Funge
Funge or fúngi (Angola) or mfundi (Congo - DCR and the Congo Republic) is a type of porridge or swallow that can be made with sorghum, maize or millet grains, or cassava. It can be served with stew, or a vegetable or meat dish. It may be made with a stiffer consistency to be eaten with the fingers. Funge is a staple food in African cuisine. Some richer and more flavorful versions may be made with stock, like fish stock, instead of water. It is also known as bidia (literally "food").
Similar food
In Brazil, a similar food is known as pirão.
In the Lesser Antilles, a similar food is known as fungi or cou-cou.
In Ghana there are two variations, usually made with ground corn, though the variation known as banku is sometimes made from a mixture of grated cassava and corn. The corn is allowed to ferment before it is cooked. To make banku the fermented mixture is cooked in a pot, but the variation called kenkey is only partially cooked before it is wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks and steamed.
References
- Ashkenazi, Michael; Jacob, Jeanne (2006). The World Cookbook for Students. Greenwood. p. 24.