ABSTRACT
The staple food of the Bangwa - a group of Bamileke-speaking peoples living in the steep mountains dividing the plateau grasslands and forest lands of Cameroon - is taro (or cocoyam) eaten as a pounded fufu with various meat, vegetable and fish sauces. On special occasions, and there are many of them (funeral feasts, dances, men's and women's meetings), the menu is varied by the addition of extra meat dishes and a variety of boiled or steamed puddings which are usually eaten with yams or plantains or cocoyams. These puddings are boiled in leaves and are made from ground beans, egusi melon seeds, maize or groundnuts. Fresh corn is ground in a mortar and mixed with oil and pepper and wrapped in the green sheath of the corn cob. Melon seeds are also ground and mixed with oil and season delicacies such as flying ants and tadpoles - melon seeds make a pudding as light as a souffle or an Italian sformata.
