Fondé (Malian Millet Porridge)
In short: A smooth, lightly tangy millet porridge sweetened with sugar and finished with lemon and a splash of milk, a Malian breakfast and snack. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 175 kcal
Fondé is a millet porridge from Mali, thin enough to drink from a bowl and thick enough to fill you until lunch. Millet flour is whisked into boiling water and cooked until smooth and glossy, then sweetened and brightened with lemon, and often enriched with a spoonful of milk or yogurt. It is quick, cheap and easy on the stomach, and children and adults eat it in the morning. It is also a good way to try millet if you have never cooked with it.
Instructions
- Whisk the millet flour with 250 ml (1 cup) of cold water in a bowl until smooth, with no lumps.
- Bring the remaining 750 ml (3 cups) of water and the salt to a boil in a heavy saucepan.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low. Slowly pour in the millet mixture, whisking constantly, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring often, until smooth, thick and glossy with no raw taste.
- Stir in the sugar and half the lemon juice. Taste and add more sugar or lemon as you like, then thin with a little hot water if the porridge is too thick.
- Ladle into bowls and add a splash of milk or a spoonful of yogurt. Serve hot.
Tips
- Millet flour is sold in health food stores and African and Indian groceries. Fine pearl millet flour gives the smoothest porridge, while coarse flour needs about 5 minutes longer.
- For a more sour note, replace the lemon with a spoonful of tamarind paste, or stir in plain yogurt instead of milk.
Questions and answers
Is fondé gluten-free?
Yes, millet is naturally gluten-free. Check the packaging if you are very sensitive, since millet flour can be milled in facilities that also handle wheat.
Can I make fondé ahead of time?
It thickens as it cools. Refrigerate for up to 3 days and loosen with hot water or milk when reheating.
Can I make fondé with another grain?
Sorghum flour gives a similar porridge, and fine cornmeal makes a milder, more familiar one.
How long does it take to make Fondé (Malian Millet Porridge)?
About 25 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Fondé (Malian Millet Porridge)?
About 175 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 36 g of carbohydrates and 2 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 175 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 36 g |
| Fat | 2 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 14 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
