Akpith (Corn/maize and Bean Flour Snack)

Title:
Akpith (Corn/maize and Bean Flour Snack)

Yield:
6 Servings

Categories:
Snacks,
Bread,
Vegan




Ingredients:





 1 1/2 c  Corn/maize meal


   1/2 c  Soy flour


 1 1/2 tb Baking powder


   1/2 ts Chili powder (optional)


          Sugar to taste


     1 c  Water


          Oil


          Salt and pepper






 Corn/maize was introduced to Africa from Latin America by the Portuguese,


 mainly to provision their slave ships. The grain was quickly accepted


 because it grew rapidly and undemanding in cultivation. The name 'maize'


 comes from 'mahiz', the word used by the Caribbean Taino Indians from whom


 the Europeans probably first learned about the crop. in North American the


 English settlers were shown it by local Indians. 'Corn' was a general name


 given to any grain, so they called it simply 'Indian corn'.


 


 Columbus noted that maize was "most tasty boiled, roasted or ground into


 flour".  And in southern Ghana today a common food is 'kenkey', fermented


 corn/maize flour balls, wrapped in corn/maize leaves and steamed. Akpith,


 this recipe, is more straightforward.


 


 DIRECTIONS: =========== In a large saucepan, boil the water and then in


 half of the corn/maize meal and all the soy flour to make a thick porridge.


 Add the baking powder, chili powder if using and sugar; season.


 


 Cook this for 10 minutes over a low heat, stirring constantly. Then remove


 the pan and set aside to cool for 10 minutes or so.


 


 At this point, mix in the remaining corn/maize meal and combine thoroughly,


 adding water to produce a stiff dough.


 


 Now pour enough oil into a pan or wok to give a depth of around 2 inches (5


 cms), and heat up.  While it is warming mould the dough into balls about 1


 inch (2.5 cms) in diameter.


 


 With the oil sizzling hot, slide 4 or 5 balls carefully into the pan and


 cook for 2-3 minutes until they are golden brown.


 


 * Source: The World in Your Kitchen - by Troth Wells * Typed for you by


 Karen Mintzias


 


 From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini