Akassa Gbe
Akassa, the fermented corn dough that is Togo's comfort food, is eaten with the hands and served with a rich tomato and fish sauce that stains your fingers red. Making it takes two days of grinding, fermenting, and steaming, and every Togolese mother has her own ratio of corn to water that she will never reveal. The first bite closes your eyes. The second bite makes you understand why nobody eats akassa alone.