In brief
- Lakh: a Senegalese dessert of sweetened millet and refreshing yoghurt
- Origin: Senegal, found throughout the Sahel
- Essential ingredients: thiakry (ground millet), yoghurt, baobab, sugar, vanilla
- Setting: family dessert, religious celebrations
Origins and cultural history of Lakh
Lakh is a popular Sahelian dessert in Senegal, Mauritania and Mali. Made with cooked millet, sweetened and topped with yoghurt, it has a creamy texture and a mild, refreshing taste. Related to thiakry, it differs in its more liquid preparation and in being served in large shared calabashes. It is a dish for sharing par excellence, served at baptisms, weddings and the religious celebrations of Tabaski and Korité.
For the Senegalese diaspora in France, Belgium and Switzerland, lakh symbolises family reunions and the sweetness of the Sahel. Easy to prepare, it is a way of passing traditional cooking on to younger generations.
What are the essential ingredients of Lakh?
Lakh needs few ingredients, but each plays a precise role. The online African and Caribbean grocers, NKOSI among them, make these ingredients available throughout France and Europe.
- Ground millet (thiakry): the base cereal of the dessert
- Plain yoghurt or curdled milk: refreshing creaminess
- Caster sugar: the sweetness of the dessert
- Baobab powder: the signature tangy touch
- Vanilla: delicate fragrance
- Orange blossom water: a traditional floral note
- Raisins: festive topping
What to know about lakh
Lakh combines a millet porridge, sweetened yoghurt or curdled milk and, depending on the family, baobab powder. The yoghurt brings freshness and creaminess, the baobab a tangy note that balances the sugar.
It is served well chilled, in a large calabash or in bowls, as a dessert or an afternoon snack.
Frequently asked questions about Lakh
Can lakh be made the day before?
Yes, lakh is even better after 4 hours in the fridge, which lets the millet absorb the yoghurt. Keep it for 48 hours in the fridge in an airtight container. Do not freeze it, to preserve the texture.
How can lakh be adapted for children or made vegan?
For children, reduce the sugar and add fresh fruit (banana, mango). For a vegan version, replace the yoghurt with a coconut or soy plant-based yoghurt; the taste stays excellent.
Where can I find millet and baobab powder in France?
The NKOSI online grocery offers ground millet, Tantie baobab powder and all the Senegalese ingredients, with fast delivery in France and Europe. A complete selection you will not find in general supermarkets. See nkosiagro.com.
Find them in the NKOSI shop
- Authentic Senegalese Chicken Yassa Kit, 4 products
- Couscous Spices ESPIG, Powdered Spice Blend, 100g
- Sweetened Condensed Milk NESTLÉ, Dairy Product, 400g
For more flavours, browse our NKOSI catalogue: your online African and Caribbean grocery.
