Ghana: eat shitto

[Image: thanks, Matthew] Shitto is an allegedly delicious Ghanaian sauce with a name that makes Americans laugh. When you hear someone in Ghana say it, though, the sound of the word actually does not make you think of poop.

I haven't eaten Shitto yet, but everyone in Ghana seems to love it. I'm told the best way to describe it is "sort of like a dark, red pepper salsa but with fermented fish and other stuff."

If the fermented fish part freaks you out, consider the fact that one of the flavors Americans enjoy in Thai cooking is imparted by a liquid extract of fermented fish.

There's an interesting cultural story around Shitto, too. I'm told that has been the "homesick food" of choice for Ghanaians living overseas. That's because it is preserved well and ships well, unlike most of the more delicate flavors and preparations in traditional Ghanaian cuisine.

It's hard to imagine microwaveable banku, for instance. And I have eaten that, and loved it. It's fermented mushy corn, like a sourdough tamale. Like many things, it tastes better the further away you drive from central Accra, into the rural villages in the hills. Mmmmmm. Smoky, wood fire taste, and that sweet-salty-sour corn mash, wrapped and steamed in leaves.

Ethan Zuckerman, who lived and worked in Ghana for several years, asked me to pick him up a few cans of Shitto while I'm over here -- and then discovered that a store near his northeastern US town carries it.

Ethan also turned me on to a recent episode of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain's food show which was all about the flavors of Ghana: Link 1, Link 2.

Here's a rudimentary Wikipedia article on Ghanaian food.

Update/Correction:

Reader Lamisi says,

Just to add to your culture lesson. Shito is the Ga word for pepper. Shito is a gravy made from dried pepper,smoked dried fish,dried shrimp power,variety of species,ginger,onion,garlic,tomatoes and seasoning.

The fish is not fermented as you put it but smoked,dried and powdered. It is indeed a delicacy that most Ghanaians eat.

Shitto can be eaten with rice,yams,gari,Kenkey,spaghetti, bread etc.I brought a big jar of home-made shito to the states.