm oil
1scotch bonnet pepper chopped
340gsmoked mackerelthe equivalent of one large mackerel skinned and de-boned
1tspchicken/ vegetable bullion
1small handful of Clove basilaka Nigerian scent leaf/Thai basil
Salt to taste
Optional: 2 tbsp dried shrimp
Optional: Extra dried chilli-pepper
Instructions
To prep the eggplants, take off the stems, wash and quarter each eggplant then boil in salted water for 10- 15 minutes.
While the eggplants are boiling, slice the onions into half-moons, dice the tomatoes, roughly chop the basil, and flake the fish.
Once the eggplants are fork tender, drain them, and mash them with a potato masher or a fork. They should be the consistency of crushed tomatoes, only slightly chunky.
In a deep sauce pan, heat up the palm oil for 2 minutes (be careful not to heat the oil for too long or over high heat, unless the oil will bleach), and gently sauté the onions and scotch bonnet peppers until it is softened and starting to brown ever so lightly on the edges of the onions.
Add in the tomatoes, and cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes, or until the sauce thickens, and the oil starts to raise to the top.
Add in the smashed eggplant, and continue cooking on low-medium heat for five minutes.
Add in the smoked mackerel, dried shrimp, and bullion, stir and continue to simmer on low heat.
At this point, taste the stew, and adjust for salt, and if you are like me add some extra dry pepper for a little bit more heat. Stir in the chopped basil, and turn off the heat.
Serve warm with a side of your favorite carbs.
Notes
If you are cannot find Thai eggplants in your grocery store and have to use the regular large purple eggplant, peal and boil them for 5 minutes longer than is stated in this recipe. The weight equivalent is about 885g/ 2lbs. Feel free to substitute the smoked mackerel for cooked mackerel. There is a slight difference in the final taste, but it is just as delicious.