Djenkoumé (Togolese Red Maize Paste with Tomato Chicken Sauce)
In short: Maize meal stirred into a red tomato and chicken broth until stiff, then shaped into mounds and served with the chicken and a spoonful of sauce. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 515 kcal
Djenkoumé is Togo's red maize paste, cooked right in a tomato broth so the whole thing turns the color of the sauce. Chicken simmers with tomato, onion, ginger and chili first, and then maize meal is stirred into the broth until the paste is stiff and smooth. It is shaped into mounds and served hot with the chicken and extra sauce. People pinch off a piece and scoop it up by hand.
Instructions
- Rub the chicken with the garlic, ginger and 1 tsp of the salt. Heat the oil in a wide pot over medium-high heat and brown the chicken for 4 minutes per side, then set it aside.
- Cook the onions in the same pot for 6 minutes until soft. Stir in the tomato paste for 2 minutes, then add the tomatoes and chili and cook for 8 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the pot and add 1 liter water and the remaining salt. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes until the chicken reaches 74°C (165°F).
- Lift the chicken into a smaller pan and ladle 250 ml (1 cup) of the sauce over it. Keep warm. Measure the liquid left in the pot and add water to make 700 ml (3 cups), then bring it to a boil.
- Sprinkle the maize meal into the boiling red liquid in a steady stream, whisking constantly, then switch to a wooden spoon as it thickens.
- Lower the heat and stir hard for 8 to 10 minutes, pressing out lumps against the side of the pot, until the paste is stiff and pulls cleanly from the pot.
- Scoop the paste into a wet bowl, turn out into mounds and serve hot with the chicken and its sauce.
Tips
- Pour the maize meal in slowly while whisking, or it will form lumps. If it gets too stiff, stir in a splash of boiling water.
- Red palm oil gives the traditional color and flavor. Use vegetable oil with an extra spoon of tomato paste if you cannot find it.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between djenkoumé and akoumé?
Akoumé is plain maize dough, white or pale. Djenkoumé is cooked in a tomato broth, so it is red and savory.
Can I use fish or beef instead of chicken?
Yes. Use beef chunks, simmered for about 1 hour, or fish steaks added for the last 10 minutes. Adjust the cooking time.
Can I make it ahead?
The paste is best fresh because it stiffens as it cools. The chicken and sauce can be made a day ahead.
How long does it take to make Djenkoumé (Togolese Red Maize Paste with Tomato Chicken Sauce)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 1 h of cooking.
How many calories are in Djenkoumé (Togolese Red Maize Paste with Tomato Chicken Sauce)?
About 515 kcal per serving, with 25 g of protein, 48 g of carbohydrates and 24 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 515 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 25 g |
| Carbohydrates | 48 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 780 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
