FUFU AND LIGHT SOUP

The Royal Akan Food.

THE FOOD

Fufu is believed to originate from Ghana, by the Asante, the Akuapem, the Guans, the Akyem, the Bono and the Fante people of the Akan ethnic group of Ghana. Today, it also features in Togolese cuisine, Guinean cuisine, Cameroonian cuisine, as well as Nigerian cuisine. As with any culture, food is central to Ghanaian life regardless of where you are in the world. Fufu is a very nice food liked by most people but mostly the Ashantis. Fufu is often made in the traditional Ghanaian and Nigeria method by mixing and pounding separate equal portions of cassava and green plantain thoroughly with water.

PREPARATION PROCESSOne could pound fufu for about 30mins, whilst another navigates the mixture to achieve a smooth texture. Everybody loves fufu but nobody wants to be tasked with the job of pounding it. Fufu is mostly enjoyed with light soup and assorted meat.

Ingredients include tomotoes, onions, pepper, ginger, garlic  meat, spices, cassava and plantain.

LIGHT SOUP PREPARATION

Get your assorted meat and apply blended onions with garlic and ginger and apply your seasoning and steam. Boil the tomatoes, onion and pepper. After several minutes, blend it and sieve it on the assorted meat and stir. And your seasoning and stir.

FUFU PREPARATION

Get fresh cassava or cocoyam and plantain. Peel off and boil with an aversge water of 500ml for a soft fufu or 400ml for a firmer fufu. Boil until both cassava and plantain become soft. After that, pour the remaining water from the boiled plantain and cassava. Get your mortar and your pistil and a bowl of water to help you pick the hot cassava and plantain into the mortar. Mostly the plantain is pounded first. Pound to achieve a soft texture. Put your pounded plantain in a bowl, and, and start pounding the cassava. After attaining a soft texture, mix the pounded plantain to the pounded cassava and pound till you achieve a uniform mixture. What is worth noting is that people who want very soft fufu add more water in the process of pounding while those who want a firmer fufu add less water in the pounding process. Dish out your fufu and add your light soup and you are good to go.

BENEFITS

Fufu offers a natural body building opportunity. It is said that before gyms came to town, fufu was producing machomen for free. Also related to its exercising benefits, some communities encourage pregnant women in their last trimester to pound fufu. It is believed that this ensures easy and short labour.

CHALLENGES 

Fufu is nice to enjoy but the preparation is very tiring hence some people opt for the neat fufu and others which is easier to prepare.

Written by: Vanessa Otoo