African and American kitchens are not so different
African & American kitchens are not so different
Whether in North, Southern, East, West or Central Africa meat is a luxury. Meat is usually reserved for special occasions such as festivals, weddings etc…Most everyday African meals consist of vegetables either from home gardens or from public markets.
The emphasis is on starches and one main starchy side dish is fufu (fofo). What is fufu you may ask? Well, fufu is to West Africa as mashed potatoes are to North America. Both fufu and mashed potatoes have very similar qualities:
1. Prepared in similar ways
2. Filling
3. Versatile
4. Easy to make
5. A kitchen staple
African and American kitchens are not so different. Fufu is made from either boiled green plantains, rice, corn meal, corn, yams or sweet/white potatoes. Just like mashed potatoes, fufu is bland until seasonings are added. Fufu is usually served with soups and stews replacing the conventional spoon of North America. You pinch off a little ball of fufu and use this to scoop up the soup or stew. Mashed potatoes are made by smashing boiled potatoes with a potato masher or a fork. Fufu is also made by pounding the potatoes with a mortar and pestle (masher of sorts). Make your own fufu tonight for dinner!
Photo courtesy USAID
