Nigerian Chin Chin is a crunchy and tasty deep-fried African snack—perfect for the whole family. It’s a healthy recipe made from homemade dough that can also be flavored with fruits! In fact, you can have this for desserts and appetizers, too.
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Don’t forget to serve this during celebrations and weekends. Indeed, it makes an amazing comfort food any day!
How to Make Nigerian Chin Chin
Make snack time special and fun with these delicious Nigerian Chin Chin! You’ll learn how to turn yummy dough into crispy cubes in no time.
Ingredients
Self-rising flour
Self-rising flour is best used for deep-fried pastries like this Nigerian Chin Chin. It already has leavening qualities to make it extra crunchy. I also use this for Puff Puff, Vanilla Cake, and American Pancakes!
Butter
Add butter to the dough to make the dish crumbly, flaky, and light. According to Food Network, butter also makes the chin chin rich and tender. Moreover, this makes the recipe extra flavorful!
You may use butter for Coconut Buns, Banana Bread, and Coconut Egg Rolls!
Baking powder
Baking powder is an effective leavening agent usually used for cake recipes. It also reacts with wet ingredients to give any recipe a high rise. However, too much baking powder can cause a dish to become bitter.
Add this to Chocolate Cake, Moist Almond Loaf Cake, and Chicken Pie.
Evaporated milk
Evaporated milk makes the dough smooth and crumbly. It also helps activate the baking powder and self-rising flour for crunchy Nigerian Chin Chin. Furthermore, it adds a golden brown color to the dish once cooked!
Use this for drinks and desserts to go with this dish, such as Peanut Butter Banana Milkshake, Banana Strawberry Popsicles, and Avocado Banana Milkshake!
Seasoning
Season the dough with sugar, nutmeg, and salt to balance the flavors. These also enrich the color and texture of the chin chin. Sugar is for sweetness, whereas nutmeg gives a mildly nutty taste. Meanwhile, the salt improves the dough and extends the dish’s shelf life.
Water
Water helps distribute the seasoning and leavening agents in the dough. It also gives the dish a consistent texture and flavor at every bite!
Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is a great option for deep frying. It has a high smoke point to cook the Nigerian Chin Chin properly without losing flavor or nutrients. This can also make Fried Yam, Fried Chicken Gizzards, and Crispy Fried Fish!
Just imagine having all of these in stock. You can make Nigerian Chin Chin any time you want! You will surely love the flavor and texture of this dish.
Directions
Make the dough
- Mix the sugar and evaporated milk in a small glass bowl with a spoon.
- Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.
- Then, add butter and mix with your hands.
- Pour in the sugar and milk mixture and massage.
- Add a bit of water until the dough becomes thick.
- Knead the dough on a flat surface.
- Then, flatten with a rolling pin.
- Use a knife to cut out straight strips and small cubes.
Deep fry
- Heat oil in a pot over medium heat.
- Then, add the cubes and allow to fry until golden brown.
- Remove the chin chin from the oil using a skimmer spoon.
- Let it cool at room temperature to make it extra crunchy!
Is it as crispy and flavorful as you expected it to be? Not only is it easy to make, but it is also fun to prepare. You can make this quick recipe for when you have family and friends over!
Tips
How to Make Dough Properly for Nigerian Chin Chin
Here are some tips you need to know to get good quality Nigerian Chin Chin:
- Measure the ingredients using measuring cups and spoons.
- You can use a stand mixer’s kneading attachment to knead the dough.
- Also, add warm water to make a smooth and thick dough.
- Let the dough rest for several minutes to activate the leavening agents.
- Don’t forget to season the dough with sugar, salt, and nutmeg.
- Knead by continuously pushing the dough outward and folding it inward.
- Apply pressure on the dough, and if it bounces back immediately, then it is ready to flatten and cut.
Homemade Self-Rising Flour
If you can’t find it in your local grocery store, make the self-rising flour from three cups of plain flour and six tablespoons of baking powder. Check out this video on how easily you can do it:
Nigerian Chin Chin Variations
One of the best things my family loves about Nigerian Chin Chin is that you can make it your own recipe. For instance, you can slice it into different shapes and sizes for a fun snack! This dish can also be prepared in long strips, small cubes, circles, flat chips, and more.
Make this dish with plant-based butter and almond milk for a vegan version. Meanwhile, you can also use gluten-free alternatives to better suit your diet. You can also make Baked Nigerian Chin chin.
Did you know that you can even make Nigerian Chin Chin in coconut, milo, or beetroot flavor? In case you don’t want to deep fry, here’s an oven-baked recipe you can try:
Recommended Tools
- Pot: Deep fry the Nigerian Chin Chin in a pot.
- Glass bowls: Prepare the dough and mixtures in glass bowls.
- Spoon: Stir the milk and sugar with a spoon.
- Rolling pin: Flatten the dough using a rolling pin.
- Skimmer spoon: Toss the chin chin in the oil with a skimmer spoon.
- Knife: Slice the dough into pieces with a knife.
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How to Serve Nigerian Chin Chin
If Nigerian Chin Chin is interesting to make, it is certainly fun and satisfying to eat it too. You can simply put them in a bowl to serve as a snack. Moreover, adding almond milk can make it a great homemade cereal!
Prepare these drinks and juices to pair with this dish:
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Store the Nigerian Chin Chin in an airtight container for a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is chin chin in Nigeria?
Chin chin is a popular deep-fried snack in Nigeria. It’s made from flavorful dough and cooked until golden brown and crunchy. Chin chin also makes great appetizers and desserts.
What is Nigerian chin chin made of?
It is made of self-rising flour, baking powder, butter, evaporated milk, sugar, salt, nutmeg, water, and sunflower oil! You can also make it with milo, beetroot, or coconut. In fact, this can be prepared with other fruits for a tastier flavor.
What is chin chin known for?
This dish is known for its crunchy, flaky texture and delicious flavor. In addition to serving it as a snack, you can mix it with milk to turn it into cereal for breakfast.
Nigerian Chin Chin Recipe (+VIDEO)
Ingredients
- 400 g self-rising flour
- 100 g butter (salted)
- 5 tbsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tbsp ground nutmeg
- 100 ml evaporated milk
- A pinch salt
- 2 tbsp water (lukewarm)
- Sunflower oil (enough to deep fry)
Instructions
Make the dough
- Mix the sugar and evaporated milk in a small glass bowl with a spoon.
- Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.
- Add butter and mix with your hands.
- Pour in the sugar and milk mixture and massage.
- Add a bit of water until the dough becomes thick.
- Knead the dough on a flat surface. Then, flatten with a rolling pin.
- Use a knife to cut out straight strips and small cubes.
Deep fry
- Heat oil in a pot over medium heat.
- Add the cubes and allow to fry until golden brown.
- Remove the chin chin from the oil using a skimmer spoon.
- Let it cool at room temperature to make it extra crunchy!
Video
Notes
- The oil should sizzle when you drop the dough.
- Check the dough for doneness before flattening and cutting. It should bounce back immediately after applying pressure.
- You can also bake it to use less oil.