Dumboy (Liberian Pounded Cassava Dough)
In short: Boiled cassava pounded until stretchy and smooth, shaped into balls and used to scoop up Liberian soups and stews, the traditional starch of the table. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 400 kcal
Dumboy is boiled cassava pounded until it turns smooth, sticky and elastic, then shaped into balls for scooping soup. In Liberian homes it is pounded in a large wooden mortar, a job that takes strength and rhythm, and eaten with pepper soup, palm butter or okra soup. You pinch off a piece, dip it and swallow it rather than chew. A food processor shortcut makes it easy at home.
Instructions
- Cut the peeled cassava into 5 cm (2 in) chunks, remove any woody fibrous core and rinse the pieces well.
- Put the cassava and salt in a pot, cover with the water and bring to a boil. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until very soft and starting to fall apart. Never eat cassava raw or undercooked.
- Drain, saving 250 ml (1 cup) of the cooking water. While the cassava is still hot, move it in two batches to a large mortar or a food processor.
- Pound with a pestle, or process in short pulses, adding the hot cooking water a spoonful at a time. After 5 to 8 minutes the dough should be completely smooth, sticky and stretchy, with no lumps.
- Wet or flour your hands, shape the dough into 4 smooth balls and keep them covered with a damp cloth. Serve hot beside a bowl of soup or stew.
Tips
- Use sweet cassava, sold as yuca in most grocery stores, and cook it thoroughly. Peeled frozen cassava saves work and can be boiled straight from the freezer; cook it until very soft, which takes about the same 25 to 30 minutes.
- If you use a food processor, pulse in short bursts. Long runs make the dough gluey.
Questions and answers
Is dumboy the same as fufu?
They are close relatives. Dumboy is made from boiled fresh cassava pounded smooth, while some fufu is made from fermented cassava, plantain or yam. Both are eaten with soups and stews.
How do you eat dumboy?
Pinch off a small piece with your right hand, roll it into a ball, press a dent in it with your thumb, dip it into the soup and swallow it with little chewing.
Can I make dumboy ahead of time?
It is best fresh, because it stiffens as it cools. Keep it covered in the fridge for a day and warm it in a steamer or microwave with a splash of water.
How long does it take to make Dumboy (Liberian Pounded Cassava Dough)?
About 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Dumboy (Liberian Pounded Cassava Dough)?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 95 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 95 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 300 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
