Exploring Garden Eggs: Types, Benefits, and How to Use Them

The first time I had garden eggs, I knew they bore no semblance to eggs. Not in shape, not in color, and certainly not in the flavor they add when eaten. At that time, I didn’t know that garden eggs came in different colors or that they were mostly round or oval.

Like me, you may have wondered why garden eggs taste the way they do or what inspired their naming. You may also wonder, does it make any difference if I eat the green ones or the white ones? In this article, you’ll discover where garden eggs come from, the benefits of eating garden eggs, and how to turn your garden eggs into stew.

• What to Know About Garden Eggs
• Who Should Eat Garden Eggs
• How to Preserve Garden Eggs
• How to Make Garden Egg Stew
• Where to Buy Garden Eggs

Garden Eggs: What to Know About Them

Garden eggs, also known as African eggplants or “Solanum aethiopicum,” are named by their appearance and mode of cultivation. The name “garden egg” refers to the small, egg-shaped fruit, which often comes in white or light green varieties resembling a hen’s egg. Garden eggs are commonly grown in gardens and home plots, particularly in West African countries where they also double as vegetables. Some local names for garden eggs include Igba in Yoruba and Afufa in Igbo.

We can presume that the term “garden egg” was coined to describe the fruit’s shape – after an egg – and its association with being a common, easily cultivated garden crop.

Varieties of Garden Eggs

On PricePally, you can find both green and white garden eggs in different portions. A third type of garden egg is the yellow garden egg; each type is unique in flavor and shape.

White Garden Eggs

These are the most common and resemble small hen’s eggs in shape. They are usually white, off-white, or near-green. These eggs have a mild, slightly bitter flavor that lingers as an aftertaste. Like the other types, white garden eggs are often eaten raw. But they can also feature in salads or be cooked in stews.

Green Garden Eggs

These range from light to dark green in color, and can be round or oval. They’re also distributed across all parts of Nigeria but are most common in Southern Nigeria. They are unarguably more bitter than white garden eggs. To cushion the taste, you can eat them with peanut butter or groundnut paste. Green garden eggs are also used in preparing garden egg stew or sauces.

Yellow Garden Eggs

The yellow color in these garden eggs indicates ripeness. These eggs tend to be smaller than their counterparts. A yellow garden egg is often sweeter than green or white eggs, and is more enjoyable to eat as a raw snack.

Regardless of color, garden eggs can be spotted with striped varieties, ranging from green stripes on white skin to green stripes on yellow skin.

Are Garden Eggs Seasonal?

Garden eggs can be found year-round in Nigeria, though their appearance peaks during the swell of rainy season, typically between June and September. This is when they’re surplus in markets, dropping in price given their abundance. However, the ease of cultivating garden eggplants ensures they remain in distribution outside of these peak months.

Benefits of Garden Eggs

Garden eggs are nutrient-dense. The nutrients they supply, and their benefits, include:

• Dietary fiber: Dietary fibre fast-tracks digestion in the body, aiding the breakdown of food in the body. This improves bodily health.
• Vitamins: Garden eggs contain vitamins A, B6, and C. These are essential for improving vision, brain development and function, and boosting the immune system. Vitamin B6 also helps in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps you sleep better and aids your bone health.
• Minerals: 100g of garden egg predictably contains about 9g of calcium and 114mg of phosphorus. Garden eggs also provide potassium, iron, and magnesium.
• Antioxidants: High intakes of garden eggs can reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer, by supplying the body with antioxidants that help with reducing oxidative stress.

Garden eggs are a good choice of snack for people looking to stay in shape, given that they are low in calories and fat.

Who Should Eat Garden Eggs

Given their nutrient composition, garden eggs are handy for anyone looking to spice up their diet, reduce intake of vanity calories via unhealthy snacks, or enlarge their bowl of fruits and vegetables.

Specifically, the following people should include garden eggs in their menu:

People Managing Weight

Garden eggs are an excellent choice for those looking to manage or lose weight. They provide satiety due to their high fiber content, which helps moderate hunger pangs and can reduce overall calorie intake.

People with Digestive Issues

Why? The high fiber content in garden eggs promotes regular bowel movements and prevents constipation. Dietary fiber also aids in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, which contributes to better digestive health.

Diabetics

When we eat, our bodies break down the food and convert the carbohydrate content into glucose. When absorbed into the blood, this raises the blood sugar level. Garden eggs, being low in carbohydrates, cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels. This makes them a good fit for people managing their blood sugar level.

People with Eyesight Concerns

Garden eggs are a good source of vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining healthy vision. They also contain antioxidants that protect the eyes from damage caused by free radicals. Anyone who wants to improve their vision can add garden eggs to their weekly snacks.

Pregnant Women

Why? Garden eggs contain essential nutrients like folate, which is crucial for fetal development during pregnancy. The iron and calcium content in garden eggs also prevents anemia and supports bone health in pregnant women.

How to Preserve Garden Eggs

Garden eggs are best consumed, especially in raw form, within a few hours or days of purchasing or harvesting them. While research suggests that garden eggs can be stored for up to a few months, the consensus is that garden eggs are liable to reducing in quality if not eaten immediately.

However, for individuals looking to prepare garden eggs for stew, you can preserve them as semi-cooked, which can then be used in preparing garden egg stew later.

To do this:

• Prepare a large bowl of water and pour your garden eggs.
• Sprinkle a handful of salt into the bowl, and wash the eggs thoroughly.
• Drain the water and give the garden eggs a second rinse. Once done, transfer them into a suitable pot.
• Place the pot on fire and fill it with a commensurate volume of water. Add some salt to the water. The salt will serve as a preservative.
• Cover the pot and leave until the water boils. This should take anything from 5 to 15 minutes.
• Once boiled, remove the pot and take out the garden eggs to cool. You can spread them on a tray or rinse under running water to aid cooling.
• Having cooled, peel off the outer skin and remove the pedicel.
• Pack the peeled garden eggs into a zip lock bag and place in a refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to use them to prepare your stew.

Not sure how to make garden egg stew?

How to Prepare Garden Egg Stew

Garden egg stew is a flavorful stew that works well with yam, rice, or plantain. It’s a great alternative if you’re tired of your traditional stew and want to spice up your palate with something different.

Here’s a basic outline of how to prepare it.

Ingredients:

– Garden eggs (about 8-10)

– Red bell peppers (2-3)

– Scotch bonnet peppers (1-2, depending on your preference for pepper)

– Tomatoes (2-3)

– Onions (1 large)

– Palm oil or vegetable oil (about 1/2 cup)

– Crayfish (optional, about 2 tablespoons)

– Smoked fish (optional)

– Seasoning cubes (2)

– Salt to taste

Shopping Tip: buy white garden eggs for your garden egg stew, as they’re often less bitter.

Cooking Instructions

• Wash and boil the garden eggs for about 10 minutes or until they become soft. Once boiled, peel off the skin and mash or blend them into a coarse paste.
• Blend your tomatoes, red bell peppers, scotch bonnet peppers, and onions together.
• Heat the palm oil or vegetable oil in a pot. If using palm oil, heat until it begins to bleach slightly.
• Add the blended pepper mix into the hot oil and fry for about 10-15 minutes until the mixture reduces and the oil starts to separate from the paste.
• Add the mashed or blended garden eggs to the fried pepper mix and stir well.
• Season with crayfish, seasoning cubes, and salt. Allow the stew to cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• If you’re using smoked fish, debone and break it into pieces, then add to the stew.
• Once the stew is well cooked and flavors have melded, serve it hot with boiled yam, plantains, or rice.

Cooking Tip: peel and soak your garden eggs in salted water for a few minutes before mashing to reduce the bitter taste. Alternatively, roast them in an oven or over an open fire to add a smoky flavor to the stew.

Where to Buy Garden Eggs

Walk into your local market, especially during the rainy season, and you can get garden eggs of any color or size. You can get them on online grocery stores like PricePally, farm-fresh and ready for consumption.

Supermarkets such as ShopRite and Spar also sell garden eggs alongside other fruits, though this may not present you with the best, farm-fresh produce.

If you prefer, you can grow a small garden of garden eggs within three months. To start, all you need to do is a reliable supplier of garden egg seeds.

Conclusion

Given its naturally bitter taste, though mild, garden egg isn’t a favorite in many Nigerian households. Once you discover the magic of garden egg stew, however, you’ll warm up to eating garden eggs and including them in your frequent meal plans.

The best way to enjoy garden eggs is to get them fresh from the farm or garden. PricePally delivers farm-fresh foods sourced directly from farmers. Process your next supply of garden eggs from PricePally and join the league of Nigerians who choose a soft life and trust PricePally for all their grocery needs.