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Kosua ne meko
Boiled eggs with pepper relish
Kosua ne meko: Ghana's boiled eggs with fresh ground pepper relish
In the traffic of Accra and at the lorry stations of Kumasi, hawkers carry trays of peeled boiled eggs with a jar of meko, a fresh, fiery relish of chilli, onion and tomato ground in an earthenware asanka. Buyers split the egg and spoon the pepper inside, and at home it is a quick evening snack or a light supper with bread. The usual mistake is boiling the eggs too long, which leaves a grey-green ring round the yolk and a rubbery white; ten minutes and a cold-water plunge give a firm, bright yolk. Wash your hands well after handling the chillies. Chef's tip: grind the onion and salt first, then the chilli and the tomato last, so the relish stays chunky rather than watery.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 3
Ingredients
- 6 eggslarge
For the meko
- ½ red onionsmall, roughly chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 fresh red chilliesor 1 scotch bonnet, seeds removed for less heat
- 1 tsp fresh ginger (optional)grated
- 1 ripe tomatomedium, chopped
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What you'll need
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Lower 6 eggs into a pan of boiling water with a spoon and boil steadily for 10 minutes for firm, fully cooked yolks.
10 minStep 3: Add 2 fresh red chillies and 1 tsp fresh ginger and grind to a coarse paste, then add 1 ripe tomato and pound lightly, just until it breaks up. Taste and add more salt if needed.
2 minStep 4: Drain the eggs and plunge them into a bowl of cold water for 2 minutes, then crack and peel under the water.
2 minStep 5: Slit each egg lengthwise without cutting right through and spoon a little meko inside. Serve with the rest of the relish alongside.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 160 kcal
- Protein
- 13 g
- Carbs
- 3 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kosua ne meko take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 3 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
- What can I use instead of red onion?
- White onion or shallots, same amount (soak raw onion in cold water for 10 minutes to soften it).
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