Tuo Zaafi (TZ - Northern Ghana Staple)

Ingredients

• For Tuo Zaafi:
• 2 cups (475 ml) corn flour (maize flour) or millet flour
• 4 cups (945 ml) water
• ½ tsp (2 ml) salt
• For Ayoyo Soup:
• 2 cups (475 ml) fresh jute leaves (ayoyo) or substitute with spinach
• 7.0 oz (200 g) smoked fish, deboned and flaked
• ¼ cup (59 ml) dawadawa (fermented locust beans) or 1 seasoning cube
• 2 medium tomatoes, blended
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) ground crayfish
• Salt to taste
• 3 cups (710 ml) water

Instructions

1. For the Ayoyo Soup: Wash the jute leaves thoroughly and chop finely.
2. In a pot, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. Add the diced onion and blended tomatoes.
3. Add the dawadawa (or seasoning cube) and cook for 10 minutes.
4. Add the chopped jute leaves and smoked fish. Cook for 10 minutes until the leaves are tender and the soup is slightly slimy.
5. Add ground crayfish and salt to taste. Set aside and keep warm.
6. For the Tuo Zaafi: Mix 1 cup corn flour with 1 cup cold water to make a smooth paste.
7. Bring the remaining 3 cups of water to a boil in a large, heavy pot.
8. Pour about 1/3 of the hot water into the flour paste, stirring quickly to partially cook it.
9. Pour this partially cooked mixture back into the pot of boiling water. Stir vigorously.
10. Gradually add the remaining dry flour, stirring continuously and vigorously with a wooden spoon. This requires muscle!
11. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture is very thick, smooth, and pulls away from the sides of the pot.
12. Wet a ladle or large spoon, scoop portions, and mold into smooth round balls.
13. Place a ball of TZ in a bowl, ladle the ayoyo soup around and over it, and serve immediately.

Tips & variations

• Tuo Zaafi requires serious arm strength - the constant stirring for 15-20 minutes over heat is a workout. A strong wooden spoon is essential. The finished TZ should be smooth, thick, and hold its shape. Dawadawa (fermented locust beans) adds an authentic umami flavor but has a strong smell - seasoning cubes are a milder substitute. If you can't find jute leaves, spinach works as a substitute but the texture will be different.