West Africa · Street food
Tubani (Steamed Black-Eyed Pea Pudding with Pepper and Oil)
Velvety steamed cowpea parcels served piping hot with scorched spiced oil, fiery chili powder, and finely sliced shallots.
The story
Hailing from Northern Ghana and cherished within Zongo (Hausa) communities, Tubani is a nutrient-dense street food traditionally eaten for lunch or as an energizing afternoon snack. Unlike coastal bean cakes, authentic tubani relies on unfermented cowpea flour whipped vigorously with potash water to aerate the batter without yeast. Wrapped traditionally in broad Thaumatococcus daniellii (Ewe) leaves, the steaming process yields an airy, sponge-like crumb distinct from dense steamed puddings.
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