Thinking in terms of “food miles” doesn’t tell the whole story of greenhouse gas emissions Is local better? Well, let’s say it’s complicated… There are so many reasons to support local agriculture. Local produce is fresh, seasonal, and nutrient dense, and it allows us to connect as a community around the food we eat. Eating […]
Sweet Rose Fonio
Our Sweet Rose Fonio recipe is inspired by an Egyptian dessert traditionally made with couscous. This no-bake treat has layers of texture and flavor thanks to the nutty fonio base, a mix of almonds + pistachios, chewy raisins, and bursts of pomegranate. It’s lightly sweetened and fragrant from the combination of spices, rose petals, and […]
Fonio Lemon Tart
This buttery, flaky, gluten-free fonio crust is the perfect base for any pie filling or fresh cream + fruit. We love it with tangy smooth lemon curd and ripe berries. #YoleleAtTheTable Fonio Lemon Curd Tart Makes 4 x 6-inch tarts or 2 x 9-inch tarts (vegetarian, gluten free) Ingredients For Crust: 1 cup cooked + […]
Fonio Jackfruit Bites with Spicy Mango Sauce
Fonio bites with jackfruit and spicy mango dipping sauce
Fonio Stuffed Peppers, Amalfi Coast Style
Our Italian-style stuffed peppers take inspiration from a traditional dish (known as puparuole ‘mbuttunate in Neapolitan dialect) found on the Amalfi Coast. They work as a main dish or an impressive side for dinner parties and make for killer leftovers. Kick them up a notch by adding fresh mozzarella, oil packed tuna, or shredded chicken. #YoleleAtTheTable Fonio […]
Fonio Everyday Dal Crackers
We present to you, in collaboration with our friends Maya Kaimal Foods: Fonio + Everyday Dal Crackers! These easy-to-make crackers are packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and good fats. The nuttiness of Yolélé fonio complements the savory and tartness of kidney bean + carrot + tamarind Everyday Dal. Use them as a dip for hummus, the […]
Curried Fonio Pilaf
Our fluffy fonio pilaf takes on vibrancy and flavor from curry spices and cooks faster than rice. Vegan, gluten-free, and topped with fresh herbs and pomegranate jewels. Curried Fonio Pilaf serves 6 (vegan, gluten free) IngredientsOlive oil2 cups diced onions (small, ¼-½ in)2 cups diced sweet potatoes (¼-½ inch), about 1 large potatoPinch of salt3 […]
Sizzling Fonio Cheese Galette
Crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside, this sizzling skillet fonio galette is so satisfying for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The variations are endless: add sautéed veggies like onions + zucchini, top with a fried egg, or sub in vegan butter and cheese to make dairy-free. Consider it a melt-in-your-mouth option for Meatless Mondays! […]
Tahini Brown Butter Fonio Cookie
These cookies are the perfect balance of sweet + salty, crispy on the edges and soft + chocolatey in the middle. Yolélé fonio gives them a chewy texture, otherwise hard to attain in a gluten-free cookie recipe, and browning the butter may seem like an extra step but imparts a rich toastiness. Use your favorite […]
Dark Chocolate Fonio Brownies
Never again will you bake brownies from a box; this recipe belongs in your baking repertoire! They’re easy to whip up and everything you want in a brownie: dense and chewy, with a super fudgy crumb. We recommend using a combination of smooth dark chocolates + a robust vanilla extract by heirloom cocoa + vanilla […]
Moringa Fonio Veggie Burger
Meatless Mondays may extend to Tuesday with these flavorful and nutritious Fonio Moringa Veggie Burgers. Serve these up at your next cook out– they’ll have your most die-hard carnivore friends stealing bites of the plant burgers all night long. Moringa Fonio Veggie Burger makes 4 burgers (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) Ingredients small handful salt + 1 […]
Fonio Veggie Sliders
Our Fonio Veggie Sliders are a vegan, gluten free, and plant-based alternative to your traditional burger. Think of them as a cousin to falafel, but with an Indian twist, thanks to Maya Kaimal Foods Everyday Dal with tomato, black lentil, and cumin. Fonio Veggie Sliders serves 6-8 (vegetarian, gluten free) Ingredients½ cup Maya Kaimal Foods […]
Chef Colby Takes an Innovative Spin on Fonio at Little King
By Binta Touray, Yolélé Fellow December 2018 Little King is a small and trendy neighborhood spot in East Williamsburg. The menu is short and concise but it doesn’t fail to leave a lasting impression. Chef Colby Rasavong gave me an inside scoop on the humble beginnings of Little King, his approach in the kitchen, […]
PRINT. restaurant: creative cuisine with an eye for sustainability
By John Argentino, Yolélé Fellow July, 2018 On the corner of 48th and 11th, in the rare shade found a few blocks from Times Square, sits a restaurant in a repurposed printing factory with an airy dining room, a rooftop lounge, and a garden overlooking the Hudson. Dedicated to seasonal and sustainable sourcing, PRINT. […]
How to Make Fonio
Stovetop: In a small saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, stir a tsp of any oil into 1/2 cup of fonio until grains are coated and not clumping. Add salt (1/2 tsp) and 1 cup water and stir well. Bring to a boil, then cover, remove from heat, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Fluff […]
Kimchi Fried Fonio
Kimchi Fried Fonio Serves 4 Vegetarian Gluten Free Ingredients 3 cups cooked and cooled fonio 1 cup roughly chopped kimchi (6 ounces) plus extra kimchi juice to taste 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced 1 teaspoon finely chopped or grated fresh ginger 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic 3 scallions, thinly sliced 1 handful torn or roughly […]
Yolélé fonio now available at your local NYC market
Hey, New Yorkers, Yolélé fonio is coming to a market near you! We’ve been overwhelmed by the tremendous support from our community thus far. From emails of gratitude to recipe submissions on social media to suggestions on how we can do better, we love hearing from our extended Yolélé family. Now, we’re excited to make Yolélé fonio more […]
Yolélé fonio now available on select New York City menus!
We’re thrilled to announce that Yolélé fonio is now available on select New York City restaurant and cafe menus! Now, you can enjoy fonio at some of your favorite New York City eateries. We’d love for you to support our partner restaurants and cafes, help us spread the word, and, of course, snap a photo and tag […]
Yolélé’s Approach to Boomless Fonio Growth
How we aim to sustainably grow the fonio markets and prevent a “Quinoa Boom.” So, what happened to Quinoa? Quinoa transitioned from a subsistence crop in the Andean highlands to an international commercial one in the early 2000s, and it had both a positive and negative impact for smallholder farmers. At first, Andean quinoa farmers […]
The Art of Cooking Perfect Fonio
One of fonio’s greatest selling points is how quick and easy it is to cook. But like everything else that appears simple, cooking fonio is really detailed and nuanced. For a company like Yolélé, basic cooking instructions are critical. Getting those across online and on our packaging was an important step in our July 2017 […]
5 Reasons Why You Should Add Fonio to Your Diet in 2018
1. It’s good for you. Cultivated for over 5,00 years, fonio is West Africa’s oldest grain. It’s naturally gluten-free, has a low glycemic index, and is light and fluffy – making it easy to digest. Fonio is also high in protein, iron, and fiber, and rich with essential amino acids that are deficient in most […]
Yolélé Fonio Available on Thrive Market!
We’re excited to announce that Yolélé Fonio is now available on Thrive Market for just $3.99! If you’re new to Thrive, don’t worry, we have you covered. Thrive is a membership-based, e-commerce platform where you can find your favorite natural and organic food products at reduced costs. More details on how to sign-up here! Take advantage […]
Creamy Fonio Hot Cereal with Dried Fruit
Whether you’re in a rush, or just want to enjoy a warm breakfast, our creamy fonio hot cereal is the way to go! Creamy Fonio Hot Cereal with Dried Fruit Serves 6 Gluten-free Dairy-free Vegan Ingredients 1 cup fonio 2 cups cold water 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup dried cranberries ½ cup raisin 2 cups […]
Fonio, Butternut Squash, Spinach & Tomato Frittata
Spice up your next lazy Sunday brunch with this colorful frittata. Fonio, Butternut Squash, Spinach & Tomato Frittata Serves 4 Gluten-free Ingredients Olive oil, for cooking 1 cup butternut squash, peeled and diced 1/2 in. 1-2 ripe tomatoes, chopped 1 garlic clove, crushed (optional) 1 cup cooked fonio 1-2 packed cups baby spinach leaves, torn […]
Fonio Almond Mango Crisp
Looking for a super tasty and healthy dessert? Look no further. Our fonio-based crisp is sure to be a hit at your next party. Fonio Almond Mango Crisp Serves 5 Gluten-free Ingredients 2 large mangoes, peeled and diced 4 Tablespoons finely ground almond flour 1 Tablespoon lemon juice For the Almond Crisp Topping: 1 cup […]
Fonio Thanksgiving Stuffing with Dates
Yolélé fonio, unlike some other brands, is light and fluffy. It’s perfect for a Thanksgiving stuffing or Holiday side-dish when the table is groaning from a whole panoply of dishes and everyone’s plates are heaped high. This recipe originally appeared in Saveur Magazine (Fall, 2015) as part of a full African holiday menu. Fonio Thanksgiving Stuffing […]
Fonio Hits the Big Stage at TED Global
Yolélé Foods co-founder, Pierre Thiam, gives an inspiring TED Talk on the transformative powers of fonio. The video debut in August, 2017, and has garnered more than 950,000 views.
What is Fonio?
Fonio is a tiny grain that has sustained rural West Africans for over 5,000 years. High in protein (and particularly strong in the essential amino acids methionine and cystine, which are deficient in most grains), fiber, and iron, this gluten-free grain is treasured from Senegal all the way to Nigeria. Look at it on a map […]
Pierre Thiam: Fonio TED Talk
How proud are we that our co-founder Pierre Thiam has been asked to speak about fonio at TEDGlobal 2017 in Arusha, Tanzania? Pierre will be appear in the Pathmakers session, alongside Paul Kagame, the president of the Republic of Rwanda. He’ll be telling the story of fonio: its rich history, cultural significance, and promise for […]
Launch Day
It’s hard to believe that launch day is already behind us. We’re still flying high! Pierre gave out tastes of his cool and refreshing Fonio Mango Salad to throngs of visitors to the new Harlem Whole Foods Market in New York City on Friday July 21st. We sold out of the first delivery pretty quickly, but they’re […]
Radical Potential
When you’re starting a business, you’re always charged up. New developments! Changing conditions! You’re constantly encountering (and hopefully solving) problems. But this week has us exceptionally excited. We recently got together with our friends at the admirable rice company Lotus Foods, which is a champion of SRI, or System of Rice Intensification. SRI is an […]
