What is fufu, and how do you eat it?
Fufu is the soft, smooth, dough-like side that comes with African soups like Egusi, Okro and Ogbolor. You pinch off a small piece, scoop up some soup with it and eat it with your fingers. If you’ve seen the “trying fufu for the first time” videos, this page is for you.
What is fufu made of?
“Fufu” is the word many people use for any soft, stretchy side that you eat with soup. There are many kinds across Africa. At Uncle Ray’s Buka we have three, available every day:
- Pounded yam: made from yam, pounded until smooth and stretchy. Soft and mild. The classic choice.
- Garri: made from cassava. A little firmer, with a light tangy taste.
- Semo: made from semolina. Smooth, light and very mild.
Not sure which one to pick? Start with pounded yam.
What does fufu taste like?
Not much on its own, and that’s the point. Fufu is a bit like bread or rice: it’s there to carry the soup. The flavour comes from what you dip it in, so a rich Egusi or a spicy Pepper Soup makes all the difference.
How to eat fufu, step by step
- Wash your hands. Fufu is traditionally eaten with your right hand.
- Pinch off a small piece, about the size of a large grape, and roll it into a ball in your palm.
- Press a little dent into it with your thumb. This makes a small scoop.
- Scoop up some soup, with a bit of meat or fish if you like, and eat.
- Repeat. Go between fufu and soup until both are gone.
Prefer a spoon or fork? That’s fine too. Nobody is watching.
Do you chew fufu?
This is the question everyone asks after watching the videos. Many people who grew up eating fufu swallow small pieces without chewing much, because it’s soft and slides down with the soup. But you don’t have to. Chewing is completely fine, and if it’s your first time, take small pieces and eat it the way that feels comfortable.
Tips for your first time
- Go small. A big piece of fufu is the most common first-timer mistake.
- Pick a soup you’ll like. Egusi is rich and nutty with a gentle heat, so it’s a good place to start. Pepper Soup is lighter but spicier.
- Have a napkin ready. Eating with your hands is part of the fun, and it gets a little messy.
- Film it if you want. Everyone else does.
Which soups go with fufu?
All of our soups: Egusi, Okro, Ogbolor, Vegetable, Bitterleaf, Banga and Pepper Soup. Every soup comes with your choice of fufu or white rice, and you can add extra fufu from the menu.
Try fufu in Bali
We cook fresh every day in Canggu and deliver across Canggu, Berawa, Pererenan, Kerobokan, Munggu, Seminyak, Kuta, Denpasar, Tabanan, Uluwatu and Ubud, from 9 AM to midnight. Build your plate on our menu and send the order on WhatsApp.
Questions people ask
Do you chew fufu or swallow it?
Many people swallow small pieces without chewing much, but chewing is completely fine. Take small pieces and eat it the way that feels comfortable.
Do you eat fufu with your hands?
Traditionally, yes, with your right hand. A spoon or fork is fine too.
What does fufu taste like?
Very mild. Fufu is there to carry the flavour of the soup, a bit like bread or rice.
Which fufu should I try first?
Pounded yam. It’s soft, smooth and mild, and it goes with every soup.
Is fufu gluten-free?
Pounded yam is made from yam and garri from cassava, not wheat. Semo is made from semolina, which is wheat. If you have an allergy, please tell us before you order.
Can I have rice instead of fufu?
Yes. All our soups can come with white rice instead.
Next: Egusi Soup · Suya · All African dishes