Alright folks, grab a cup of tea because today was messy! I decided to tackle some Senegalese sweets after seeing this guide for beginners. Sounded simple, right? Spoiler: it wasn’t at first. My kitchen looked like a sandbox exploded by the end. But hey, I got something edible!
First Step: Gathering Stuff
Okay, so the guide mentioned like four ingredients. Easy peasy? Nope. Went hunting for “fonio.” My usual store? Blank stares. Had to hit three different markets before I found it tucked away. Got it! Also grabbed:
- A bag of raw peanuts – they insisted raw, not roasted.
- A big bunch of dates.
- Some sesame seeds.
- Butter. Lots of butter.
Felt prepared. Hah!
The Thiakry Disaster Zone
Started with “Thiakry” – some kind of milky dessert. Recipe said “mix cooked fonio and yogurt.” How hard? Well.
Cooked the fonio. Smelled kinda nutty. Cool. Now… mix? Tried gently folding plain yogurt into the warm fonio. Result? Looked like runny, lumpy wallpaper paste. Did not look appetizing. Panic! The guide said “optional” condensed milk… it became very mandatory. Dumped in half a can. Stirred like crazy. Sweetness saved it, made it creamy. Phew. Chucked it in the fridge hoping magic would happen. Taste verdict later was: surprisingly good! Like a sweet, grainy pudding. Win!
Cooking Peanuts Like A Firefighter
Next up: “Takhaya” – peanut candy thing. Had to roast the peanuts myself. Big mistake number two. Tossed them in a dry pan on medium heat. Started okay. Got distracted for ONE minute. ONE MINUTE! Suddenly smelled like campfire disaster. Smoke alarm! Nearly ruined half the batch. Frantically shook the pan, poured ’em out fast. Lesson learned: babysit peanuts! Let them cool while sweating.
Had to peel them. Peeling peanuts is the absolute worst. Tedious! Took forever, fingers aching.
Sticky, Sticky Date Mess
Onto the fun part? Melting butter and dates together. Recipe said “low heat” and “stir.” Simple. Grabbed whatever spoon was clean. Melted the butter, threw in chopped dates. Stirred. And stirred. Suddenly, this dark, sticky goo formed. It was boiling and splattering like lava! Got dots of sticky caramel everywhere. Arm muscles burning! Added the nuts and some sesame seeds, stirred harder. Felt like tar. Had to dump it onto a plate quick before the spoon got permanently glued. Used buttered hands (mostly so I could lick them) to press it kinda flat. That stuff is TACKY!
The Final Mix & The Big Reveal
Okay, fridge time was up for the Thiakry. Looked… thicker? Good. The Takhaya block cooled and actually cut into squares! Crumbly, but held. Taste test time:
- Thiakry: Cold, creamy, weird texture but addictively sweet. Fonio bits give a fun crunch. Win!
- Takhaya: Sticky, peanutty, SUPER sweet. Like a chewy, crumbly candy bar. Messy to eat. But tasty! Definitely get why people like it.
My kitchen? Bomb site. Counter covered in fonio grains, peanut skins, sticky splatters, melted butter slicks. Totally worth it for the weird, exotic sweetness. Will I make it again? Maybe… after I recover.
