Ablo (Togolese Steamed Rice and Maize Cakes)
In short: Soft, lightly sweet steamed cakes of fermented rice and maize batter, a Togolese favorite eaten with fried fish and hot pepper sauce. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 2 h
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 355 kcal
Ablo are small, soft, slightly sweet steamed cakes made from a fermented batter of rice flour and maize meal. They are sold hot in the morning and at lunch in Togo, often with fried fish or a plate of spicy tomato sauce. The batter is raised with yeast, poured into small molds and steamed until set and springy. Eat them warm, torn into pieces and dipped in the sauce.
Instructions
- Mix the rice flour, maize meal, yeast, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Add the warm water gradually, whisking, to make a smooth batter the thickness of pancake batter.
- Cover and leave in a warm place for 2 hours, until the batter is bubbly and has risen.
- Lightly oil 12 ramekins, a muffin tin or small heatproof cups. Stir the batter once and fill each mold about three quarters full.
- Set up a steamer with 3 cm (1 in) of boiling water. Steam the molds in batches, covered, for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cakes are set and a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool the cakes for 5 minutes in the molds, then turn them out. Serve warm.
Tips
- Fill the molds only three quarters, since the cakes rise as they steam. Wrap the steamer lid in a cloth so no drips fall on the cakes.
- Wrap leftover ablo in a tea towel and refrigerate. Re-steam for 5 minutes or microwave for 30 seconds.
Questions and answers
What do you eat ablo with?
Fried fish with a hot pepper and tomato sauce is the classic pairing. Spicy bean stews and sardines also go well.
Are ablo gluten-free?
Made as written, with rice flour and maize meal, yes. Check that your flour and meal are not processed with wheat.
Can I use a bamboo steamer?
Yes. Place the molds on a rack inside any steamer and cover it. Keep the water at a gentle boil.
How long does it take to make Ablo (Togolese Steamed Rice and Maize Cakes)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Ablo (Togolese Steamed Rice and Maize Cakes)?
About 355 kcal per serving, with 6 g of protein, 78 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 355 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 78 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 11 g |
| Sodium | 250 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
