Swallow

Usi (Delta Starch)

Name: Usi (Delta Starch)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Nigerian
Ingredients: 2 cups food-grade cassava starch (dry, commercially processed; approximately 250 g); 4 cups cool water (960 ml; adjust to product directions); 2 tbsp red palm oil

A smooth, stretchy golden swallow made by working cassava starch with water and palm oil. Ozoz Sokoh of Kitchen Butterfly places usi within her Isoko family cooking, recalling the shallow pan used by her mother and grandmother. Other Nigerian cooks document the same pairing with banga and owo. The finished gloss comes from patiently stirring and folding the starch as it cooks. Cultural context: A cassava-starch swallow associated with several Delta communities. This recipe uses commercially processed food-grade starch, not laundry starch or raw cassava.

A glossy golden folded usi cassava-starch swallow

5 minPreparation

15 minCooking

4Servings

What you’ll need

4 servings

2 cups food-grade cassava starchdry, commercially processed; approximately 250 g
4 cups cool water960 ml; adjust to product directions
2 tbsp red palm oil

Let’s get cooking

1
Use a broad heavy non-stick frying pan and a sturdy wooden spatula. Mix starch and cool water thoroughly to a smooth slurry.
2
Pour into the cool pan and stir in palm oil. Set over low–medium heat.
3
Stir continuously, scraping the base and corners. As thick patches form, press them against the side and fold them back into the looser mixture.
4
Continue folding and working for about 8–15 minutes until the entire mass is glossy, translucent and elastic, with no chalky white patches. Reduce heat if it catches.
5
If too firm before it is cooked, sprinkle in hot water a tablespoon at a time. Divide onto lightly dampened plates and serve warm with banga or owo.

A little kitchen wisdom

Wet starch and dry starch need different water ratios; this recipe specifies dry starch. Follow a labelled usi product’s instructions if they differ. Starch becomes very hot and sticky. Keep hands away from the pan and work with a long-handled utensil. Timing: active preparation 5 min; cooking 15 min; additional passive time 0 min; conservative planning allowance 20 min. Some stages may overlap. Recipe status: Research draft; not kitchen-tested. Allergens and checks: None specifically listed; verify every ingredient and product label.

Recipe notes & sources

Research draft; not kitchen-tested

Also known as: Starch swallow, Delta starch

A cassava-starch swallow associated with several Delta communities. This recipe uses commercially processed food-grade starch, not laundry starch or raw cassava.

Around the table 0

Be the first to start the conversation.

More recipes to try

Swallow

Image details

None by this package; original downloaded file bytes preserved. Source-file adaptations, if any, are credited separately.

Full source and image record

Swallow

Tuwo Acha (Fonio Swallow)

30 min

Temi’s Yoruba Kitchen

Swallow

Tuwo Dawa (Sorghum Swallow)

40 min

Chiamaka’s Table

Swallow

Semolina swallow

20 min

Folake's Greens

Temi’s Yoruba Kitchen@temi_kitchen

Swallow

Usi (Delta Starch)

5 minPreparation

15 minCooking

4Servings

What you’ll need

4 servings

2 cups food-grade cassava starchdry, commercially processed; approximately 250 g
4 cups cool water960 ml; adjust to product directions
2 tbsp red palm oil

Let’s get cooking

1
Use a broad heavy non-stick frying pan and a sturdy wooden spatula. Mix starch and cool water thoroughly to a smooth slurry.
2
Pour into the cool pan and stir in palm oil. Set over low–medium heat.
3
Stir continuously, scraping the base and corners. As thick patches form, press them against the side and fold them back into the looser mixture.
4
Continue folding and working for about 8–15 minutes until the entire mass is glossy, translucent and elastic, with no chalky white patches. Reduce heat if it catches.
5
If too firm before it is cooked, sprinkle in hot water a tablespoon at a time. Divide onto lightly dampened plates and serve warm with banga or owo.

A little kitchen wisdom

Recipe notes & sources

Research draft; not kitchen-tested

Also known as: Starch swallow, Delta starch

A cassava-starch swallow associated with several Delta communities. This recipe uses commercially processed food-grade starch, not laundry starch or raw cassava.