How to Make Green Plantain Fufu

Make your own green plantain fufu recipe tonight for dinner.

What is fufu? Well, fufu is to West Africa as mashed potatoes are to North America. Both fufu and mashed potatoes have very similar qualities such as

Prepared in similar ways

Filling

Versatile

Easy to make

Kitchen staple

African and American kitchens are not so different. Most everyday meals consist of vegetables either grown in home gardens or purchased from public markets. 

Fufu is made from either boiled green plantains, rice, cornmeal, corn, yams or sweet or white potatoes. Fufu is made by mashing starchy foods such as potatoes, yams, cassava, plantains or flour with a liquid such as water or broth.

Just like mashed potatoes, fufu is bland until seasonings are added. Fufu is usually served with soups and stews replacing the conventional spoon of North America. 

You pinch off a little ball of fufu and use this to scoop up the soup or stew. Mashed potatoes are made by mashing boiled potatoes with a potato masher or a fork. Fufu is also made by pounding the potatoes with a mortar and pestle. 

Pounded green plantain fufu African recipe is easy to make and the neutral taste compliments a rainbow of African soups and stews. Fufu can be prepared in advance and reheated.

Green plantain fufu dish ingredients and directions

Fufu recipes are eaten with African soups and stew recipes used to scoop up sauce, soups, and stews. Fufu is a common African dish similar to mashed potatoes but much denser.

Ingredients

3 green or yellow plantains

1 medium cassava root

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4-1/2 cup water

Directions

In a large pot place the peeled and evenly cut plantains and cassava and cover with water. 

Boil until soft about 20 minutes.  

Place the salt, flour, plantains, and cassava in a mixer and whip until the consistency of soft dough is achieved.  

Fufu should be much stiffer than mashed potatoes in texture. Fufu is used to scoop up sauce, soups, and stews.