puff puff recipe

Puff puff is a deep-fried dough. They are made from yeast dough, shaped into balls and deep-fried until golden brown. It has a doughnut-like texture but slightly more chewy. It is a very common snack eaten by so many countries but with different names and a little bit of variation in the mode of preparation.

For West Africans, puff puff needs no introduction. It is a quick and easy recipe with a few low-cost ingredients but don’t underestimate how delicious it is because of its simplicity. Very few people can resist their allure.

Puff puff is an African classic, usually sold in street-side shops.  In Cameroon, this is a very popular snack and a favourite for breakfast too. Checkout my street food recipe puff puff and beans PUFF PUFF AND BLACK BEANS/cameroon Street food While working on this recipe, I unearthed some childhood memories that I’d completely forgotten about. When I was in primary school ‘; I used all my lunch money to buy puff puff I know there is so much nostalgia associated with the sight and smell of puff puff snack, PUFF-PUFF AND BEANS/BEIGNETS HARICOTS and I am hoping that, with this recipe, your memories will re-surface and make you smile as well. 😊

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1¼ cups Warm Water
• 2 Teaspoons Yeast
• 1 Teaspoon Nutmeg or cinnamon
• ½ Teaspoon Salt
• ¼ Cup Sugar + 1 teaspoon sugar for proofing the yeast
• 1 egg
• Enough Oil for deep frying

Method of preparation

• Proof the yeast: Both instant yeast or active yeast will work perfectly for this recipe. If you are using instant yeast, you can skip proofing the yeast. If using active yeast, it’s advisable to proof the yeast.
• Make the batter: Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients and mix well
• Leave to proof: The batter needs to proof in a warm place for about an hour. A little more or less or till the batter rises about twice or thrice it’s original size.
• Fry: Be sure to let your oil get hot before frying the puff puff. If the oil is not hot enough, the resulting puff puff will soak up the oil. You don’t want that.

There are other puff puff recipes like puff puff banana / also known as (Banana Makara / beignets de banana https://youtu.be/ockhATYmNiQ

For those of you seeing these for the first time, puff puff is often eaten as a snack just the way it is, you can also sprinkle some granulated or confectioners sugar over it for a double load of sweetness. It can also b enjoyed with the African spicy sauce.

It is also called Bofrot in Ghana. There is a similar recipe in East and South Africa called (fried dough). In French Beignet, in Italy Zeppole just to mention a few.