Banku (dish) facts for kids
Balls of banku
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| Alternative names | Akple, ɛtsew |
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| Type | Swallow |
| Place of origin | Ghana |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Corn dough, cassava dough, salt and water |
Banku and akple are popular dishes from Ghana. They are made from a mix of corn and cassava doughs. These doughs are slightly fermented and then cooked. The cooked mixture is shaped into small, single-serving balls.
Banku is cooked in hot water until it becomes a smooth, whitish paste. People usually eat it with soup, okra stew, or a spicy pepper sauce with fish.
Akple is a type of banku especially loved by people in southern Ghana. This includes the Ewe, Fante people, and Ga-Dangme communities. However, people all over Ghana enjoy it. Banku is a softer version. The Fante people also have a drier type called ɛtsew.
What's in a Name?
The word Banku comes from the Ga-Dangme language. There are other similar-sounding words in the Ga language. For example, Inku means pomade. Ashanku is a type of plantain fritter. Many other words in Ga also end with 'ku'.
How to Make Banku
Making banku involves a few steps. The main things you need are corn flour, cassava, salt, and water. Both banku and akple use similar ingredients.
First, the cassava is peeled and cut into pieces. It is then mixed with corn grains. This mixture is soaked in water for about a day. After soaking, the water is drained away. The cassava and corn are then ground into a smooth, wet dough. This dough is left to ferment for two to five days. The time depends on how warm it is.
Next, the fermented corn and cassava dough is mixed with water. This mix is then boiled. As it boils, it is stirred slowly until it becomes thick like dough. Then, it is kneaded until it is smooth. More water is added around the dough in the pan. It should almost cover the surface. The pan is then covered well. This helps the dough cook evenly with steam.
After boiling, the dough is kneaded again with a spatula. This mixes the water into it until it is smooth. This process of adding water and kneading is repeated. It continues until the dough is soft and fully cooked. Finally, the cooked dough is divided into small balls.
How to Eat Banku
People traditionally eat Banku and Akple with their hands. Akple is often eaten with an okro (okra) soup. This soup is known as Fetri Detsi among the Ewe people. You can also serve banku with different kinds of soup, stew, or pepper sauce. It tastes great with meat or fish.
Gallery
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Akple
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Banku and pepper
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Grilled tilapia with banku
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Banku with okro 'okra' stew and crab
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Banku with fried fish and hot pepper
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A ball of akple tied in plastic
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Akple (upper-right) and borbi tadi
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A woman preparing banku in Ghana
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Preparing banku
See also
In Spanish: Banku para niños
