Kunu drink is a popular drink made from whole grains of millet and sometimes sorghum or corn. Its quite popular in most parts of Nigeria especially the northern part where it originates. It’s got a spicy, nutty flavor and it’s packed with nourishing vitamins and minerals. It’s also rich in protein and high in fiber. Preparation of this drink takes about a minimum of 2-3 days. This is because for the first two days, it’s left to soak in water so as to trigger the process of fermentation. Making Kunu at home is quite easy and requires nothing fancy. Here’s how its done…….
Related Post: Kunu Aya
Related Post: Kunu Aya
De-hulled Millet |
How to make “Kunun Zaki” drink
Utensils:::
• Blender
Ingredients:::
• 3 cups Millet (de-hulled)
• 1 medium sized Sweet potato, peeled- Optional
• 2 Medium sized Ginger, peeled
• 1 tbsp. Cloves (Konofiri)
• Sugar (To taste if you’re not using sweet potato) – Optional
• Water
Directions:::
Step 1: Soak the seeds in water for 48hours to allow the seeds ferment making sure you change the water every 7 hours.
Step 2: Wash thoroughly with clean water and place the millet, Ginger, Cloves (Konofiri) & Sweet potato in a blender (You need one with sharp blades) and blend till you have a smooth paste making sure you add water while blending to enable it blend smoothly.
Step 3: Place the blend in a large bowl and pour cold water over the paste (This is to make it easier to sieve) and mix. Gently pour the slurry into the sieving bag and sieve the mixture. Discard the chaff
Step 4: Leave the sieved out liquid to settle for about 7 hours, by then the clear liquid would be above the sediment (thick paste below). Sieve out the clear liquid leaving the settled mixture which should be thick.
Step 5: Divide the thick paste into two bowls (Let’s say bowl 1 & 2). Pour boiling hot water over the content of bowl 1 and stir (As if you are preparing pap). Add the content of bowl 2 into bowl 1 and stir some more. At this stage you can add as much water as you want depending on how thick or watery you want your kunu. It’s usually thick though.
Step 6: Sweeten with sugar, Refrigerate & Serve Chilled.
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89 comments
It doesn't turn alcoholic when fermented?
Nice one, but my people make it in a different way. After blending they stir it and add hot boiling water then the sieve and chill it.
No it doesn't turn alcoholic. This is because the seeds are soaked whole which slows down the conversion of sugar in the seeds to alcohol. But Once it's ground, the conversion reaction becomes hastened and this is the reason why it has to be refrigerated and consumed within a short period of time once its prepared else it'd keep fermenting thereby making it alcoholic later on.
I love Kunu. i so miss my days in kaduna because of this. please can u do tuwo masa
It's amazing how you go the extra mile. Love the calabash serving bowl 😉
my people on the plateau have a different recipe and we may not need to add sugar to sweeten it and it takes 24hrs max to prepare
Ingredients:::
• 3 cups Guinea corn (red type)
• 1 medium sized Sweet potato, peeled
. a handful of germinated rice seeds (known as 'Siro" in hausa)
• 2 Medium sized Ginger, peeled
• 1 tbsp. Cloves (Optional)
• Sugar (optional)
• Water
-soak the guinea corn in the morning and allow it to stay under the sun
-rinse thoroughly in the evening and add the spice and grind it
-grind the sweet potato and rice seeds separately
-bring your water to boil and pour in in to the paste and stir gradually till it forms a thick paste
-now pour in your potato and rice paste
this mixture breaks down the starch from the guinea corn paste and makes it very loose and liquid, you may not need to add more water
– allow it to cool overnight and stir occasionally and the steam needs to get out
– sieve in the morning and sweeten, (optional)
my people on the plateau have a different recipe and we may not need to add sugar to sweeten it and it takes 24hrs max to prepare
Ingredients:::
• 3 cups Guinea corn (red type)
• 1 medium sized Sweet potato, peeled
. a handful of germinated rice seeds (known as 'Siro" in hausa)
• 2 Medium sized Ginger, peeled
• 1 tbsp. Cloves (Optional)
• Sugar (optional)
• Water
-soak the guinea corn in the morning and allow it to stay under the sun
-rinse thoroughly in the evening and add the spice and grind it
-grind the sweet potato and rice seeds separately
-bring your water to boil and pour in in to the paste and stir gradually till it forms a thick paste
-now pour in your potato and rice paste
this mixture breaks down the starch from the guinea corn paste and makes it very loose and liquid, you may not need to add more water
– allow it to cool overnight and stir occasionally and the steam needs to get out
– sieve in the morning and sweeten, (optional)
Thank you myne 🙂
WoW!!!….*Dancing*…Thanks alot for the recipe mercy. Would definitely try this out. Thanks Once again 🙂
Hi dobby tanx for d post.I have a question for mercy.can I soak rice seedlings and allow it to germinate before I use it
For the recipe mercy mentioned you have to soak the rice and allow to germinate before grinding.
There's another version of kunu called 'kunun aya' made with tiger nuts (Ofio) instead of millet. Its still the same process but they add hausa almonds to it also instead of potatoes.
Hi dobby,is the potatoes used in dis receipe boiled or used fresh?
Thanks for the addition anon.
The potatoes used is fresh
What is Hausa almonds.
Simply almonds. you can also substitute with Dates.
I like the way you follow up with comments from your fellows. I love to cook and has always wanted to try this. Thanks so much..
Thank you Anon 🙂
I want to make it 4 sale is there anything to add to make it unique and also profitable
Hello Anon!
you could soak the millet with white corn before grinding. This would give it a milky and more commercial look.
Ȋ̝̊̅§ kunu good ƑƠ̴͡Ʀ pregnant women.
Kunu is very very goood gfor pregnant women
Yes kunu is very very good for pregnant women
Can kunu be bottled? If yes, what is the preservation process
Can kunu be bottled? If yes, what is d preservation process
yes it can. The best way to preserve it is in a freezer or refrigerator otherwise it'd keep fermenting and sour
Thanks so much Dobby, God bless you real good Amen.
you are welcome seun. God bless you too 🙂
Tnx So much for dis link, but plS can I stir on fire if is not well done on grand?
sure you can but you have to do that quickly so it doesn't form lumps
Nice drink I'm even taking one bottle of it…yummy
not fair, you could have at least sent in a pic for me to savor 🙁
Some people, instead of sweet potatoes, they use Maize grains…
Yes, a mixture of Maize and Millet can be used.
What other recipe can replace cloves and sweet potato
CLICK HERE for Kunun Aya Recipe
Pleas how many calories does a 50ck bottle of kunu contain and is it good for weight loss?
Kunu is very fattening not good for weight loss.Pregnant mother's are always warned in Northern hospital to drink less of kunu to avoid big baby.
Kunu drink might be good for weight loss because it's rich in fiber which'd make your stomach feel fuller once taken. This therefore improves chances of weight loss. For now, i can't say much about the calorie content per bottle but 1 cup of cooked millet contains 207 calories.
Thanks for the insight Anon
That is so interesting. I so much like Kunu Drink.
i love kunu too. please which other drink do they have in the north
Dobby, i thank you educating us on kunu. May God bless you. Does is mean that fat people should not drink kunu?
You're welcome adewale. Fat people can take kunu but in minimal quantity
Thanks dobby
You're welcome margaret.
Wow! Thanks for this write up, I'm going to try making. I love kunnu so much
Wow! Thanks for this write up, I'm going to try making. I love kunnu so much
You're welcome Funmi.
please what is your cup measurement like? i am getting addicted to your blog. well done!
Thanks for the straight forward write up. One question though, can soya beans be added it?
No it can't be added to this version
Hi Anon, you can find the measurements HERE
Hello. What is the purpose of dividing the paste into two bowls?
To balance the final outcome of the drink.
Hi, Please, I don't know this Hausa Almonds. can you send me a picture of it via: ndiforgroup@gmail.com or any online link with it pictures? is there any scientific name? thank you in advance
Hello ndifor. it's known as dates in english. Follow this link HERE
Nice recipe, I think I will try it out this weekend
Great Joyous! Do keep us posted.
Pls can I use Irish poteto instead of sweet poteto, urgent pls
No you can't use Irish potato. The reason for using sweet potato is to sweeten the drink.
Thanks. Can tiger nut go together with millet to make kunnu?
Thanks. Can tiger nut go together with millet to make kunnu?
No it doesn't but preferences differ. You can try it out and see if you like it.
Can dried pepper be added before grinding. I remember my aunt usually add little dried pepper.
Does kunu increase breast milk? Am a nursing mother, I want to increase my milk flow. Thanks
I've never seen that done. Ginger is the ingredient that makes it seem peppery.
Good afternoon, thank you for your various recipes, I tried the one for the zobo drink and everyone buying it is so loving it.but pls if I want to commercialize this kunun,can I grind a large quantity of the millet like we do for pap and be taking out of it for when needed rather than grinding every time in need a supply.? Thank you
Hi Mayowa, i highly doubt that. Kunun is highly prone to spoilage without constant refrigeration.
Hi, please how long will this kunu last for in the fridge?
Thanks
It doesn't last long in the fridge, lets say about 3 days. It could last longer when kept in the freezer as this tends to halt the fermentation process.
I love this blog, getting addicted already
I love this blog, getting addicted already
I love this blog, getting addicted already
Thank you Ad O :). Glad to have you here.
Thanks for this recipe. I have dried potatoes, how can I use it please?
Thanks for the recipe. I have dried potatoes, how can I use it please?
Thanks for this recipe. I have dried potatoes, how can I use it please?
Hi Kemi! Fresh sweet potato is ideal for this.
Please what is cloves
Hi Kemi! Fresh sweet potato is ideal for this.
You can find out more HERE
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Wonderful, what a blog it is! This webpage gives useful information to us,
keep it up.
Can I mix sorghum and millet for kunu zaki? Or what can I use to brighten the colour a bit? It seem too dark for me, personal preference though. Thanks.
It's worth a try. Most people add corn to brighten it.