Masa

Masa or Hausa rice cake is another one of Hausa delicious meals. We made it with what we call ‘tuwo rice’ in Northern Nigeria.

Tuwo rice is a special rice that is used particularly for tuwo shinkafa.

The good thing about tuwo rice is that it sticks together with one another, unlike the conventional rice grains that stays apart.

Here is the recipe for tuwo shikafa and Miyan Geda

This recipe and pictures were sent by Ramatu. It is actually a simple recipe. Aside the soaking that happens to part of the rice used in making masa, the rest is very straight-forward.

We can make it in less than 90 minutes.

This is the picture of masa (Hausa Rice Cake).
Masa

This recipe shows you how to make masa (Hausa rice cake), I think you are going to love it if you do it right. Once you have the right pan, you are ready.

Ingredients for Masa

Serving: 4

3 cups of tuwo rice.
2 Table spoons of sugar.
Teaspoon of yeast.
Teaspoon of potash.
Table spoon of oil
50ml of vegetable oil
Salt to taste.

You will also need the masa baking pan and basic cooking utensils.

We mostly serve masa with miyan taushe but u can still pair with yagi (spiced ground pepper). There are other complimentary meals that can be served alongside. However, these two are just top on the list.

Get 3 cups of tuwo rice in a bowl. Divide into two equal parts. Wash the first part and soak in a bowl with potash. The image below is that of tuwo rice.
Tuwo rice
This is how tuwo rice actually looks like, it is readily available in Northern Nigeria and several other parts of the country.

How to Make Masa

This is what you should do; soak a teaspoon of ground potash in half cup of water, allow to setle. Then pour into the first part in a bowl, don’t add the residue. Add more water and allow to soak for 8-10hours. It is best if you soak it overnight.

When you are ready to prepare the masa, get the second part of the tuwo rice. Wash and boil it with just water. Boil it until it is very soft. Mash it to pulp.

Mix the ground rice with the mashed rice together. Add sugar and salt to taste. Add a teaspoon of yeast, stir and allow frothing for 30 minutes. The batter should run not thick.
making masa
Grease your masa pan with vegetable oil and scoop your batter into the pan. Allow to cook until it is golden brown. Turn the other side with a spoon and also observe as it cooks and turn golden brown.
Baking rice cake

This is how to make Hausa Masa, you can serve with Yaji (Hausa spiced ground pepper) or miyan taushe.

This recipe and Pictures were sent by Ramatu. Do you think it is comprehensive enough? Do you know more about Hausa foods? Send me your Hausa recipe through my private WhatsApp line. I would love to publish your Hausa recipe. (08157668217)

Please use the comment form below to talk about this recipe. Thanks.

38 Comments

Success
Reply

Can I prepare masa without the cooked rice?
I want to make my first trial tomorrow morning

March 17, 2024
Maryam yakubu
Reply

Please I know how to make graba

December 26, 2022
ADAKU
Reply

WAWO THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP I LOVE MASA SO MUCH I DONT KW IS VERY SIMPLE THIS WAY.I WILL TRY IT .THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN

November 28, 2020
kabirat ibrahim
Reply

Thanks for the recipe. I tried ur recipe but my Masa is not coming up well. I think the batter is watery bcoz the outside of the Masa was well fried but the inside was undone. Pls is there any remedy to this.

May 28, 2020
Kinziv silver
Reply

What if I want to make for 30 people how how will I go about it

May 14, 2020
Chiagoziem Juliet
Reply

Masa has always been my favorite😍😋😋. Thanks for the recipe tho

April 15, 2020
Beekay
Reply

I tried this recipe the golden brown colour was perfect but my masa is not fluffy inside instead it’s too thick and heavy. What can I do to get a fluffy or spongy kind of masa

December 29, 2019
Stephanie
Reply

that’s because the time stipulated here for the yeast to act i think it isn’t enough or your yeast has lost its potency

November 8, 2022
presh steve
Reply

I tried my own Masa, the outer part what very ok but the inside was still raw. .. could it be coz yeast was too much or because I used the normal rice instead of tuwon shinkafa kind?

August 21, 2019
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I think it’s probably because you had too much heat. It should be cooked slowly.

August 25, 2019
Jay
Reply

Hello,

Kindly advise on any Fulani food to prepare

March 14, 2019
DESTINY
Reply

can you store it in the fridge? And how long can it be stored for?

August 25, 2018
edith
Reply

Simple and straight forward .

May 16, 2018
rachel
Reply

Hello, I don’t live in Nigeria anymore, and it’s hard to get potash. Can I use baking soda, or something else? Thank you.

February 9, 2018
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I am not sure baking soda does the same job as potash, your masa may end up slightly different from the real thing.

February 11, 2018
Umma
Reply

5 stars
You can eat it with any pepper soup of your choice, eg, oxtail, ram beef etc. you can also take it with normal vegetable soup, but it should be watery

January 18, 2020
Aliu Jalo
Reply

Well done thus, buh I actually hav a different and spongy method of making Masa.
Follow me on ma facebook Acc @ aliu abubakar jalo lets cook

June 15, 2017
Mariam Abdulsalam
Reply

I tried it but it not stick together after frying I don’t maybe is because I did not add potash or because is watery

April 18, 2017
keren
Reply

Did you fix it eventually? I have the same problem.

April 28, 2018
Adaeze
Reply

Please I need a favour or I’m going to have a nightmare. What are the kinds of sauce you can use to eat masa/waina apart from miyan taushe?

March 29, 2017
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I will get back to you on that one. Please don’t have a nightmare.

March 31, 2017
Com
Reply

Any kind of sauce will do as farrr as u love it.stew, ygwu or scent leeeavee source.

February 28, 2018

Hi chichi can I use the flat frying pan? Ll like to give it a try, but dat pan. Tnx

March 8, 2017
Chidi Anegbu
Reply

I haven’t tried that one yet, but you can try it and give us feedback.
Chidi

March 9, 2017
keren
Reply

Hi. Im trying to fry my masa, but it is not getting golden brown, it is not cooking and holding together. When i try to flip it, it breaks back into dough. Ive tried low heat, ive tried high heat. What am i doing wrong?

April 28, 2018
Stephanie
Reply

Yes, you can, my mum uses the frying pan and it comes out ok

November 8, 2022
safiya
Reply

i will to try it o,becoz i love masa and i want to do something different and special for my hubby.
So can i use foreign rice in making it? pls i need to know. thanks

January 4, 2017
debbie
Reply

My mum used to make us masa….but there’s something different about masa bought by d road side or in bauchi.I will try this recipe.tanx.

June 22, 2016
funke
Reply

Bauchi masa is da bomb!

December 3, 2016
Olalekan Badmus
Reply

Bauchi masa is the best in Nigeria

June 22, 2019
Monica igwe
Reply

Theres something about bauchi masa that’s bags differently. I am igbo and since I came to abuja it’s been hard to get tasty masa

June 8, 2020
niks
Reply

what do I do with the soaked rice? it looks simple though complicated. can I use foreign rice and the pan, ha! that’s another problem. please help me o, I would love to try it… thank you. looks yummy

April 30, 2016
Comfort
Reply

Wao.. As simple as dis, i love masa and am going to try making it, Tnx

October 9, 2016
Husnah
Reply

You grind the soaked rice. Some people grind it along with the boiled one, easier than mashing (softer if done in local grinding machines not blender)
The rice used is white rice.
For the pan, you could always use a non-stick pan, and make it wider like pancakes

September 20, 2017
Sanusi
Reply

Omg! I love masa, you just reminded me of my mother’s kitchen. I am from Hausa but serving in the east. It have been a long time since I enjoyed anything from home. Igbo foods are great but there is nothing that compares with an original Hausa food.

April 25, 2016
Obiora
Reply

I’d probably start with masa. It seems quite simple and I am feeling confident already. I will get back to you once I am done.

April 25, 2016
Oluchi
Reply

I am from igbo but my family have been living in the Bauchi for the last 26 years. I don’t even know how to make my tribal foods. All I know is how to make Hausa foods. I just made some delicious masa. I will send you the recipe picture soon. Thanks.

March 3, 2016
fikola
Reply

Hello everyone..I’m new here…Masa is one of my favourite Hausa delicacies..I have one question tho,..d rice that was soaked overnyt, it would be grinded abi??..

September 1, 2017

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