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Kenkey and Fried Fish with Raw Pepper (Fermented Corn Dumplings with Fresh Hot Pepper Relish)
Tangy steamed fermented Ga corn dumplings served with crispy golden red fish, fiery ground raw pepper relish, and shito.
The story
Kenkey (specifically Ga Komi) is the soul food of the coastal Ga and Fante fishing communities in Accra and the Central Region, eaten at any time of day by seaside workers and city dwellers alike. The sourdough-like corn meal dumpling relies on a multi-day natural lacto-fermentation process followed by 'aflata'—cooking half the fermented dough into a thick paste and kneading it back into raw dough before steaming. Wrapping the dumplings in dried maize husks imparts a subtle grassy aroma and provides heat insulation during the prolonged steaming process.
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