Tilapia in Garden Egg Stew
A flavorful Ghanaian stew featuring tender tilapia fish cooked in a rich sauce made from garden eggs (eggplant), tomatoes, onions, and peppers. It's often served with boiled yam, plantain, or rice.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 medium Tilapia(cleaned and cut into pieces)
- 8 large Garden Eggs (Eggplant)(stalks removed, halved lengthwise)
- 10 medium Tomatoes(blended until smooth)
- 12 medium Hot Peppers (e.g., Scotch Bonnet)(adjust to taste, blended with tomatoes)
- 2 large Onions(one chopped, one blended)
- 0.75 cup Palm Oil
- 1 large Maggi Shrimp Cube(crumbled)
- 0.5 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Salt(or to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Wash and prepare the tilapia. Crumble the Maggi cube over the fish, sprinkle with black pepper and salt. Gently toss to coat and let marinate for 10-15 minutes.
- 2
Wash the garden eggs, cut off stalks, and slice in half lengthwise. Place in a pot, cover with water, and boil for 10-15 minutes until the flesh looks transparent and separates from the skin.
- 3
While the garden eggs boil, chop one onion and blend the other onion with the tomatoes and hot peppers until smooth.
- 4
Heat the palm oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and fry until soft (about 5 minutes).
- 5
Add the blended tomato-pepper mixture to the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the water evaporates and the sauce thickens (about 10-15 minutes). Fry for an additional 5 minutes, ensuring it doesn't stick to the bottom.
- 6
Remove the skin and seeds from the boiled garden eggs. Mash them into a rough paste (some texture is desired). Add the mashed garden eggs to the stew and stir in about 1/2 cup of water.
- 7
Carefully add the marinated tilapia pieces to the stew, ensuring they have enough room to cook without breaking. Cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.
- 8
Adjust seasoning with salt if needed. Serve hot with boiled yam, plantain, or rice.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Ensure the garden eggs are cooked until they are easily mashable but not mushy.
- ✓Do not overcrowd the pot when adding the fish to prevent it from breaking apart.
- ✓Adjust the amount of hot peppers to your spice preference.
🔄 Variations
- Add other smoked fish like koobi (salted tilapia) for extra flavor.
- Serve with boiled plantains (ripe or unripe) or plain rice.