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Gari Foto (Savory Stir-Fried Seasoned Cassava Grits)
Moistened cassava grits stir-fried in fragrant palm oil with sweet onions, rich tomatoes, smoked fish flakes, and soft-scrambled eggs.
The story
Emanating from the Sierra Leonean Krio diaspora tradition with ties to coastal West African trade, Gari Foto transforms humble fermented cassava flour into a fast, vibrant meal. Often prepared as a quick comforting family lunch, weekend supper, or post-market meal, it demands minimal pantry staples. The culinary mastery lies in lightly blooming the fermented dry gari with just enough salted water to hydrate the grains without turning them into a sticky paste before pan-frying.
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