Fufu and Light Soup
Ghana · Africa
Fufu is a smooth, stretchy dough made by pounding boiled cassava and unripe plantain together until elastic. It is served with Light Soup — a bright, peppery tomato broth loaded with meat or fish. This is one of Ghana's most beloved traditional meals, eaten by hand and savoured slowly.
Ingredients
- 1 kg cassava, peeled
- 2 unripe plantains, peeled
- 500g chicken, goat meat, or fish
- 4 large tomatoes
- 2 onions
- 3 hot peppers (scotch bonnet or habanero)
- 2 seasoning cubes
- Salt to taste
- Water
Instructions
- 1
Cut the cassava and plantain into chunks and boil in salted water for 30–40 minutes until very soft.
- 2
Drain and pound in a mortar with a pestle, turning and folding continuously until a smooth, stretchy dough forms. Alternatively use a fufu machine.
- 3
Season the meat or fish with salt and one seasoning cube. Boil in water for 15–20 minutes.
- 4
Blend or roughly crush the tomatoes, onions, and peppers.
- 5
Add the blended vegetables to the meat pot.
- 6
Add the remaining seasoning cube and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 20–25 minutes until the soup is well cooked and fragrant.
- 7
Shape the fufu into smooth balls and serve in a bowl with generous ladles of the hot soup.
Chef's Tips
Fufu is eaten by hand — pinch off a small piece, make a dent, and use it to scoop up the soup. Serve and eat immediately; fufu hardens if left to cool.
Where to Buy Ingredients
Find the ingredients you need at these stores:
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