Nigerian Puff Puff Recipe

A woman shares what inspired her to bring Nigerian cuisine to Halifax.

Prep Time: 1 hour (includes rising time)

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Servings: About 20–25 pieces

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tsp active dry yeast
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp nutmeg (optional, for extra flavor)
• 1 ¼ cups lukewarm water (adjust slightly if needed)
• Vegetable oil (for frying)

Directions:

1. Activate the yeast:In a bowl, mix the yeast with 2 tbsp of sugar and lukewarm water. Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes until it becomes foamy.
2. Make the batter:In a large bowl, combine flour, remaining sugar, salt, and nutmeg. Pour in the yeast mixture and stir until smooth. The batter should be thick but still pourable.
3. Let it rise:Cover the bowl with a cloth and let the batter rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until it doubles in size.
4. Heat the oil:In a deep pan or pot, heat enough oil to deep fry (about 3 inches deep) over medium heat until it reaches about 350°F (175°C).
5. Fry the Puff Puff:Scoop small portions of the batter with your hand or a spoon and drop gently into the hot oil. Fry in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown on all sides (about 3–4 minutes per batch).
6. Drain & serve:Remove with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain. Serve warm, plain or dusted with powdered sugar.