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Oat Fufu

Also known as Oat Fufu (Modern Healthy Swallow)

Oat Fufu is a completely modern Nigerian innovation — a healthy swallow made from blended oat flour that has emerged from the Nigerian urban wellness movement of the 2010s and 2020s. Created by health-conscious Nigerian food bloggers and nutritionists, Oat Fufu has remarkably similar properties to traditional Nigerian swallows — it forms a smooth, firm, mouldable dough when cooked — but provides the nutritional benefits of whole oats: high soluble fibre, beta-glucan for chole

Oat Fufu, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 big cups of oat flour (regular rolled oats blended into a fine flour, or store-bought oat flour)
  • 4 to 5 glasses of water
  • Extra boiling water as needed

Method

  1. 01

    Making Oat Flour. If using whole rolled oats: blend in a dry blender until a very fine, smooth flour is achieved. The finer the flour, the smoother the swallow. Sift through a fine sieve for the best results.

  2. 02

    Mixing a Cold Slurry. In a bowl, mix 1 cup of oat flour with 2 glasses of cold water until completely smooth and lump-free.

  3. 03

    Boiling. Bring 3 glasses of water to a full rolling boil. Pour in the oat flour slurry while stirring continuously.

  4. 04

    Adding Remaining Flour and Turning. Add the remaining oat flour gradually while stirring vigorously. The oat swallow will thicken quickly. Turn and press for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and cohesive. Oat Fufu has a slightly lighter, more porous texture than cassava-based swallows — this is normal.

  5. 05

    Steaming. Cover and steam on very low heat for 4 minutes.

  6. 06

    Serving. Mould with wet hands. Serve immediately alongside any Nigerian soup.

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