Garden egg, commonly refered to in the western world as “mock tomato” or gilo or huckleberry, is a fruit from the African garden egg plant called Solanum aethiopicum. From Cotonou to Harare, Mozambique to Senegal, this fruit is a highly valued delicacy and constituent of the African food. The story and listing of African foods would in fact be totally incomplete without mentioning this vegetable plant!
They also represent fertility and blessing. It is thus not uncommon to find them served during wedding ceremonies across the African continent.
Called “igba” or “ikan” amongst the Yoruba’s of Nigeria, it is referred to as “ngilo” in Swahili and “nakasuga” or “nakati” in Uganda.
Even though garden egg is generally said not to contain huge amount of protein and other nutrients, it is low in sodium, low in calories and very rich in high dietary fibre. It is also high in potassium, a necessary salt that helps in maintaining the function of the heart.
Without any exaggeration, this is the perfect recipe for achieving weight loss within a short period of time. It is also good for diabetics because of its very low calorie content.
Because of the meaty feeling of garden eggs when eaten in soups, it is often used as a substitute for meat and fish.
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