The Best Puff Puff Recipe

 

When you think about puff puff, what comes to mind? Originating from Nigeria, puff puff is a beloved and iconic street food that is known for its pillowy softness and delightful sweetness. Discover the joy of creating golden, bite-size orbs of pure bliss. As your kitchen becomes the canvas for this delectable masterpiece, this recipe will help you unlock the secrets behind the perfect puff puff, guiding you through each step that will leave your taste buds dancing with delight. The beauty of this snack is that it does not require a lot of ingredients to make it. Continue reading to become a puff puff pro yourself. 

Here is a detailed short video below:

Ingredients 

• 350g of flour
• 1 tablespoon of yeast
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of nutmeg (optional)
• 50ml of milk (optional)
• 1 cup of warm water (37°C)
• 2L of vegetable oil

Baking Tools

• 1 deep frying pan
• 1 airtight container
• 1 whisk (optional)
• I sieve
• 1 food thermometer
• 1 timer
  

Method

1. Firstly, pour the yeast into a bowl and add 30ml of warm water to it and stir. Add a teaspoon of sugar to it and stir then leave the mixture in an airtight container for seven minutes. Keep the mixture in a warm environment. This is referred to as proofing the yeast, it ensures that it is active and will rise.
2. After the yeast has been proofed, sift the flour into a bowl and add all the other ingredients - salt, sugar, milk, and the yeast mixture. Mix thoroughly until it is smooth and place this mixture in a large airtight container that can accommodate at least twice its current size. 
3. Leave the mixture to rise in a warm environment for around 60 minutes. 
4. Next, place a deep frying pan on medium heat and add the oil to it. Heat up the oil. 
5. Open the container and mix the puff puff mixture once more to let out the trapped air then take a handful of the mixture and start to mould it into round balls using the space between your thumb and index finger and gently let out the moulded balls into the heated oil. 
   
6. Fry the puff puff until it is golden and use a frying spoon to drain it out of the oil. 
7. Repeat the same procedure for the remaining mixture until it is finished. 
8. Now your puff puff is ready to be served and enjoyed. 

Cooking Tips

• You can use the thermometer to check the temperature of the water and to ensure that it is not hotter than 35°C because if the water is too hot, the yeast will die. 
• If you live in a cold region and need some extra warmth for this recipe, you can use your oven heat by turning it on at maximum heat for just 90 seconds and turning it off before placing the yeast mixture and the puff puff mixture into it. 
• You can either use a whisk or your clean hands to mix your puff puff mixture. The results would be the same. 
• Before leaving your puff puff mixture to rise, ensure that the mixture is slurry but not runny. 
• Do not fry the puff puff on high heat so that it cooks internally and does not burn. 

Puff puff is best served warm and can be enjoyed with a nice cold drink, zobo drink is highly recommended. This West African delicacy not only graces your palate with sweet perfection but also invites you to embrace the rich cultural tapestry from which it hails. Share these delectable treasures with friends and family, turning ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. Whether enjoyed as a sweet treat on a cozy afternoon or served at the heart of a festive celebration, puff puff transcends its culinary roots, becoming a symbol of shared happiness and the universal language of good food.