In brief
- The beignet, beans, porridge trio (BHB): flour beignets, simmered beans and maize porridge
- Origin: Cameroon, born in the streets of Douala and Yaoundé
- Essential ingredients: wheat flour, black-eyed beans, maize flour, onion, tomato, chilli
- Street breakfast, sold and shared throughout the country
Origins and cultural history of beignet, beans, porridge
The beignet, beans, porridge trio, abbreviated BHB in Cameroon, was born in the streets of Douala and Yaoundé. It established itself as affordable street food from the 1960s and 1970s onwards, before becoming the go-to breakfast throughout the country, sold at all hours by roadside vendors.
The dish combines three separate preparations: a beignet made from wheat-flour dough, a sauce of simmered beans, and a maize porridge. Its popularity crosses the country's social classes and ethnic groups, and each family keeps its own habits for how much chilli to use or how to prepare the porridge.
What are the essential ingredients for beignet, beans, porridge
The three parts of the dish are prepared separately before being served together, hot.
- Wheat flour, for the beignets
- Black-eyed beans (cornilles or niébé), for the sauce
- Maize flour, for the porridge
- Onion and garlic
- Tomato and chilli
- Red palm oil
- Sugar
What to know about beignet-haricot-bouillie
The beignet-haricot-bouillie, shortened to "BHB" in Cameroon, brings together three preparations served hot: fritters made with wheat flour, black-eyed beans simmered in a sauce, and a corn porridge. Born in the streets of Douala and Yaoundé, it is the country's street breakfast, sold at any hour by women vendors along the roads. Each family has its own habits for how much chili to use and how to make the porridge.
Frequently asked questions about beignet, beans, porridge
Can the three parts of beignet, beans, porridge be prepared ahead of time?
The beans can be prepared the day before and reheated over low heat. The beignet dough, on the other hand, needs to rise just before frying to stay soft; the maize porridge should be made last, just before serving, as it thickens as it cools.
Can black-eyed beans be replaced with another legume?
Yes: the recipe is traditionally made with white, red or black-eyed beans (cornilles), depending on the region and family habits. Soaking and cooking time remains similar from one variety to another.
Where to find the ingredients for beignet, beans, porridge in France?
NKOSI offers cornilles, red palm oil and the other ingredients of this Cameroonian trio on nkosiagro.com and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
