KOOSE (Fried cowpea bean cake)

Ingredients

•450 g cowpea (dehusked) flour

•270 ml oil (for deep frying)

•50 g ginger

•15 g fresh or dry hot pepper

•75 g onion (optional)

•1 tablespoon salt

•1000 ml water

Preparation

•Mix water with cowpea flour and beat in a circular motion until mixture is fluffy

•Scrape ginger

•Wash and grind ginger, hot pepper and onion

•Add ground spices (ginger, hot pepper and onion) and salt to cowpea flour in bits and continue to beat

•Add water and stir to mix evenly and to obtain a soft dropping consistency

Cooking

•Put oil on fire and deodorize by adding chopped onions

•Drop mixture by spoonfuls in the hot oil and fry, turning occasionally until golden brown (frying may take about 3 minutes)

•Take the cakes from hot oil, drain in a colander and place on kitchen paper to extract excess oil

•Serve hot with corn, millet or sorghum porridge or alone as a snack