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    Home » African Dinner Recipes

    PUBLISHED: Feb 24, 2017 · UPDATED: Sep 26, 2018 by Precious · This post may contain affiliate links · 33 Comments

    KOKI BEANS RECIPE

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     Hmmmm Koki Beans... It is one of the things I miss about Cameroon. Ahh! It is a popular street food - a pudding made with black-eyed peas (koki beans). The taste is out of this world! It never lasts in my house. Because as soon as Koki Beans is cooked, I do not rest till it is all resting happily ever after in my belly. Ha.

     

     

    Imagine my joy when I discovered the universality of Koki Beans. It is called black-eyed peas in the United States. It is called moin moin beans in Nigeria. I'm sure other countries have a name for it but I just do not know it.

     

    koki beans - black eyed peas

     

    In Cameroon, blackeyed peas are either used to make koki beans or accra beans. They are hardly used for bean stew. We like grinding then and "hiding" themin fritters and puddings. When made into this amazing pudding called Koki Beans, I could give an arm for it.  Nigerians make something similar and they call it, Moin Moin. Moin Moin and Koki Beans are both delicious. I call them, African cakes. 

     

    Koki Beans Recipe - Precious Core
    So how does this taste? Thank you for asking! It is savoury, spicy (with the heat from the pepper), moist, and spongy.

     

    Making this could take some time but I promise you every bite is worth it! The bulk of the work usually lies in washing the beans. This includes peeling the beans and seperating it from its outer skin. I made a video to show you how I do it.
     
    I start by soaking beans in water for about 5- 10 minutes. Then I put it in a blender and pulse for a few seconds. Don't worry the blender doesn't grind it. It just takes the skin off. When I have peeled all of the beans, I put it in a large bowl and pour water into the bowl, above the level of the beans. The skins float and I drain them using a colander. I repeat the process until the beans are free of the outer skin. Watch this video to see how I peel the beans.

     

    I crush the beans into a slightly grainy paste using my fantastic blender. I can't recommend this baby enough!

    (Yup, affiliate link.)

    blended Koki Beans_

    I use a whisk to whisk the hell out of my bean paste so it traps in air and is spongy just like "Mami Koki's." Mami Koki is the generic name for any woman who sells Koki Beans in Cameroon. I love those women.

     

    I add in all other ingredients and mix. And by all other ingredients, I mean, palm oil, salt, spinach (a substitute for the traditional cocoyam leaves) and water. This is a really low maintenance meal. It doesn't require many ingredients. Some people add in Maggi (seasoning cubes) but that is not necessary at all.

     

    mixing koki beans
    Now is the time for wrapping! Ideally, warmed plantain or banana leaves are used. I use banana leaves and foil paper. But if you can't find banana leaves, just use foil paper, preferably the non-stick one.

    Look at that little cute bundle!

    wrapped koki beans
    I love unraveling and enjoying it while it is still warm. The smell that hits me when I open a bundle is priceless. Oh la la!

     

    hot Koki beans Cameroon
    I love eating koki with boiled ripe plantains. They are a match made in heaven. Period.
     Koki beans Cameroon

    Watch the video to see me whipping up some dee-licious koki beans in my kitchen. Check out the printable recipe below.

    Koki Beans Recipe - Precious Core

    Koki Beans Recipe

    A savory pudding made with black-eyed peas. It is moist, spongy and so tasty.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Cameroonian
    Prep Time: 1 hour
    Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
    Servings: 12 bundles
    Calories: 623kcal
    Author: Precious

    Ingredients

    • 8 cups black eyed peas (koki beans) - peeled, soaked and rinsed
    • 1 ½ cups palm oil
    • 1 bag spinach (8 oz/227 grams)
    • 1 ½ - 2 tablespoons salt
    • 6 cups water
    • 5 chili peppers (or other hot pepper to taste)

    For wrapping

    • 1 bag frozen banana leaves and/ or 1 roll aluminium foil (preferably non-stick)foil

    Instructions

    • Put the soaked beans into a blender and blend together with 4 cups of water and all the pepper into a coarse paste. You need to blend your beans in batches. I blended mine twice so two cups of water went into each batch (To see how I wash and soak the beans before blending, please watch this video.)
    • Pour the ground beans into a large bowl. 
    • Lightly warm the palm oil. Do not bleach it. Set aside.
    • Chop the spinach into large chunks. You can use as much or as little spinach as you need. Set aside.
    • Add salt into bean paste and mix, using an egg whisk so you can trap in air. This makes for a spongy texture.
    • Add oil into the bean paste while whisking continuously. Mix until the oil is well incorporated. At this point, taste to ensure that it is well salted. It should taste slightly more salty than it should be. When it cooks, the taste will balance up. 
    • Now add your chopped spinach and gently fold into the mixture.
    • Prepare your banana leaves for wrapping by warming them over a flame or immersing them in hot water. Wash them thoroughly and cut into rectangles. If using just aluminum foil, no need to do this.
    • Wrap the koki by placing foil paper cut into a rectangle in a small deep bowl. The part right above the bowl should be lightly pressed to fill the bowl. Add on banana leaf cut into a rectangle or another foil paper. Pour in one cup of the bean mixture. Then wrap by bringing together all the edges of the inner foil paper or banana leaf then equally bringing together the edges of the outer foil paper to form a bundle.
    • Place the bundle into a pot lined with foil paper or banana leaves. Pour in two cups of hot water, cover all the wraps with more foil paper then bring to a boil. After about 15 minutes, add in about 1-2 cups of water. Let it cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Be sure to check from time to time so it doesn't burn.
    • Unravel a bundle and serve warm with boiled ripe plantains or any starchy side of choice. Enjoy!

    Notes

    To get eight cups of soaked beans for this recipe, soak four cups of dried beans.
    For a smaller quantity of koki beans, halve the recipe if you so wish.
    Optional ingredients you could add in are Maggi (seasoning cubes) and onions. But those are not necessary. Koki is traditionally made without them. It tastes perfect without them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 623kcal | Carbohydrates: 69g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 2140mg | Potassium: 1371mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2275IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 151mg | Iron: 10mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preciouscore or tag #preciouscore!

    Koki beans (blackeyed peas pudding) - Precious Core
    *Recipe updated after first posted on March 31, 2016.pre-signature-pro

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    About Precious

    Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angele marie says

      April 01, 2016 at 4:17 pm

      Precious u go finish me with langa. Weh mami koki. Shiny koki

      Reply
    2. Precious Nkeih says

      April 02, 2016 at 3:16 am

      Lol langa is allowed. I miss Mami Koki...

      Reply
    3. julia shubs says

      August 15, 2016 at 12:43 pm

      omg. diet on break. if i no chop this today i go die

      Reply
    4. Precious Nkeih says

      August 15, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Hahahaha u funny

      Reply
      • ladame says

        January 24, 2019 at 5:25 am

        please can i do the koki with unpeeled beans? any disadvantages if i use unpeeled beans

        Reply
        • Precious says

          February 05, 2019 at 6:38 pm

          Hi Ladame, you can definitely use unpeeled beans. Your koki might have little bits of the peelings in it but that's okay and the bean skin is actually good for your body. Hope this helps.

          Reply
    5. Doly says

      November 14, 2016 at 4:21 pm

      Dear i live in italy and here i only see ane item called black eyed beans o occhio nero. Is it koki ? Can i buy it and use it that way ? I miss ndole and here they sale dry better leaves from Nigeria, it's ndole right ?
      Please help me understand it so that i can know what to buy or not. Thanks sister

      Reply
      • Precious says

        November 14, 2016 at 4:42 pm

        Hi Doly, black eyed beans is the same thing as koki beans so you can go ahead and buy it.
        For the Ndole, dried bitterleaves from Nigeria will be perfect. I show how to use it in my Ndole video on my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/preciouskitchen

        Hope this helps

        Reply
    6. Doly says

      November 14, 2016 at 5:31 pm

      Thank you sont much for responding so early. Will follow you on YouTube facebook and here. As a matter of fact i posted on your facebook page minutes ago

      Reply
      • Precious says

        November 14, 2016 at 6:08 pm

        Aww that's so sweet to hear. I will be so glad to see you around here more often. Off to check the Facebook post.

        Reply
    7. Joy says

      February 10, 2017 at 1:00 am

      Hello precious am Ur number 1 fan, Ur recipes are just so delicious.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        February 10, 2017 at 10:54 am

        Awww thank you, Joy!

        Reply
    8. Bola says

      February 25, 2017 at 3:34 am

      Hehehehe, this is one of my fav meals.
      Yes, it's moinmoin in Nigeria, if you add ingredients lik crayfish, Titus fish, egg, liver etc, then it becomes 'moinmoin elemi meje' (moinmoin with seven spirits) in yoruba dialect.
      Try it with garri soaked in chilled water, ohlala!

      Reply
      • Precious says

        February 25, 2017 at 9:14 am

        Hahaha Bols!
        I totally want to try Moin Moin with 7 spirits. Sounds delish with all those ingredients.

        Reply
    9. Cheechee says

      February 26, 2017 at 2:19 am

      It looks more like okpa than moimoi.I wonder how it will taste without Maggi because my moimoi is not complete without Maggi.
      I like the vegetables you out inside it.
      I think it will be a good idea to put a leaf like scent leaf in my moimoi.

      http://www.CheecheeLive.com

      Reply
      • Precious says

        February 26, 2017 at 8:51 am

        Oh you reminded me of okpa! Yes it looks like okpa but okpa is harder than this. Scent leaf in moin moin sounds interesting. Hopefully, the scent leaf flavour doesn't take over that of the moin moin.

        Reply
    10. Dominika Goodness says

      February 26, 2017 at 7:25 am

      Precious this seems like a delicious meal, it looks so savoury, mouth watering, and shiny. our Nigerian version "moi moi " is also a good option, thank God you have tasted it. I look forward to tasting this koki beans one day. by the way great pictures, bless you Precious dear.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        February 26, 2017 at 8:54 am

        It is delicious, Dominika.
        Thanks for the compliments, dear!

        Reply
    11. Ahone says

      February 28, 2017 at 7:40 am

      Woow beautiful picture. Just looking at it, makes my mouth watering. I love koki!!!

      Reply
      • Precious says

        February 28, 2017 at 8:30 am

        Thanks Ahone!

        Reply
    12. Claudia says

      November 21, 2017 at 10:36 am

      Hi Precious, how many Habanero Peppe would this reicepe require instead of Chilies? It should be nice and spicy for my husband but not burning his mouth.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        November 21, 2017 at 1:55 pm

        Hi Claudia, one habanero pepper will be perfect in this. Habanero is quite spicy.

        Reply
    13. Claudia says

      November 22, 2017 at 4:08 am

      Thank you for your answer. I wanted to do half of the reicipe and soaked 4 cups of dried beans but now I'm unsure if i should have taken the 4 cups once the beans have been soaked? Also in case i have too much now, is it possible to store the remaining beans in the fridge to do Accra Beans tomorrow?

      Reply
      • Precious says

        November 22, 2017 at 8:42 am

        You actually need 8 cups of beans. The 8 cups should be measured after the beans have been soaked. 4 cups of dried beans should give you about 8 cups of beans after the soaking process. Hope this makes sense.
        And yes, you can store some in the fridge for Accra Beans. I do that sometimes.

        Reply
    14. Edna says

      May 29, 2020 at 11:01 pm

      Hi Precious
      Can you please make an oven baked recipe of koki beans with oven safe little bowls? I will really appreciate if possible. If not can you just let me knkw how you will go about the baking process. I trust your methods, always come out amazing.
      Thank you, Edna

      Reply
      • Precious says

        May 30, 2020 at 10:35 am

        Hi Edna, generously oil small oven safe bowls. Pour in your mixture to fill 2/3 of each bowl. Cut out aluminum foil to sizes that will cover the bowls. Brush oil on the side that will cover the bowls. Cover each bowl with foil. Place bowls on a large tray and bake at 350 degrees (180 degrees C) for 1 hour. Check if it is ready after this then you can leave it in the to bake more as needed until done. Hope this helps, dear.

        Reply
    15. Clarissa says

      February 19, 2021 at 5:32 pm

      Hi precious! I just found your blog and I am so excited to make some of my favorite Cameroonian recipes here in the United States. I have not been able to find any palm oil at any of the ethnic markets near where I live and I'm just wondering if there is any good substitution for it in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Precious says

        February 26, 2021 at 9:35 am

        Hi Clarissa, you can actually get palm oil online from amazon.com. I suggest the Carotino brand as it doesn't have any foul smell as compared to other brands of palm oil I have tried. Hope this helps.

        Reply

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