Egusi -- African Yam Fufu with ground Meion Seed plus Cowleg, Tripe & Fish
I lived in West Africa from 1977-1979. I went over under a joint Smithsonian/Peace Corps program to conduct research on psyllids (aphid like insects) that were damaging native African trees. The trees were planted in the hopes of slowing the southern encroachment of the Sahara Desert. Fresh from graduate school it was a wonderful but challenging two years for me. One of the foods that I learned to love from my African experience was fufu (pounded African Yam – Dioscorea species). During the following decades I often wished I could have this West African dish. Unfortunately, unless I was visiting Africa, I never could get it – until recently. The Kuramo Restaurant in Columbia, Maryland is an African restaurant – and they serve fufu. Now every couple of weeks I drop by and order fufu with ground meion seed. It is called Egusi on the menu. It comes with three types of meat (you choose). I always get cowleg and tripe. I am still experimenting with the third meat choice but goat is starting to win me over. The plate above has cowleg, tripe and fish. Fufo is eaten with your right hand – no utensils are needed. You pinch off a small ball of the fufu with your fingers and dip it into the ground meion seed sauce and move it to your mouth. Probably not for everyone but for me -- Wonderful!!
Egusi -- African Yam Fufu with ground Meion Seed plus Cowleg, Tripe & Fish
I lived in West Africa from 1977-1979. I went over under a joint Smithsonian/Peace Corps program to conduct research on psyllids (aphid like insects) that were damaging native African trees. The trees were planted in the hopes of slowing the southern encroachment of the Sahara Desert. Fresh from graduate school it was a wonderful but challenging two years for me. One of the foods that I learned to love from my African experience was fufu (pounded African Yam – Dioscorea species). During the following decades I often wished I could have this West African dish. Unfortunately, unless I was visiting Africa, I never could get it – until recently. The Kuramo Restaurant in Columbia, Maryland is an African restaurant – and they serve fufu. Now every couple of weeks I drop by and order fufu with ground meion seed. It is called Egusi on the menu. It comes with three types of meat (you choose). I always get cowleg and tripe. I am still experimenting with the third meat choice but goat is starting to win me over. The plate above has cowleg, tripe and fish. Fufo is eaten with your right hand – no utensils are needed. You pinch off a small ball of the fufu with your fingers and dip it into the ground meion seed sauce and move it to your mouth. Probably not for everyone but for me -- Wonderful!!