Ebbeh

Name: Ebbeh
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Gambian
Ingredients: 500g garden eggs (African eggplant), quartered; 4 bitter tomatoes, chopped; 300g smoked bonga fish; 3 tbsp palm oil; 2 large onions, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 200g dried shrimp, ground; 2 Maggi cubes; 1 Scotch bonnet pepper; Salt to taste; 3 cups water

Ebbeh (EH-beh)

Bitter Tomato Stew

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 352 kcal

A distinctive stew made with garden eggs (African eggplant) and bitter tomatoes simmered with dried fish and palm oil, offering a uniquely Gambian flavor profile.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 22.0g

Carbs 30.0g

Fat 16.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ fish

Equipment Needed

large pot wooden spoon sharp knife

Presentation Guide

Vessel: deep serving bowl

Garnishes: palm oil drizzle

Accompaniments: steamed rice, findi

Ingredients

500g garden eggs (African eggplant), quartered
4 bitter tomatoes, chopped
300g smoked bonga fish
3 tbsp palm oil
2 large onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
200g dried shrimp, ground
2 Maggi cubes
1 Scotch bonnet pepper
Salt to taste
3 cups water

Instructions

1
Wash garden eggs and bitter tomatoes. Quarter the garden eggs and chop the bitter tomatoes.
2
Heat palm oil in a large pot. Saute onions and garlic until softened.
3
Add ground dried shrimp and stir for three minutes until fragrant.
4
Add garden eggs and bitter tomatoes. Stir and cook for ten minutes until starting to soften.
5
Add smoked fish, water, Maggi cubes, and Scotch bonnet. Bring to a simmer.
6
Cook for thirty minutes until the vegetables are very tender and the stew has thickened. Serve with rice.

💡

Did You Know?

Bitter tomatoes are an acquired taste that many Gambians develop in childhood, and the unique bittersweet flavor of ebbeh is considered irreplaceable by those who love it.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large pot
wooden spoon
sharp knife

Garnishing

palm oil drizzle

Accompaniments

steamed rice, findi

The Story Behind Ebbeh

Ebbeh showcases ingredients that are uniquely West African and have no direct equivalent in other world cuisines. Garden eggs and bitter tomatoes are indigenous African vegetables that have been cultivated in the Gambia River region for millennia. This stew represents the pre-colonial Gambian palate before the arrival of Asian and American vegetables. The bitter-savory-smoky flavor profile is distinctly Gambian and is increasingly celebrated as part of the movement to preserve indigenous African food traditions.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch 📜 Origins: Traditional Gambian

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