African Fufu Recipe (+ Video)

Fufu is a staple food in many countries in West Africa, Central Africa, and Caribbean. Traditionally it can be made with starchy food like cassava, yams or plantains. This easy fufu recipe boils cassava and plantains first, and then blend them into a dough-like consistency. Finally, it’s shaped into small balls and served with soup, stew, or sauce. So satisfying and delicious!

What Is Fufu?

Also called foo-foo, fufu is made with starchy foods that have been boiled, pounded, and then shaped into round balls. It’s originated in Ghana, and has become a popular dish in many African and Caribbean countries.

The traditional process of making fufu is difficult as it mixes and pounds separate equal portions of cassava and green plantains thoroughly with water. We’ve created a much easier recipe – simply boil the cassava and plantains, blend them with a food processor or blender, then shape them into small balls.

What Are “Swallow Foods”?

Swallow foods refer to African foods that can be swallowed without chewing. Examples include fufu, pounded yam, amala and more. They can be swallowed easily because the texture is doughy and pliable, akin to mashed potatoes.

What Does Fufu Taste Like?

Fufu has a mild flavor with a smooth, gummy and sticky texture. When dipped into a stew or soup, it’s amazingly delicious. It looks a lot like mashed potatoes.

Ingredients For Fufu Recipe

• Cassava – also known as yuca, cassava is a long tuberous starchy root. You can find them in most local grocery stores. Look for the ones that are firm and free from blemishes.
• Plantains – traditional fufu recipe uses green unripe plantains, but I also like the texture of the ones that are not completely green. Avoid the ripe or over-ripe plantains with skin that’s yellow with many patches of black pots.
• Water – you’ll need to add the water to reach your desired consistency.
• Salt and Pepper – they’re optional, but adds additional flavors to your fufu.

How To Make Fufu

1. Peel the skin of cassava and cut it into chunks.

2. Peel the skin of plantains and cut it into chunks.

3. In a large saucepan or pot add water and bring it to boil.

4. Add cassava and plantain pieces, and boil them for about 15-20 minutes until they’re soft.

5. Transfer the pieces to a food processor or blender using a slotted spoon. Season with salt and pepper.

6. Pulse to blend, add water until it reaches your desired consistency. It’s important to add small amount of water each time.

7. Transfer the mixture into a bowl.

8. Take about 2 spoons of the mixture and shape it into balls (you can use plastic wrap as the dough is very sticky). Repeat with the rest of the dough. You’ll get about 8-10 fufu balls. Serve them with stew or soup.

Tips & Tricks For The Best Fufu African Food

• I recommend boiling the cassava and plantains before blending or pounding. It’s much easier to handle as they’re softer after boiling.
• Test the cassava and plantain using a fork after 15 minutes of boiling. Remove from heat when they’re soft.
• It’s important to add water GRADUALLY to the mixture to reach your desired consistency. Too much water will make your fufu too soft.
• I recommend using plastic wraps when shaping the fufu as it’s very sticky.
• Besides cassava and plantain, you can also use other ingredients like yam, oatmeal, and cornmeal.

How To Eat African Fufu?

Traditionally fufu is eaten with fingers by pinching some of the fufu off with fingers and form it into a bite-sized round ball. Then you can dip the ball into the soup, stew with meat. For this recipe, we shaped the fufu into small balls, and you can easily serve them with soup and sauces.

What Can I Serve With Foufou?

Serve foufou as an accompaniment to West African soups and stews. Sample dishes might include abun abun (green vegetable soup) or nkate nkwan (ground nut soup). Any stew containing vegetables, meat or seafood will go well with foufou.

How To Store Fufu

To store fufu, start by tightly wrapping it with plastic wrap to keep it moist. Then refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

How Long Does Fufu Last?

Keep these homemade fufu balls in individual plastic wraps and store them in refrigerator. They’ll last for 4-5 days.

How To Reheat Fufu

To reheat fufu, first let it return to room temperature. This is important for the best texture. Then cut into bite-size pieces and bake on a baking sheet for 10 minutes at 350°F. You can also reheat in an uncovered skillet over medium-low for 10 minutes.

More Recipes You May Like

• Mulitas
• Cachapas
• Arepa Paisa
• Air Fryer Potato Chips

How To Make It Ahead

You can easily make fufu several days ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Alternatively, you can make it months ahead by freezing it.

Recipe Variations

There are many different ways to make fufu. Here are some popular variations:

• Sweet Fufu – Try mixing in some sweet potatoes or a touch of sugar for a sweeter flavor.
• Akpu – This is fermented fufu where the chopped cassava sits in water for 3 to 5 days before cooking. Many people enjoy the distinctive fermented flavor.
• Yam fufu – This recipe uses boiled yams instead of cassava as the base for the fufu.
• Plantain fufu – You can make the recipe with plantain instead of cassava, or a mix of the two for a different taste.
• Eba – This is fufu made with dried cassava (garri), which is convenient when you can’t find fresh cassava.
• Amala – This is fufu made with powdered yam instead of cassava. 

While less common, it’s possible to make fufu with semolina (durum wheat), oats, cornmeal or mashed rice. The possibilities really are endless!

FAQs

Do I Have to Add Plantains to Fufu?

Plantains are not required in a basic fufu recipe. However, many variations use plantains or other starchy materials instead of cassava.

Can I Eat it Cold?

You can eat fufu hot or cold, although it is more enjoyable when warmed (as with mashed potatoes). 

Can I Freeze Fufu?

Yes, you can freeze fufu for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and place in a ziptop bag, squeezing out all the air before sealing.

Is Fufu Raw Dough?

Fufu is not raw dough, as it’s made from boiled starchy material, whether they be cassava, plantains or otherwise.

Is Fufu Healthy?

Fufu has multiple health benefits. It’s rich in dietary fiber and its resistant starch feeds beneficial gut bacteria to promote digestive health. In addition, it’s a source of potassium, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin as well as vitamin C.