Fufu is a bland-tasting food that is popular in West-Africa, especially Nigeria. For several other regions of West-Africa, fufu can be made from cassava, yam, cocoyam and maize. But in Nigeria, it is made only from cassava.
Fufu is 100% made from fermented cassava in Nigeria. What comes out of yam is called pounded yam and never yam fufu.
I hope you get the point.
So this past weekend I got some fermented cassava flour from my mum and decided to try pounding it the old ways.
How to Make Fufu (Pounding Method)
As I have demonstrated in the video below, the wet flour is gotten from fermenting peeled cassava tubers in water for 3-4 days.
Step 1 Mould wet flour into round shapes and add to boiling water, let is cook for 8 minutes, remove and pound using a mortar and pestle.
What is it Made From
As I have clearly stated above, fufu is made from fermented cassava in Nigeria, The processes is well documented in my mind because while growing up, we relied heavily on fufu and soup for breakfast lunch and dinner :D.
Cassavas are harvested in large quantity, peeled, washed and soaked in water for 3-4 days.
There are severally processes employed to hasten the fermentation process, like the addition of salt.
Once it is fermented and soft, we strain to remove the chaff.
In Ghana, however, it is made with a combination of cassava and plantain.
How to Eat Fufu
Since this is a bland-tasting dish, it is usually paired with soups to make a complete meal. There are hundreds of soups in Nigeria, so you have lots of options.
To fully enjoy this dish, start by washing your hands thoroughly—this meal is best eaten without cutlery. Using your fingers, pinch off a portion of fufu, just enough for one swallow, and gently roll it into a small ball.
Dip the ball into the soup, making sure to scoop up some vegetables or a piece of meat along with it. Place it in your mouth, then use your tongue to separate the fufu from the soup and accompanying ingredients. Swallow the it smoothly, then chew the meat or vegetables thoroughly before swallowing.
Nigerian Fufu (Pounding Method) Video
Other Preparation Methods
Beside the pounding method, You can dissolve wet fufu in cold water and stir over heat till it is properly cooked and thickens.
Alliteratively, you can serve eba and soup, which is coincidentally made from cassava too.
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