TUO-ZAFI

THE BEST NORTHERN DELICACY 

THE FOOD,TUO ZAAFI

Tuo Zaafi is one of the healthy dishes you can find in Ghana. Mostly eaten by people from the Northern part of Ghana, tuo zaafi is also very nutritious and easy to digest. Tuo Zaafi is also known as “saakbo” in other languages. Tuo Zaafi has gained popularity not only in Ghana but many African countries including Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. These days, restaurants have included it in their menu list which shows how much this dish has been widely accepted by Ghanaians from various regions. Tuo Zaafi is made with corn flour and millet flour and doesn’t need a special kind of skill or energy to be able to prepare.

Ingredients such as ayoyo leaves, salt peter (Potassium nitrate)

powdered fish, powdered okra, dawadawa, pepper, onions, fish seasoning, all-purpose spices, meat (Beef), palm oil, tomatoes, salmon, herrings, vassava flour, corn flour etc are essential for the preparation  of the cuisine.

METHOD OF PREPARATION

Thinking of preparing one at home? First, chop the ayoyo leaves into smaller sizes boil water, add chopped onion, powdered fish, powdered okro and dawadawa. After 5 minutes add ayoyo leaves and salt peter don’t cover, stir continuously until the ingredients become very soft. Add salt and seasoning. Allow to simmer for 3 minutes and the soup is ready. Cut meat into desirable sizes. Wash and put meat in a big saucepan over moderate heat. Blend onion, ginger, garlic and add to meat. Add salt and seasoning and cover meat to steam for 5-10 minutes.

Heat pan over medium high heat until hot and then add the olive oil. Then add the chicken. Fry on one side until browned and then flip. Brown the second side and then transfer the meat to a bowl. Add chopped onion and garlic and salt until tender and starting to brown. Add grinded pepper, tomato puree and stir intermittently. Wash salmon and herrings. Then add to the stew. After 6-10 minutes, add spices and allow to cook. Taste for salt and add some chopped onions.Finally add fried meat and allow to simmer for 3 minutes.

Fetch some corn flour and add cold water. Then mix thoroughly to form a solution. Boil enough water and add corn flour to cook for 5-10 minutes. Fetch some of the solution into a separate bowl. Mix dry corn dough and cassava dough and Add mixture bit by bit to the boiling corn dough and stir thoroughly to prevent any lumps. Add the corn dough solution you fetched aside to the Tuo Zaafi to make it soft and stir. After 15-20 minutes of stirring the Tuo Zaafi, you turn off the heat. Serve Tuo Zaafi with stew and soup.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Tuo Zaafi is basically a carbohydrate food. So to have a balanced meal, serve it with Ayoyo soup, which contains some vitamins, minerals, fat and protein or with Palm nut soup, green leaves, groundnut, spinach etc.

Written BY: GRACE ESI BAIDEN DCS 20692