Puff Puff — A very popular West African street food that’s quick and easy to make with different variations. Dangerously delicious and addicting!
As a child, I would often watch in amazement how the women selling the puffs would grab the mixture with the tip of their fingers, place it in the palm of their hands, and drop the mixture in oil.
I was fascinated by this process and would go home and practice this act with any mixture I had on hand. But it never came out as proportional or as visually appealing as the women did it. After years of practice as an adult, I think I can proudly say that I finally got the hang of it.
Content…What Is It? |
What Is Puff Puff?
Most West African countries are familiar with the popular street food Puff-Puff, which is known by different names depending on the country. Ghanaians call it Bofrot (togbei), and Cameroonians and Nigerians call it Puff-Puff (Puff) or beignet in French. The basic ingredient consists of flour, sugar, yeast, water, salt, and oil for deep frying.
It is an easy and quick recipe to make with different variations. This recipe is the one I have been making for years and the one that takes me back to my hometown. It brings back memories of late-night snacking on the street.
Recipe Ingredients
Trust me when I say that cooking these puff puffs is as mesmerizing as it is tasty. The best part about this treat is that it only needs a handful of ingredients. You might already have these in your pantry:
- Flour – This pantry must-have isn’t just for baking. It’s also great for many savory dishes.
- Yeast – This is basically the life of the recipe as it makes the dough rise for an airy, fluffy texture.
- Warm Water – An essential part of making any dough. It’s the basis for forming our treat. It’s important to have just the right warmth. If the water is too hot, it kills the yeast. If too cold, the yeast has a hard time rising.
- Sugar – Common table sugar you can easily find in any grocery store gives this recipe a slight sweetness and feeds the yeast for a good rise.
- Cooking Oil – The necessary ingredient for deep frying the puff puffs.
How to Make Puff Puff
- Activate the yeast: Mix salt, water, sugar, and yeast. Set it aside for 5 minutes (Photo 1)
- Make the dough: Add flour and mix (Photo 2)
- Rest and Rise: Let the mixture rise for approximately 1-2 hours (Photos 3-5)
- Pre-heat the oil: In a large saucepan, pour vegetable oil into a pot until it’s about 3 inches (or 5 centimeters ) high (too little will result into flatter balls), and place in low heat
- Check the heat: Test to make sure the oil is hot enough by putting a drop of batter into the oil. If the oil is not hot enough, the batter will stay at the bottom instead of rising to the top.
- Fry the puff puff:
- Hand Method: Using your hands, grab a little bit of mixture at a time and drop it into the oil. (See photo 6)
- Spoon Method: When the oil is hot enough, use a spoon to dish up the batter and another spoon or spatula to drop it in the oil. Sort of in the shape of a ball.
- Check the doneness: Fry for a few minutes until the bottom side is golden brown (Photo 7)
- Flip the puff puff: Turn the ball over for a few minutes until the underside is golden brown. (Photo 8)
- Remove from oil: Use a large spoon or a slotted spoon to take it out of the oil. I usually place them on napkins right away to soak up some of the excess oil.
- Coat the puff puff: If desired, you can roll up the finished products in table sugar or powdered sugar to make it sweeter.
Serving Suggestions
Puff-puff is usually eaten for breakfast, as a snack, or as a side dish. Regardless of when you eat them, they are enjoyable with or without a side dish. A must-have for me – pepper sauce.
The beauty of puff puffs is that you can eat them sweet or savory. They’re a great snack, appetizer, or dessert. I often eat it as a snack or appetizer. My son definitely loves it as a simple dessert with just a bit of powdered sugar. Another great dessert/snack is homemade bon bons. Yum!
If you’re craving more, then these recipes from my list of African snacks and appetizers should help you feel satisfied.
Tips and Tricks for Making Puff Puff
- Soft puff puff: For a softer puff puff, add about 1-2 tablespoons more water. Some people find it a little bit hard after it stays out.
- Crunchy, not soggy: Do not overcrowd the frying pan; it will absorb excess oil and sometimes make it soggy.
- Hold the salt: You may cut back on the salt if you are watching your salt intake; about 1 teaspoon will do.
- Preheat the stove: If your house is too cold, turn on the stove for about 2-3 minutes until warm. Then turn it off and let the puff puff rise next to it. Or heat up the oven, turn it off when hot, and wait until it cools down. If you want it warm but not hot, then let it rise in the oven. Check after 30 minutes to ensure it’s rising.
- Use a spoon instead to scoop the dough into the oil if you do not want to use your hands. It still tastes delicious!
Watch How to Make It
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This blog post was originally published in November 2012 and has been updated with additional tips.
Puff Puff
Ingredients
- 2 cups (+1-2 tablespoons (475ml) warm water (See notes)
- 2¼ teaspoon (7g) active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 3½ cups (420g) flour
- ½-¾ cup (100-150g) sugar
- ½ tablespoon (8-9g) salt
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Mix salt, sugar, water, and yeast. Set aside for 5 minutes.
- Add flour and mix.
- Let the mixture rise for approximately 1-2 hours.
- In a large saucepan, pour vegetable oil into a pot until it's at least 3 inches (about 5cm) deep and heat on low. Too little oil will result in flatter balls.
- Test to make sure the oil is hot enough by putting a drop of batter into the oil. If it is not hot enough, the batter stays at the pot's bottom rather than rising to the top.
- When the oil is hot enough, grab a little bit of the mixture with your hands or use a spoon to get a small ball of dough. Drop it carefully into the oil.
- Fry for a few minutes until the bottom side is golden brown.
- Turn the ball over and fry for a few more minutes until the other side is golden brown.
- Use a large spoon or something like that to take it out of the oil. I usually place them on napkins immediately to soak up the excess oil.
- If desired, you can roll the finished product in table sugar or powdered sugar to make it sweeter.
Tips & Notes:
- Soft puff puff: For a softer puff puff, add about 1-2 tablespoons more water. Some people find it a little bit hard after it stays out.
- Crunchy, not soggy: Do not overcrowd the frying pan, as the puff puffs will absorb excess oil and sometimes get soggy.
- Hold the salt: You may cut back on the salt if you are watching your salt intake. About 1 teaspoon of salt will do.
- Preheat the stove: If your house is too cold, turn on the stove for about 2-3 minutes until warm. Then turn it off and let the puff puff rise next to it. Or place your dough in the cold oven and put a pan full of hot water under it. Check after 30 minutes to ensure it’s rising.
- Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
victoria says
Hi Imma,
I would like to know if I can prepare the mixture the night before and keep it aside. Wake up next morning and do the frying ? Will the time to leave the yeast rise be a lot or no problem ? Thanks for your answer.
ImmaculateBites says
Victoria, you can do that however, the puff-puff would rise and deflate giving it a slightly sour, fermented taste. Your best bet would be to let it rise in the fridge overnight. Make sure it has risen before your fry( refrigeration can be a little bit tricky sometimes if your fridge is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit).Let me know how the recipe turned out. Thanks
Africanbites says
Jenny, dividing your ingredient in half would definitely feed two people. Releasing the dough through my palm was something I practiced doing when I was growing up – watching the street vendors fry puff-puff got me hooked!
jenny says
Wow! How did you manage to press it out from ur plam like that? It looks magical. I want to make puff puff for 2 people only, what measurement shoul I use? I was thinking maybe dividing d ingredients into half?
moffie says
Thanks for the tips, made abt 20 puff puff for my friend’s naming and everyone liked it and asked for more.. thanks abunch
Africanbites says
Moffie, am glad the tips helped .
Ediyemade says
Your recipe is so easy to follow. We have a Christmas party in my language school tomorrow and we are all to bring something so I plan to use your recipe tonight!
Gemar says
Thank so much imma. My sis wants puff as snacks on her wedding day I will do it for her that day
Africanbites says
Gemar, that is tall order but with this recipe you will do just fine. Thanks for stopping by!
Sarah says
Hi Imma,
I’m gonna try this recipe this weekend!
I wanted to find out, can I replace the water with coconut milk instead? Would I need to warm the coconut milk just like how we need to use lukewarm water?
Africanbites says
Yes, you need to warm the coconut milk a little- Sarah have you tried this coconut puffpuff recipe ?http://africanbites.com/?p=2664( Deep fried coconut dough). It might be just what you are looking for.I have tried linking the recipe but there is a glitch in the system .Just search coconut puff-puff in my search box and it will come up. Let me know how you like it! Made the correction it works now.
suhshi says
awsome this blog helped me young lad so much cuz his wife learned to make his fave breakfast
Africanbites says
So happy you liked the puff puff Suhshi
Chiko says
Hi, I tried your recipe today, they taste good!! But unfortunately I couldn’t get the shape to come out right. Was the risen mixture supposed to be cakey or more like a dough because I had trouble figuring it out. And i’m not West African so I have no prior experience with puff puff. Thanks!
Africanbites says
Chiko,puff-puff consistency is suppose to feel more like dough- a light dough, that you can easily use your hands or spoon to drop into a sauce pan.Hope this helps.
Fred says
Thanks! I tried it and it was great. Just that it burnt my hands since I’ve not been in the kitchen for a long while. It may just be time for me to start looking for a wife.
Fred says
Hi! What happens if I add eggs and milk to the puff-puff recipe?
Africanbites says
Fred, adding eggs and milk to the puff puff would result in a rich tasting puff-puff, giving it a slightly different taste.You would need to making the following modification ; eliminate water and replace it with eggs and milk. Be mindful of the fact that, you have to replace equal amount of liquid in other to maintain the puff puff consistency.Thanks for stopping by.
Reet24 says
Have our “adopted” son’s (student with us for 3 years) from Cameroon’s father visiting and will try them with dinner tonight!
One correction one packet is 2 1/4 tsps., not 2 1/4 ounces. I measure in grams and dough seems to be rising correctly. Keep my fingers crossed!
Africanbites says
Thanks for the correction, have made changes to it . Hope your “adopted” son enjoyed the puff-puff.
Judith Foyabo says
Hi Imma,
Thanks for giving me an authentic recipe for puff-puff. I have always done my puff-puff by eye-balling the ingredients and relying on my hands for the consistency when I mix… and of course each encounter is different. I thought about your website when I had to make it for my son’s 4th grade culture project. I was glad to find the well-documented recipe which will serve the class well. You may just have some Americans visiting your website for more!
Blessings to you and the business promo.
MaJu, Los Angeles.
Africanbites says
MaJu, Thanks for spreading the word!
Lilian says
Yes!! Yes!!! I enjoyed the puff puff. This is the best recipes I have ever laid my hands on. Imma I followed it step by step. And it came out just right. Emmmmmmmm . Thank you Imma for this wonderful recipe. I can’t wait to try more recipe. Thank you and may God continue to shower you with more talent.
Lilian
Africanbites says
Lilian am glad you enjoyed it!!!!! Linda, it is that easy
Lilian says
Yes!! Yes!!! I enjoyed the puff puff. This is the best recipes I have ever laid my hands on. Imma I followed it step by step. And it came out just right. Emmmmmmmm . Thank you Imma for this wonderful recipe. I can’t wait to try more recipe. Thank you and may aged continue to shower you with more talent.
Lilian
Linda Bello says
I can’t wait to try this out. Nice pictures and explanations, you can’t go wrong.
andres mandaue says
may i know what is the shelf life of Puff-Puff (Deep fried dough). what recipe adjustment if this is produced commercially.
Thanks,
andre
ImmaculateBites says
I know it’s best the same day. Sorry can’t answer that question because I don’t make it for commercial purposes
Gladys Ajongakoh says
Thanks for sharing this I’m so happy
ImmaculateBites says
Yay! Glad you approve.
Ediyemade says
I always deep freeze my puff puff. When I need I need to eat them, I heat up my oven and toss the frozen balls in. Tastes as good as day one
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome Tip ! Thanks for sharing!!!
Ediyemade says
You are welcome. So funny how Google brought me to you again! I’m searching for puff puff recipe and I see my comment on here!! Totally forgot I visited here! I’m trying it again tomorrow for a friend’s birthday party as apparently it was a hit the last time I was at hers with your recipe! Thank you again and I will probably be back again the next time I need to make puff puff!! Awesome recipe lady!
imma africanbites says
Thanks for stopping by! Glad it turned out great for you. Send my greetings to your friend. 🙂 Enjoy!
Horlabisi says
Its great,I cant wait to try it
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome ! Do let me know how it works out for you. Thanks
Moon says
Hi,
Thank you so much for this recipe! It worked out perfectly!
I made them for today and will be serving them to family over the next few days. I refrigated them overnight so far. I figure to let them be in room temperature when I am ready to serve. Is that a good way to store them?
Thanks again!!
ImmaculateBites says
My Pleasure!
Have a blessed Christmas!