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Suf
Suf (ሱፍ): a creamy, strained sunflower-seed milk, drunk on Ethiopian fasting days
During the long Orthodox fasts, when milk is off the menu for weeks, Ethiopian households turn sunflower seeds into suf: the seeds are pounded or blended with water and strained through a cloth into a pale, creamy drink with a gentle nutty taste. It is served cool in glasses, sometimes lightly sweetened, and the same liquid is poured over torn injera to make the fasting dish suf fitfit. It is light, filling and costs very little. Chef's tip: squeeze the pulp hard in the cloth at the end; the last, thickest drops carry most of the flavour.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz shelled raw sunflower seeds
- 1 ¼ cups hot waterfor soaking
- 3 ¾ cups cold water
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)or to taste
- 1 pinch salt
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rinse 3 ½ oz shelled raw sunflower seeds in a sieve, put them in a bowl and pour over 1 ¼ cups hot water. Leave to soak for 20 minutes until slightly softened.
20 minStep 2: Drain the seeds, discarding the soaking water, and tip them into a blender with half of 2 cups cold water. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes until completely smooth and milky.
2 minStep 3: Add the rest of 2 cups cold water and 1 pinch salt and blend for a few seconds more.
Step 4: Line a sieve with a fine muslin cloth or nut-milk bag set over a jug and pour the mixture through. Gather the cloth and squeeze firmly until only a dry pulp is left. Skipping the cloth and using only a sieve is the common mistake; the drink comes out gritty.
Step 5: Stir in 1 tbsp sugar if you like it sweet and chill. Suf keeps in the fridge for 2 days; it separates as it stands, so shake or stir before serving.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 110 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does suf take?
- About 30 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 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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