Masa (Hausa Rice Cakes)
In short: Fermented rice batter fried into small cakes with crisp golden edges and a soft center, served with yaji, a spicy peanut mix, or a dusting of sugar. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 30 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Resting
- 1 h 30 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 465 kcal
Masa are small, fluffy rice cakes made across the Hausa lands of Niger and northern Nigeria. A yeast-raised batter of rice flour and cooked rice is fried in a pan with round hollows until the outsides are crisp and the centers are soft. Vendors sell them hot in the morning and evening. They are eaten plain with sugar, or with yaji, a dry spice mix of ground peanuts, ginger and pepper.
Instructions
- Blend the cooked rice with 250 ml of the warm water until smooth. Pour into a large bowl and whisk in the rice flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
- Add enough of the remaining water to make a thick batter that falls from the spoon in a ribbon. Cover and leave in a warm place for 1 1/2 hours, until bubbly and risen.
- Mix all the yaji ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Stir the baking powder into the batter. Heat a non-stick pan or a pan with round hollows over medium heat and brush with a little oil.
- Pour in about 3 tablespoons of batter for each cake. Cover and cook for 3 minutes until set and golden underneath, then flip and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Repeat with the rest of the batter, oiling the pan between batches. Serve warm with the yaji or a dusting of sugar.
Tips
- A cast-iron pan with round hollows, such as an aebleskiver pan, gives the traditional round shape. A plain non-stick pan makes flatter, thicker cakes, which are just as good.
- Keep the heat at medium. Too hot, and the outside browns before the center sets.
Questions and answers
Is masa the same as injera or dosa?
It is a cousin, since all are fermented batter cakes. Masa uses rice and is thicker and fluffier, closer to a small pancake.
Can I make the batter ahead?
Yes. After the first rise, refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Stir in the baking powder just before cooking.
What can I serve with masa?
Yaji, sugar, a spicy tomato sauce or a bowl of soup. In Niger it is eaten as an evening snack.
How long does it take to make Masa (Hausa Rice Cakes)?
About 1 h in total: 30 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Masa (Hausa Rice Cakes)?
About 465 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 76 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 465 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 9 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
