Akamu is one of Nigeria's sought after breakfast recipe. It is also called Nigerian pap or ogi in Yoruba. If you have been drinking corn flour as akamu now is the time to stop as the final solution is here. Learn how to make the best akamu/pap/ogi from scratch with this easy procedure.
Homemade akamu using cornmeal, who would have thought hey. Let me start off by saying I have got some Ijebu blood in me and that means where I need to be prudent, especially in my kitchen, I make sure I use all the resources available to minimise cost and still maximise the output. I used to buy akamu (also called ogi or pap) from the African stores here but the majority of the time, what is being sold can’t be called akamu (ogi or pap) as it sometimes tastes like rubber or looks like starch after preparing it.
When I finally had enough of wasting money, or having to wait on people coming from Nigeria to have some quality akamu/ogi, I decided to make mine. I say this all the time, nothing beats home-made stuff if you know your onions. Making akamu/ogi at home from scratch is very easy especially with ground fine cornmeal. Also because it’s home-made, you can allow it to be as sour as you like, that is by leaving it for days to ferment. I left mine to ferment for 7 days and yes nothing beats homemade ogi. I have made this a couple of times now and it also stores well. It keeps in the refrigerator for weeks and lasts even longer in the freezer. Akamu can be served with moi moi or Akara
Akamu cooked in coconut milk, served with moi moi
Ingredients
to make the best homemade akamu/Ogi/pap (Nigerian pap)
1.5kg fine yellow or white cornmeal (substitute with dry corn)
Water
Tiny holed Sieve or muslin cloth or cheesecloth
Patience, lol
How to make akamu (Nigerian pap) from scratch
Empty the cornmeal in a big shallow bowl, add enough water to cover it and then give it a good stir making sure all is well combined and lump free.
Cover the bowl tightly with a lid or cling film and set aside
Note: if you want, you can change the residue water on top of the soaked cornmeal every day for 7 days but I recommend you only change it the first day and leave the cornmeal to ferment till you are ready to use. This will enhance the sour taste of the pap
After the 7th day, decant the water on the cornmeal and give it another good stir. Now, this is where my ‘Ijebu’ blood comes to play; at this point, you can just sieve the cornmeal or blend the mixture in a blender just to make it smoother and also get your money’s worth from the cornmeal.
If you have a bigger bowl, turn the mixture into it and add about 2-4 cups of water and stir again to combine
Pour the cornmeal to the sieve a little at a time, using your hand, stir the mixture to enable it to pass through the sieve conveniently and it also hastens the sieving process. Once you can feel the chaff get dry, use the back of your hand to press it down against the sieve and discard. Repeat this process until all the cornmeal is exhausted.
Leave the sieved cornmeal to settle at the bottom of the bowl and decant the water or save it to make your akamu. It is called omi’dun or omi ogi in Yoruba and it enhances the taste of the pap and it can also be used for medicinal purposes in preparing our local ‘agbo’.
Turn the ogi/akamu in the sieve and leave to strain out liquid. This process enables the ogi to be more manageable to handle.
Coconut-Ogi/akamu and moi moi
Divide the akamu into portions and store in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy
Please Note: you have to cook akamu on the stovetop or in a bowl with hot water before you can eat it. Do not eat raw akamu, imagine eating raw custard or corflour mixed with cold water. I am sure you are saying hell no. same here too.
Do leave me feedback when you try this akamu/ogi (Nigerian pap) recipe
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I use to soak mine for 3days. Is it too small?.
No not at all. I am sure 3 days is fine as well
Hi, any way to do the measurements in cups/ounces as well? 🙂
Thank you for this recipe and the 'ijebu' tips. i'm definately trying it.
Thanks Lolo
Thanks so much for this recipe. We have been finding a way to get a look alike Ogi like the one we take ahome in Nigeria but oh no to the rubbish Ogi we bought from African store we will definitely try this out. But please which Cornmeal product do you recommend. Thanks
Hello Tumi, thank you for your comment. any brand of fine cornmeal would work for this recipe
Thank you very much for this tip. You won't believe how much we have spent on custard since the beginning of Ramadan as it's the closest to any good akamu here not to mention the inferior quality ones being sold in shops. I am definitely trying this out asap. Well done and thx once again.
I'm glad I could be of help, do keep me posted on how you get on and thanks for stopping by.