Kaka Fufu with Egusi Sauce
A staple dish featuring 'fufu' (a pounded dough made from cassava or plantain) served with a rich and savory sauce made from ground egusi (melon seeds), vegetables, and often meat or fish. This version uses plantain for a slightly sweeter fufu.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 large Plantains(green, peeled and cut into chunks)
- as needed Water(for boiling and pounding)
- 2 cups Egusi (melon seeds)(ground)
- 2 medium Onions(chopped)
- 4 cloves Garlic(minced)
- 1 inch piece Ginger(grated)
- 1 small Scotch bonnet pepper(finely chopped (optional))
- 4 tbsp Palm oil
- 3 tbsp Tomato paste
- 4 cups Fish stock or water
- 200 g Spinach or bitter greens(chopped)
- 50 g Smoked fish or dried shrimp(optional, for added flavor)
- to taste Salt
- 1 tsp Crayfish powder(optional)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Fufu: Boil the plantain chunks in water until very tender, about 20-30 minutes. Drain well, reserving some of the cooking water. Transfer the plantains to a mortar and pestle. Pound them vigorously until a smooth, dough-like consistency is achieved. Add a little reserved cooking water if needed to help with pounding. Shape into a large ball or smaller portions.
- 2
Prepare the Egusi Sauce: Heat palm oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until softened. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, and chopped scotch bonnet pepper (if using), and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- 3
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- 4
Add the ground egusi seeds and stir well to combine with the onion and tomato mixture. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the egusi starts to clump and release its oil.
- 5
Gradually add the fish stock or water, stirring to break up any lumps of egusi. Bring to a simmer.
- 6
If using smoked fish or dried shrimp, add them now. Add crayfish powder if desired. Season with salt to taste. Cover and let the sauce simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and oil rises to the surface.
- 7
Stir in the chopped spinach or bitter greens and cook for another 5-10 minutes until wilted.
- 8
Serve the egusi sauce hot with the prepared plantain fufu. To eat, a small piece of fufu is typically dipped into the sauce.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Pounding fufu is labor-intensive; a food processor or stand mixer with a dough hook can be used as a modern alternative, though the texture may differ slightly.
- ✓Ensure the egusi sauce is cooked long enough for the oil to separate, which is characteristic of the dish.
- ✓Adjust the amount of liquid to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
🔄 Variations
- Use cassava instead of plantain for a more traditional fufu.
- Add chunks of beef, chicken, or fish to the egusi sauce for a heartier meal.
- Incorporate other vegetables like okra or bell peppers into the sauce.