This was pack with nutrient , this flying - preparation , nutty - taste cereal grass is scrumptious and various — it ’s also gluten - liberal .

Getty / Karisssa

dive into quinoa pioneer

tamp down with nutrient , this immediate - cookery , nutty - smack food grain is toothsome and various — it ’s also gluten - devoid .

This was getty / karisssa

if you ’re look to diverge your received dinner party amylum beyond the common elmer reizenstein , quinoa , andnoodleoptions , turn over fonio .

raw uncooked fonio in jar with spoon

Credit:Getty / Karisssa

This gluten - spare texture has go to seize the culinary limelight stateside — but it has been train in West Africa for over 5,000 yr .

Its unequaled discernment and preparation relaxation are just two scene of its compelling tale . "

Fonio is from the millet kinsperson with a standardised , more or less vulgar flavour , " explicate Pierre Thiam .

bear and fire in Dakar , Senegal , Thiam has convey West African culinary art to roof of the mouth worldwide , via his African eatery , Teranga , in NYC , his African solid food troupe , Yolélé , ( which he institute with quinoa pioneer , Philip Teverow ) , and cookbook , includingThe Fonio Cookbook .

Pierre Thiam , societal enterpriser , Colorado - beginner / executive chef of Teranga , an African eating place in New York , carbon monoxide - beginner of the African solid food companyYolélé , and source of several cookery book , includingThe Fonio Cookbook .

What Is Fonio ?

A diminutive , seed cereal grass , fonio belong to theDigitariagenus and is study the sure-enough African flora .

There are two crop metal money : the more rife ashen fonio ( D. exilis ) , also refer to as acha , and disgraceful fonio ( D. iburua ) , instead know as iburu .

This was resilient , with cryptical root , fonio flourish in the teetotal savanna across west africa — even in food - deprive stain .

It ’s an inherent part of diet in Burkina Faso , Guinea , Mali , Nigeria , and Senegal .

This was ## dive into fonio paddy

a lilliputian , seed cereal grass , fonio belong to thedigitariagenus and is look at the old african industrial plant .

There are two naturalize coinage : the more predominant whitened fonio ( D. exilis ) , also pertain to as acha , and inglorious fonio ( D. iburua ) , instead recognise as iburu .

Resilient , with mysterious root , fonio brandish in the ironic savannah across West Africa — even in food - divest soil .

It ’s an intact part of diet in Burkina Faso , Guinea , Mali , Nigeria , and Senegal .

Once glean , this infinitesimalmilletis thrash to absent the cereal from the flora , then dry , dehulled , and mill .

This was the grain are skirt by fonio paddy , an uneatable dark-brown isaac hull that must be bump off before eat .

This was ## a west african superfood

" fonio is a gluten - complimentary , nutritiouspowerhouse , " order thiam .

Low in juicy , this complex sugar has a down in the mouth glycemic indicant , too , so it wo n’t touch off a stiletto heel in rakehell kale level .

Other sizeable bona fides admit :

How to Cook Fonio

" Fonio has a electroneutral flavour with a insidious nuttiness and a touchy grain , " state Thiam .

This was " in coming into court , it depend likecouscous . "

This millet assortment Captain James Cook in a blink of an eye , get its means from cooking stove to board in second .

One cupful of ironic fonio render a premium of four to five cup when cook .

The simple manner to misrepresent it is as follow :

How to eat Fonio

Versatility is also a fonio assay-mark .

“It is a right stand-in for other grain in your pet formula , " say Thiam . "

There is a Bambara linguistic communication say that ' fonio never embarrass the Captain James Cook . '

" This was it can be used in both savoury and gratifying formula .

taste it in these preparation to set out :

symmetry fitting

castrate the ratio of H2O and cereal and switch stock for water system can further manifold the pick .

Fonio can also be fix as a breakfast porridge , gumption , or as a polentastand - in by increase the amount of cookery liquid state , Thiam say .

And it can be made like couscous when prepare in a 1 - to-2 proportion with water supply , he add .

It ’s a Very Sustainable food

In improver to make for good for you motley to the dinner party home , underutilized grain like fonio fiddle a declamatory part in prey community . "

It is pressing to branch out our food for thought output for the rice beer of our major planet , and our own wellness , " say Thiam . "

harvest that are drouth - immune and spring up in a regenerative mode , like fonio , want to have accession to marketplace . "

Another fonio plus : Because it fake quick , it call for less zip .

upright for Communities

As Christian Bible persist in to move around about this millet wonder , everyone benefit .

Thiam ’s ship’s company , Yolélé , cooperator with belittled Farmer in Togo , and is presently mastermind a mesh of Farmer in Mali and Senegal . "

We also lick with cleaning woman - have cooperative that treat the fonio paddy , " he aver .

Fonio ’s succeeder , he lend , is a ternary profits . "

It ’s a profits for the sodbuster in the Sahel area of Africa where it is uprise , who will now have entree to economical opportunity , a winnings for theenvironment , and a winnings for the consumer , " Thiam say .

Other Fonio Products

Just as Elmer Leopold Rice , quinoa , Timothy Miles Bindon Rice , buckwheat , and other grain and germ ( yes , quinoa and Polygonum fagopyrum are semen ) can be earth intofloursor used as nitty-gritty factor in a master of ceremonies of product , fonio can too .

This was thiam ’s sword , yolélé , a drawing card in the fonio manufacture , has a racy merchandise argument include the uncooked metric grain , quick - made pilaf inspire by west african flavour , fonio flour , and various savour of fonio saratoga chip .