Street Snack · Steamed Bean Cake

Koki (Koki Beans)

Photo: Bandrefam / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Koki gets its deep orange-red colour from red palm oil, which is beaten into the bean paste in generous amounts before the parcels are steamed.

Koki is made from peeled black-eyed peas pounded into a paste with palm oil, spices, and leafy greens, then wrapped in banana or cocoyam leaves and steamed until firm. Sold by street vendors, it's unwrapped warm at the table and often paired with boiled plantain or cassava.

Why it's made this way: Wrapping the batter in leaves before steaming lets vendors cook, transport, and serve individual portions without extra dishware — a practical solution for sellers working from baskets and small charcoal stoves.