Tô with Okra Sauce
Tô (also known as Saghbo) is a fundamental staple in Burkina Faso, a smooth, dense porridge made from millet, sorghum, or corn flour, served with a flavorful sauce. This recipe features a classic okra sauce, providing a nutritious and satisfying meal that is central to Burkinabe cuisine.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 cups Pearl Millet Flour(finely ground)
- 6 cups Water(divided)
- 2 tbsp Butter or Margarine
- to taste Salt
- 500 g Okra(fresh or frozen, chopped)
- 1 medium Onion(chopped)
- 2 medium Tomatoes(chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 2 tbsp Palm Oil or Vegetable Oil
- 1 Stock Cube(crushed)
- 100 g Dried Fish or Smoked Meat(optional, for flavor)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Tô: In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of millet flour with 1 cup of water to form a smooth paste. Set aside.
💡 Tip: Ensuring a smooth paste prevents lumps in the final Tô. - 2
In a large pot, bring the remaining 5 cups of water to a rolling boil. Gradually add the millet flour paste while stirring continuously to prevent lumps.
💡 Tip: Stirring constantly is crucial as the mixture thickens. - 3
Continue stirring and cooking over medium heat until the mixture thickens significantly. Once it's too thick to stir easily, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for another 10 minutes.
💡 Tip: The Tô should be very thick and smooth, pulling away from the sides of the pot. - 4
Remove from heat, stir in the butter and salt. Shape the Tô into small balls using wet hands and set aside.
💡 Tip: Wetting your hands prevents the Tô from sticking. - 5
Prepare the Okra Sauce: In a separate pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until softened.
- 6
Add the chopped tomatoes and minced garlic, cook for another 5 minutes until tomatoes break down.
- 7
Add the chopped okra, crushed stock cube, salt, pepper, and optional dried fish or smoked meat. Add about 1 cup of water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until okra is tender and the sauce has thickened.
💡 Tip: The okra will naturally thicken the sauce. - 8
Serve the Tô balls hot, with the okra sauce spooned over or served on the side.
💡 Tip: Tô is traditionally eaten with the right hand, forming a small ball and dipping it into the sauce.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Tô can be made with millet, sorghum, or corn flour. Millet is traditional.
- ✓The consistency of Tô can be adjusted by adding more or less flour.
- ✓Other sauces commonly served with Tô include peanut butter sauce, baobab leaf sauce, or tomato-based stews.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- Add other vegetables to the okra sauce, such as spinach or bell peppers.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the dried fish/smoked meat and stock cube.