Lakh (Mauritanian Millet and Sour Milk Pudding)
In short: Steamed millet pearls tossed in sweetened yogurt and milk, chilled and finished with grated coconut. A cooling Mauritanian treat. It takes about 1 h 10 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 1 h 10 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 315 kcal
Lakh is a cool, sweet, tangy pudding made with steamed millet and sour milk, served in bowls in the heat of the afternoon or after the fast is broken. Millet flour is rubbed into tiny pearls, steamed until fluffy and mixed with yogurt, milk and sugar. A topping of grated coconut adds richness. The millet drinks up the milk as it chills, so the texture is soft and creamy.
Instructions
- Mix the flour and salt in a wide bowl. Sprinkle with a little water and rub between your palms to form tiny pearls, adding water a spoonful at a time. Sieve out the larger lumps and rub them again.
- Bring 3 cm (1 in) of water to a boil under a steamer lined with a clean cloth. Spread the millet pearls on the cloth and steam, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
- Tip the millet into a bowl. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of water and break up lumps with a fork, then steam again for 15 minutes.
- Let the millet cool for 15 minutes, fluffing it now and then.
- Whisk the yogurt, milk and sugar until smooth. Fold in the cooled millet and chill for at least 1 hour.
- Spoon into bowls and top with the grated coconut.
Tips
- Instant millet couscous, if you can find it, can replace the steamed pearls. Just moisten it with hot water and rest for 10 minutes.
- The millet keeps absorbing liquid as it sits. Stir in a splash of milk before serving if it has thickened too much.
Questions and answers
Can I use couscous instead of millet?
Wheat couscous gives a similar result and is easier to find, though it is not gluten-free. Soak it in hot water for 5 minutes and cool it before folding it into the yogurt.
Is lakh served warm or cold?
Cold. The chilled millet and sour milk are what make it a cooling dish in hot weather.
How long does it keep?
Up to 2 days in the fridge, covered. Add the coconut just before serving.
How long does it take to make Lakh (Mauritanian Millet and Sour Milk Pudding)?
About 1 h 10 min in total: 30 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Lakh (Mauritanian Millet and Sour Milk Pudding)?
About 315 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 315 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 175 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
