West Africa · Side
Tô (Stiff Millet and Corn Porridge)
A silky, firm northern Ivorian staple porridge forged from pearl millet and corn flours beaten into simmering alkaline water until glossy.
The story
Tô is the enduring evening cornerstone for northern Savannah communities including the Senufo, Lobi, and Tagbana across Côte d'Ivoire's Korhogo and Bouna regions. Shared from a communal bowl, it anchors dinners alongside mucilaginous and sour herb sauces like Dah or Gombo. A critical technical detail is the addition of potash water (kanwa) early in the boiling phase, which elevates pH, modifying starch gelatinization to yield its characteristic resilient, lump-free elasticity.
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