Bammy (Jamaican Cassava Flatbread)
In short: Round, flat cakes of cassava with a crisp, golden crust and a chewy middle, soaked in coconut milk and pan-fried. Eaten with fish. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 370 kcal
Bammy is a flat, round cassava bread and the traditional partner of fried and steamed fish in Jamaica. Traditionally the cassava is grated, squeezed and pressed, but cassava flour makes a close version at home. The discs are soaked briefly in coconut milk, then fried in a little oil until golden at the edges. Inside, bammy is dense and chewy, a little like a thick tortilla, and it is excellent for mopping up escovitch pickle or peppery broth.
Instructions
- Mix the cassava flour and salt in a bowl. Add the warm water gradually, stirring, until the mixture forms a firm, slightly crumbly dough. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then knead briefly until smooth.
- Divide the dough into 8 balls. Press each into a disc about 10 cm (4 inches) across and 1 cm (1/2 inch) thick, smoothing the edges.
- Heat a dry non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook the discs for 3 minutes per side, just until set and lightly colored but still pale.
- Pour the coconut milk into a shallow dish. Soak the discs for 5 minutes, turning once, until they absorb some of the milk and soften.
- Heat the oil in the skillet over medium heat. Fry the bammies for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp at the edges.
- Drain on paper towels and serve hot with fried or steamed fish.
Tips
- Brands of cassava flour absorb water differently. Add the water slowly and stop when the dough holds together when squeezed but does not stick to your hands.
- Skip the coconut milk soak for a drier, crisper bammy, or split a hot bammy and spread it with coconut oil for breakfast.
Questions and answers
What is bammy made from?
Cassava (also called yuca), a starchy root. Traditionally it is grated, squeezed dry and pressed into discs, and cassava flour is a convenient shortcut.
Is bammy gluten-free?
Yes, when it is made only with cassava, salt, water and coconut milk. Check that your cassava flour is pure and not blended with wheat.
What do you eat with bammy?
Escovitch fish and steamed fish are the classic partners. Bammy also goes with ackee and saltfish, or it can be split and spread with coconut oil for breakfast.
How long does it take to make Bammy (Jamaican Cassava Flatbread)?
About 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bammy (Jamaican Cassava Flatbread)?
About 370 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 66 g of carbohydrates and 11 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 370 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 66 g |
| Fat | 11 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 2 g |
| Sodium | 280 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
