Ice kenkey facts for kids
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| Course | Snack |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Ghana |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Kenkey, water, sugar, milk or groundnuts |
Ice kenkey is a super popular and refreshing treat from Ghana. It's a sweet, cold dessert drink made from a special kind of steamed dumpling called kenkey. You can often find it sold by friendly vendors right on the streets of Ghana!
What is Ice Kenkey?
Ice kenkey is a delicious snack that's perfect for a hot day. It starts with kenkey, which is a dumpling made from fermented cornmeal. Think of it like a soft, doughy ball. To make ice kenkey, this kenkey is broken into pieces and blended with water, sugar, and often powdered milk. Some people like to use roasted groundnuts instead of milk for a different flavor!
How is Kenkey Made?
Making the main ingredient, kenkey, is a cool process!
- First, maize (corn) grains are soaked in water for about two days.
- Next, they are ground into a dough.
- This dough is then left to ferment for a few days. Fermenting means it sits and changes, which gives it a special taste.
- Finally, part of the dough is cooked and then mixed with the uncooked dough. This mix is then shaped and steamed to create the kenkey dumplings.
Keeping Ice Kenkey Safe
When you buy food from street vendors, it's always important that it's made in a clean way. Sometimes, ice kenkey sold on the street can have tiny germs like E. coli or Staphylococcus aureus. This can happen if hands aren't washed properly or if the food isn't kept cold enough.
But don't worry! Local authorities in Ghana are working hard to make sure ice kenkey is safe for everyone. They have created special training guides for people who make and sell ice kenkey. They also have teams that check on vendors to make sure they are following good hygiene rules. This helps everyone enjoy this tasty treat safely!
