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Ogi (pap, fermented maize porridge)
Ògì / Akamu: smooth, tangy fermented maize porridge, the classic partner to akara and moi moi
Early mornings across Nigeria smell of akara frying and ogi being stirred: the smooth, pourable porridge that Yoruba homes call ogi and Igbo homes call akamu. It is made from maize soaked for two or three days, ground, sieved and left to settle into a soft white paste, which is sold fresh in markets wrapped in leaves or plastic. Boiling water turns the paste glossy and thick, with a clean sourness that is often softened with sugar and milk. Water that is merely hot rather than boiling is the usual mistake, leaving the pap thin and chalky; if that happens, stir it over a low flame for a minute. Chef's tip: sorghum ogi (ogi baba) is redder and earthier, and millet ogi is lighter; all three cook the same way.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 5 ½ oz wet ogi pastefrom African grocers; or 60 g ogi powder
- ½ cup cold water
- 2 ½ cups boiling waterroughly
To serve
- 2 tbsp sugar (optional)to taste
- ½ cup unsweetened plant milk (optional)or evaporated milk if not vegan
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put 5 ½ oz wet ogi paste in a heatproof bowl and stir in ½ cup cold water, breaking it up with a spoon until smooth with no lumps, like single cream.
2 minStep 2: Bring 2 ½ cups boiling water to a full, rolling boil.
4 minStep 3: Pour the boiling water into the bowl in a steady stream while stirring fast with your other hand. Within a minute the pap will thicken, turn glossy and change from opaque white to slightly translucent. Stop pouring once it is as thick as you like it.
2 minStep 4: If it stays thin and cloudy, tip it into a pan and stir over a low heat for 1–2 minutes until it thickens.
2 minStep 5: Sweeten with 2 tbsp sugar, loosen with ½ cup unsweetened plant milk and serve hot with akara or moi moi.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 220 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 48 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does ogi (pap, fermented maize porridge) take?
- About 15 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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