West Africa · Street food
Gaou (Spiced Cowpea and Onion Fritters)
Crispy golden cowpea fritters with a fluffy, airy interior, spiced with ginger and Scotch bonnet and sold by Nouakchott street vendors at dusk.
The story
Pervasive across the bustling markets of Nouakchott such as Marché Capitale and Marché Cinquième, Gaou is the preeminent afternoon street delicacy enjoyed by Wolof, Pulaar, and Soninke city dwellers. Eaten piping hot wrapped in newsprint or brown paper, these fritters provide an affordable, protein-packed snack at twilight. The technical secret behind Gaou's cloud-like lightness is intense hand-whipping of the pea paste prior to frying, which incorporates microscopic air pockets without needing any chemical leaveners.
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