
Central Africa · Side
Fufu (Congolese Cassava and Corn Swallow)
Stretchy, smooth swallow made from a balanced blend of cassava and corn flours.
The story
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Fufu (also called bidia or bugali) is the primary daily starch that accompanies savory stews like pondu and moambé. Unlike West African yam fufu, the Congolese standard uses a dynamic ratio of fermented cassava flour mixed with fine cornmeal, stirred vigorously in a heavy pot using a wooden baton (mwiko).
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