Kuli-Kuli

Kuli-Kuli

Kuli-Kuli (KOO-lee KOO-lee)

Peanut Snack Bars

Prep Time 1 hour
📈 Difficulty Medium
👥 Servings
6
🔥 Calories 362 kcal

Crunchy, spiced peanut bars made from roasted ground peanuts shaped into sticks or rings and deep-fried until crisp.

Nutrition & Info

340 kcal per serving
Protein 14.0g
Carbs 18.0g
Fat 26.0g
Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian vegan dairy-free gluten-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ peanuts

Equipment Needed

mortar and pestle frying pan baking sheet

Presentation Guide

Vessel: woven basket

Accompaniments: gari, chili pepper

Instructions

  1. 1

    Grind roasted peanuts in a mortar or food processor to a smooth, oily paste.

  2. 2

    Add ginger, chili powder, and salt, knead into the paste.

  3. 3

    Squeeze handfuls of paste firmly to extract excess oil (reserve oil for frying).

  4. 4

    Shape squeezed paste into small sticks, rings, or flat rounds.

  5. 5

    Heat reserved peanut oil plus vegetable oil, fry shapes 3-4 minutes until deeply golden and crunchy.

  6. 6

    Cool on a rack. Store in airtight container for up to two weeks.

💡

Did You Know?

Kuli-kuli is so durable it was historically carried by traders on long journeys across the Sahel as a portable protein source.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

  • mortar and pestle
  • frying pan
  • baking sheet

Accompaniments

gari, chili pepper

The Story Behind Kuli-Kuli

Kuli-kuli is a traditional peanut snack found across the West African Sahel, from Senegal to Nigeria, with Togo occupying a prime position in this peanut belt. The ingenious technique of extracting oil from peanut paste and then frying the defatted residue creates a snack that is both crunchy and shelf-stable. In Togo, kuli-kuli is sold at every market, bus station, and school gate, often crumbled over salads or eaten with gari. The snack represents the resourcefulness of West African food culture, where nothing goes to waste.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed snack, any time 📜 Origins: Pre-colonial

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