Healthy African Snack 10: Kuli Kuli.

Kuli kuli is a groundnut based paste that has its origin with Hausa People of West Africa especially Nigeria. Kuli kuli is sold and eaten all over Nigeria where it is a popular snack that can be eaten alone or paired with so many other traditional foods.

To prepare kuli kuli, groundnuts are roasted and then ground to a paste. Salt, ground spices and peppers are added to the groundnut paste and mixed together.  Excess oil is removed from the paste with water and by squeezing. The paste is the moulded into desired shapes and then fried in the groundnut oil. It is allowed to cool down after frying before eating.

Groundnuts are very healthy because they are excellent sources of beneficial nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, healthy oils and minerals. Below are some of the vitamins and minerals that are found in groundnuts;

• Vitamin A.
• Vitamin E.
• Vitamin C.
• B complex vitamins like folic acid, niacin, pantothenic acid, thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine.
• Magnesium.
• Manganese.
• Calcium.
• Selenium.
• Copper.
• Iron.
• Phosphorus.
• Zinc.

Kuli kuli is looked down upon by a lot of people who believe that it is a poor man’s food due to its being dirt cheap. Kuli kuli only needs to be presented in a better manner. It is however healthy because its main ingredient is packed with nutrients which are preserved during the processing. The other ingredients that are added also provide beneficial nutrients.

Share healthy snacks that you know below. Follow on Twitter @heal2bwell.