Sauce for Dishes (Yoyo)
Sauce for Dishes (Yoyo) is a medium West Africa recipe that serves 6. 350 calories per serving. Recipe by LA CUISINE D’AMA on YouTube.
Prep: 35 min | Cook: 1 hr 3 min | Total: 1 hr 53 min
Cost: $30.57 total, $5.10 per serving
Ingredients
- 500 g Beef steak pieces (cut into large cubes)
- 500 g Goat tripe (well cleaned)
- 500 g Beef back (cut into pieces)
- 1.5 Onion (peeled and cut into large pieces)
- 5 Garlic cloves (thinly sliced)
- 40 g Fresh ginger (peeled and grated)
- 2 African chilies (thick, very hot)
- 800 ml Water (for the broth)
- 2 Maggi beef bouillon cubes
- 1 c. à café Salt
- 1 tasse Palm oil (red oil, typical of West Africa)
- 2 Onion (cut into dice)
- 3 gousses Pressed garlic
- 1 c. à soupe Grated ginger
- 1 African chili
- 2 boîtes de 400 g Canned peeled tomatoes
- 1 c. à soupe Sumba (dawa d'avoir) (African spice)
- 1 Maggi beef bouillon cube
- 0.5 c. à café Salt (for the sauce)
- 800 g Ode leaves (or hibiscus leaves) (washed, coarsely chopped)
- 1 c. à soupe Shrimp powder
- 2 Small chilies (shito) (optional, very hot)
- 1 tasse Corn flour (ground corn) (fine corn semolina type)
- 2 tasses Hot water (for corn dough)
Instructions
Prepare the meat broth
Thoroughly wash the steak, goat tripe and beef back. Place them in a large pot with the onion cut into large pieces, garlic, grated ginger, African chilies, 800 ml water, 2 Maggi bouillon cubes and 1 c. à café salt.
Time: PT5M
Cooking the broth
Cover the pot and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until the meat is tender.
Time: PT25M
Temperature: 90°C
Strain the broth
Remove the meat and tripe pieces with a slotted spoon. Strain the broth using a fine sieve and set aside in a clean container.
Time: PT5M
Prepare the tomato‑spice mixture
In the blender, place the two chopped onions, grated ginger, pressed garlic, African chilies, then add 800 ml water (or reserved broth). Blend until a smooth purée is obtained.
Time: PT5M
Sauté the onions in palm oil
Heat 1 cup palm oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the 2 diced onions and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until translucent.
Time: PT4M
Temperature: 180°C
Incorporate the tomato‑spice mixture
Pour the blender contents into the pot, cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 180°C
Add the meat and broth
Stir in the previously cooked meat, tripe and beef back, then add the reserved broth. Mix and simmer for 5 minutes.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 180°C
Enrich the tomato sauce
Add the two cans of peeled tomatoes, 1 c. à soupe sumba, 1 Maggi bouillon cube, and 0.5 c. à café salt. Mix and cook for 7 minutes over low heat.
Time: PT7M
Temperature: 150°C
Prepare the corn dough (fufu)
In a bowl, mix 1 cup corn flour with 2 cups hot water until a pliable dough forms. Shape into walnut‑sized balls.
Time: PT5M
Cook the fufu
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, drop the corn dough balls in and cook for 10 minutes, stirring gently to prevent sticking.
Time: PT10M
Temperature: 100°C
Prepare the green sauce with ode leaves
In the blender, combine the 800 g ode leaves, 1 cup water, 1 c. à soupe shrimp powder, 2 small chilies (shito) if desired, 1 c. à soupe sumba and 0.5 c. à café salt. Blend until a smooth purée is obtained.
Time: PT5M
Cooking the green sauce
Pour the purée into a pot, heat over medium heat for 7 minutes while stirring constantly.
Time: PT7M
Temperature: 150°C
Plating the dish
Place the fufu (corn dough) on the plate, first drape with the green sauce, then generously add the meat tomato sauce. Serve hot.
Time: PT5M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 350
- Protein
- 20 g
- Carbohydrates
- 30 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
Dietary info: gluten‑free, contains animal products, low-calorie, high-fiber
Allergens: palm oil, shrimp powder
Ingredient Substitutions
- Instead of Beef steak pieces: chicken, lamb
- Instead of Goat tripe: beef tripe
- Instead of Beef back: beef neck
- Instead of Onion: shallot
- Instead of Garlic cloves: garlic powder
- Instead of Fresh ginger: ground ginger (1 tsp)
- Instead of African chilies: Cayenne pepper
- Instead of Water: prepared broth
- Instead of Maggi beef bouillon cubes: homemade bouillon cube
- Instead of Salt: sea salt
- Instead of Palm oil: peanut oil
- Instead of Onion: shallot
- Instead of Pressed garlic: garlic powder
- Instead of Grated ginger: ground ginger (1 tsp)
- Instead of African chili: Cayenne pepper
- Instead of Canned peeled tomatoes: fresh tomatoes
- Instead of Sumba (dawa d'avoir): cumin‑paprika blend
- Instead of Maggi beef bouillon cube: homemade bouillon cube
- Instead of Salt (for the sauce): sea salt
- Instead of Ode leaves (or hibiscus leaves): spinach, cassava leaves
- Instead of Shrimp powder: fish sauce
- Instead of Small chilies (shito): fresh chili
- Instead of Corn flour (ground corn): corn semolina
- Instead of Hot water (for corn dough): broth
Equipment Needed
- Large pot (for the broth)
- Blender
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Wooden spoon
- Ladle
- Fine sieve
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cup
- Plastic wrap (for the fufu) (optional)
Critical Steps — Do Not Skip
- Do not discard the cooking broth; it is essential for the sauce.
- Blend the onion, ginger, garlic and chili mixture carefully to avoid splatters.
- Cook the fufu until it reaches a smooth and elastic texture.
Chef Tips from the Video
- Use refined palm oil if you prefer a milder flavor.
- For a lighter version, replace shrimp powder with tomato concentrate and a splash of lemon juice.
- Add a small handful of fresh coriander leaves just before serving for a fresh touch.
Troubleshooting
The sauce is too thick
Gradually add broth or hot water until the desired consistency is reached.
The broth is too salty
Dilute with additional water and adjust spices rather than adding more salt.
The fufu is grainy
Cook a little longer while stirring constantly and add a bit of hot water if needed.
Storage
Refrigerator: Store the tomato sauce, green sauce and broth separately in airtight containers: up to 3 days.
Freezer: The sauces can be frozen for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Room temperature: Do not leave the dish at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Make-Ahead Tips
- Prepare the broth the day before and keep it refrigerated; it will develop more flavor.
- Make the corn dough (fufu) ahead of time and steam it before serving.
- The green sauce freezes very well; make in large batches.
Last updated: August 24, 2026






