Plantain flour or fufu
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Plantain flour fufu is a starchy, dough-like staple food made from dried and ground green plantains, often mixed with water to form a smooth, elastic consistency. It is a foundational carbohydrate source in many West and Central African cuisines, serving as the edible base for soups and stews.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
It is very high in complex carbohydrates and provides a good source of dietary fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. A typical one-cup serving of prepared fufu contains roughly 350-400 calories, with minimal fat and protein.
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, fufu is traditionally eaten with the hands, using small balls of the dough to scoop up flavorful soups, and its smooth, stretchy texture is considered a mark of quality. Nutritionally, using green plantains makes it a more resistant starch, which can benefit gut health and blood sugar management compared to more processed starches.