Name: Garri Cookies
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1.5 cups garri (cassava flakes), ground into a fine powder (see Tip); 6 tablespoons granulated sugar; 0.75 teaspoon baking powder; 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold vegan butter or unsalted butter, cut into small pieces; 0.75 cup cold water, as needed; 2 cups canola oil or other neutral oil

Garri Cookies

4.0

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1 Review

Garri is made from dried, fermented cassava, a tuber native to South America and introduced to Africa by Portuguese traders from Brazil in the 16th century. San Francisco chef Simileoluwa Adebajo says her family, like many in Nigeria, often eat garri mixed with ground nuts, sugar and milk, like a cereal. These subtly sweet cookies are crisp and delicious.

Simileoluwa Adebajo

Published on May 11, 2022

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

garri cookies — Photo: Photographer / Greg DuPree, Food Stylist / Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist / Kay Clarke

Active Time:

45 mins

Total Time:

45 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes Appropriate Egg Free Gluten-Free Heart Healthy Nut-Free Vegan Vegetarian

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 ½ cups garri (cassava flakes), ground into a fine powder (see Tip)
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
¾ teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) cold vegan butter or unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
¾ cup cold water, as needed
2 cups canola oil or other neutral oil

Directions

Whisk garri, sugar and baking powder in a large bowl. Add butter and blend with your hands or a pastry blender until you achieve a crumb-like consistency. (Alternatively, use a food processor to cut in the butter.) Add water, a little at a time, until the mixture forms a dough with very few crumbs (you may not need the full 3/4 cup). Place the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut the dough into 1 1/2-by-1/2-inch strips.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it reaches 350°F. In batches, fry 15 to 20 cookies at a time, flipping halfway and adjusting the heat as necessary, until light golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Let cool before serving.

Equipment

Parchment paper; deep-fry or candy thermometer

Tip

Made of fermented and roasted cassava, garri is often used to make a lightly sweetened porridge as well as a dough-like mixture called swallow that's served alongside soups and stews for dipping and scooping.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

27	Calories
2g	Fat
2g	Carbs

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 96
Serving Size 1 cookie
Calories 27
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 2g	1%
Total Sugars 1g
Added Sugars 1g	2%
Total Fat 2g	3%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Vitamin A 1IU	0%
Vitamin C 1mg	1%
Vitamin E 1mg	4%
Vitamin K 1mcg	1%
Sodium 7mg	0%
Calcium 3mg	0%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.