Salted cooked fonio

Name: Salted cooked fonio
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Niger
Ingredients: 320 g dry fonio, sorted; 500 ml drinking water, plus 100 ml reserved; 3 g fine salt; 15 ml vegetable oil, optional

Fonio grains rinsed and gently cooked with water and salt; a simple base for sauce or vegetables.

Ingredients

320 g dry fonio, sorted
500 ml drinking water, plus 100 ml reserved
3 g fine salt
15 ml vegetable oil, optional

Preparation

Rinse fonio in a bowl of cold water, swirl gently and drain through a very fine sieve. Repeat briefly if needed; do not soak for long.

Bring 500 ml water and salt to a boil in a heavy pot. Rain in drained fonio and stir once to prevent clumps.

Cover and cook over very low heat for 5 min. Turn off the heat and rest covered for 5 min.

Fluff with a fork and taste. If centers remain firm, add a little reserved hot water, cover and cook 2–3 min more.

Add optional oil, fluff and serve hot. Precooked products may need less water and time; follow package instructions.