Dumpling - African Cuisine

African Cuisine

Fufu fit the definition of a dumpling in that they are starchy balls of dough that are steamed. Fufu are staples to the diet of many regions of Africa, although they may be known by several other names. The fufu originates in Ghana, where it is often eaten in soups, much like the matzo ball, or with a vegetarian or meat-based stew. An example of the variation of fufu is the banku and kenkey, dumplings formed from fermented cornmeal dough. Banku are boiled while kenkey are partly boiled then finished by steaming in banana leaves. There are several other versions of fufu in Africa and the Caribbean.

Souskluitjies are dumplings found in South Africa. They are a steamed sweet dumpling, sometimes made with plain flour and sometimes with the addition of dried fruits or other flavors. They are often served with a syrup flavored with cinnamon or a custard sauce.

South Africa has another kind of dumpling known as melkkos. These dumplings are formed by putting milk, one teaspoon at a time, into a dry flour mixture. The flour clings to the milk and forms dumplings, which are then boiled in a mixture of milk and butter. They are served hot and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.