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Koki (Steamed Black-Eyed Pea and Palm Oil Cake)
Fluffy, vibrant orange steamed cowpea pudding emulsified with virgin red palm oil and fiery habanero peppers wrapped in banana leaves.
The story
Originating among the Bamileke and Bafia peoples in Cameroon's West and Littoral regions, Koki is a celebratory staple served at weddings, weekend feasts, and bustling markets. The signature fluffy texture relies on aerating the peeled cowpea paste via vigorous mechanical beating before folding in warm palm oil. A traditional secret is gently warming the red palm oil to drop its viscosity, ensuring a stable, homogenous emulsion with the water-rich bean mash without weeping during steaming.
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