Wagasi is a type of West African cheese made from cow's milk. It is commonly made by the Fulani people, especially those of Northern Benin. [1] It is sold in abundance in Parakou, a city in Central Benin. [2] It is also found across West African countries, particularly in the Savanna zone on the latitude of Parakou.
It is commonly known as wagasi in the Zarma-Songhai and Dendi languages, [3] amo in the Fon language, wara in Nagot language and gasaru in Bariba language. The French also call it fromage. [1] In Ghana it is also widely known as wagashi, which is most likely from the Zarma-Songhai word for it.
It is relatively soft in texture and mild in flavor and is frequently used in cooking. As with many proteins and animal products used in Beninese foods, wagasi tends to be cooked and served in a sauce which is then eaten with a starch, such as pounded yams or pâte, the millet or maize 'porridge' staple of the area (tuwo [ Hausa] or t.z. [acronym from Hausa tuwon zafi (hot 'porridge')) in English-speaking areas.
The cow's milk is warmed. It is then stirred with a leaf from a "fromagier" (a plant such as Bombax ceiba) or any other acidic substance. The milk begins to curdle, after, the curds are removed and then pressed into round cheese wheels. These are then dipped into a red wax that is made from another leaf to aid in preservation. [1]
Wagasi can be prepared in various ways such as frying or boiling. It is usually served in the form of a substitute for fish or meat in stews. It also can be sold in a fried form when on a journey with pepper for dipping. [1]
Cooking bananas are banana cultivars in the genus Musa whose fruits are generally used in cooking. They may be eaten ripe or unripe and are generally starchy. Many cooking bananas are referred to as plantains or green bananas. In botanical usage, the term "plantain" is used only for true plantains, while other starchy cultivars used for cooking are called "cooking bananas". True plantains are cultivars belonging to the AAB Group, while cooking bananas are any cultivars belonging to AAB, AAA, ABB, or BBB groups. The currently accepted scientific name for all such cultivars in these groups is Musa × paradisiaca. Fe'i bananas from the Pacific Islands are often eaten roasted or boiled, and are thus informally referred to as "mountain plantains," but they do not belong to any of the species from which all modern banana cultivars are descended.
Porridge is a food made by heating or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plants, typically grain, in milk or water. It is often cooked or served with added flavourings such as sugar, honey, (dried) fruit or syrup to make a sweet cereal, or it can be mixed with spices, meat or vegetables to make a savoury dish. It is usually served hot in a bowl, depending on its consistency. Oat porridge, or oatmeal, is one of the most common types of porridge. Gruel is a thinner version of porridge.
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Tostones are twice-fried plantain slices commonly found in Latin American cuisine and Caribbean cuisine. Most commonly known as tostones, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Cuba, Honduras and Venezuela, they are also known as tachinos or chatinos (Cuba), platano frito or frito verde, bannann peze (Haiti), patacones and, sometimes, patacón pisao in Colombia.
Hausa koko also known as spicy millet porridge, is a Ghanaian street food commonly eaten as breakfast meal. It can also be taken in late afternoon as snack. It is made from millet with a few local spices added to give it a particular taste and color. It is called Hausa koko because of the notion it was created in the Northern areas of Ghana. It is also common in the various communities in Ghana.