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Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Kontomire with eggs and yam

Kontomire with eggs and yam is a Ghanaian dish of spinach simmered in a tomato sauce spiced with pumpkin seeds, served with hard boiled eggs and boiled yam. Made for 4 people, it takes 60 minutes at an easy skill level, for about €2.50 per person. The key is a well reduced sauce and spinach cooked for just a few minutes.

Tonight, Ghanaian style spinach with hard boiled eggs and tender yam, a green dish that's simple and full of flavor.

Kontomire with eggs and yam
Total time
1 h
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.50
Calories per person
570 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Kontomire is the Ghanaian name for spinach cooked in a tomato sauce thickened with toasted pumpkin seeds. The sauce turns a deep color and takes on a nutty flavor that sets it apart from everyday spinach dishes, carried by chili and onion softened with tomatoes. Hard boiled eggs add richness, and boiled yam, a texture close to potato but firmer, rounds out the plate without any false note.

This is an easy family dish for a weeknight, since everything comes together in about an hour with simple steps. Kids usually like the hard boiled eggs and the soft yam, and you can adjust the chili to taste at the table. Mon Chou suggests it just as well for an everyday dinner as for switching up your greens on a Sunday.

The ingredients

4 people

Fruits and vegetables

  • Fresh spinach 800 g
  • Yam 900 g
  • Tomatoes 3
  • Onion 1
  • Fresh chili 1

Dairy

  • Eggs 6

Pantry

  • Shelled pumpkin seeds 60 g
  • Peanut oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Peel the yam, cut it into large chunks and boil it in salted water. 25 min

    Check doneness with the tip of a knife, it should slide in easily.

  2. Hard boil the eggs, cool them in cold water and peel them. 10 min

    Prick the wide end of the egg before boiling, the shell comes off more easily.

  3. Blend the tomatoes with the onion, chili and pumpkin seeds. 5 min

    A little water is enough to blend, the sauce should stay thick.

  4. Pour this sauce into the hot oil and cook until the oil rises to the surface. 15 min

    Stir often, the sauce browns quickly because of the seeds.

  5. Add the chopped spinach, let it wilt for a few minutes, then serve with the eggs and yam. 5 min

    Don't overcook the spinach, it should stay bright green and fragrant.

Our tips to get it right

  • Dry toast the pumpkin seeds for a few minutes before blending them, this keeps the sauce from turning watery and deepens the toasted flavor.
  • Pick a firm yam with no soft spots, it holds together better during cooking and won't fall apart in the boiling water.
  • Chop the spinach right before adding it to the sauce, it loses less water and keeps its bright color.

The variations

  • Swap the yam for sweet potato or boiled cassava if you can't find any, the texture stays close.
  • For an egg free version, stir in cooked chickpeas at the end of cooking, they add richness and protein.
  • For kids, leave the chili out of the sauce and serve it on the side in thin slices, so everyone can adjust to taste.

What to serve it with

  • Extra fresh chili on the side
  • Grilled plantain
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

Kontomire keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, ideally stored apart from the yam. It freezes well once the sauce is cooked, before the fresh spinach is added. Reheat it gently in a pan or pot, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened.

Questions about this dish

Can you use frozen spinach instead of fresh?

Yes, use frozen spinach that's been thawed and well drained. Plan on about 600 g once the water is squeezed out, since it loses volume during cooking.

Can you make the sauce ahead of time?

Yes, the tomato and pumpkin seed sauce can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge. Add the fresh spinach only when you're ready to serve so it stays green.

What do the pumpkin seeds add to the sauce?

Toasted and blended, they give the sauce a nutty flavor and thicken it naturally. That's what sets this dish apart from a plain tomato and spinach sauce.

Do you need to peel the yam before boiling it?

Yes, always peel yam before cooking, since the skin isn't edible. Cut it into large chunks for even cooking in about 25 minutes.

How long does it take to make a kontomire with eggs and yam?

Count 1 h in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a kontomire with eggs and yam?

About 570 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a kontomire with eggs and yam cost?

About €2.50 per serving, or €10.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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