Fonio Pilaf with Dates and Peanuts
A fragrant and slightly sweet pilaf made with fonio, a nutritious ancient grain, studded with sweet dates and savory roasted peanuts. This dish is a wonderful side or a light main course, showcasing the versatility of fonio.
🧂 Ingredients
- 1 cup Fonio
- 2 cups Water or Vegetable Broth
- 2 tablespoons Palm oil or Vegetable oil
- 0.5 cup Medjool dates(pitted and chopped)
- 0.5 cup Roasted peanuts(roughly chopped)
- 0.25 teaspoon Cayenne pepper(or to taste)
- 1 medium Carrots(finely diced)
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt(or to taste)
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper(freshly ground, or to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
In a medium saucepan, heat the palm oil over medium heat. Add the chopped dates, roasted peanuts, cayenne pepper, and diced carrots. Cook, stirring, until the carrots soften slightly, about 8-10 minutes.
- 2
Add the fonio to the saucepan and stir until it is well-coated with the oil and aromatics, about 2 minutes.
- 3
Pour in the water or vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Season with salt and black pepper.
- 4
Reduce the heat to low, cover the saucepan tightly, and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until the fonio has absorbed all the liquid and is tender. Avoid stirring during this time to prevent the fonio from becoming mushy.
- 5
Once cooked, let the fonio pilaf rest, covered, off the heat for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Fonio is a quick-cooking grain, similar to couscous. Ensure not to overcook it.
- ✓Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper to your spice preference.
- ✓For a richer flavor, use vegetable broth instead of water.
🔄 Variations
- Add other dried fruits like raisins or apricots.
- Incorporate toasted slivered almonds or cashews for added crunch.
- A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg can add a warm spice note.