What is better than than the Most Popular African Dishes read for Chow?
Africa is a uniquely beautiful continent with the amalgamation of different cultures, the presence of rich wildlife, untouched natural beauty, big lakes and delicious food. African food is not talked about very often but someone who has travelled to that part of the world would know that like the rest of the world, Africans are also very particular about what they eat and traditional African dishes are something worth trying.
Countries like South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania and Nigeria are prime tourist attractions in Africa and the food there is delicious as well.
While globalisation has ensured that fast food outlets reach every part of the world, what’s the benefit of travelling to a new country if you don’t take back something from that place while returning home. Learning to cook dishes from different parts of the world is one of the benefits of being a global citizen in a connected world. Diversity is beautiful in its own way and diversity in food is always favourable as you get to taste different cuisines from across the world. We’ve brought to you the recipes of some of the most popular African dishes.
The list includes a variety of traditional African dishes that will leave you craving for more.
Banku
Banku is a very popular traditional dish from Ghana. People from the Ewe Tribe, Ga Tribe and the Fante Tribe cook the dish in different parts of the country. This doesn’t mean the popularity of Banku is restricted to these tribes. The dish is popular across the country.
To prepare this dish, you need fresh drinking water, a saucepan, 2 cups of fermented corn dough, cooking oil, chopped onion, a cup of scotch bonnets, chopped tomato, grated cassava, chopped garlic, salt and pepper and whole tilapia fish.
Bunny Chow
Indians have had their influence in almost every part of the world and bunny chow was a gift from the Indian people to the South Africans. The dish became popular during the second world war. Fresh and tasty curry is poured inside of a hollowed-out loaf of bread. The dish has an African touch in the way it is prepared. The curry can either be veg or non-veg depending on your preference.
Traditional spices, curry leaves, onion, tomato cloves, turmeric, ginger and garam masala are used to prepare a mouth-watering curry. It is spicy in taste and served hot. It is one of the easiest African dishes.
Waakye
Waakye is another popular dish from Ghana. It is very popular in the northern parts of the country. Rice and beans are the main ingredients of the dish and it can be eaten alone or with other meals. It is known by different names among different tribes. Adding kidney beans to the list of ingredients makes the dish tastier and healthier. The dish is cooked in pots. You will need boiled rice, some beans, baking soda, some spices and Sorghum millet to cook the dish.
Nigerian Jollof Rice
As the name suggests, Jollof rice is a famous dish from the Nigerian. However, it is popular in entire West Africa. An easy to make a dish, Jollof rice can be cooked with or without meat.
You’ll need freshly boiled rice, tomato paste, onion, Curry and type, cloves, carrot and spices to make the dish. You can also add soya chunks, potato and capsicum to the dish to make it even tastier. Potato and other vegetables must be cooked well in vegetable oil and then mixed with boiled rice and traditional spices. The Nigerians prefer chicken over vegetables but it totally depends on your preference.
Also Read, 8 Indian & Foreign Dishes Fusions That Will Make You Drool
Nyama Na Irio
It is one of the most popular African dishes that originated in Kenya. Potato and Chickpeas are the main ingredients of the dish. Corn is also used while preparing Nyama Na Irio. You’ll need to mash the potatoes. This is only after you have softened chickpeas and potatoes by boiling them. Cook corn in a small pan, add salt to it and mix mashed potatoes and chickpeas to the pan. Stir it for a while and add common spices to make the dish tasty.
Akara
Akara is a dish from West Africa that can be prepared with peeled beans and spices. It is a dish that can be prepared on a very limited budget and in limited time. The beans are blended to make a paste and whisked until a batter is prepared. Spices and salt are added to the paste. The paste is used to make scoop-like shapes that are deep-fried until they turn golden brown. The texture should be crispy and crunchy. Akara balls are served with sauce or traditional chutneys.
Beju
Beju is a traditional African cookie made from coconut. It is mainly a Nigerian dish but it is also famous in Brazil. Cassava root, coconut, and sugar are the only three ingredients used to prepare this tasty delight.
You’ll need to grate fresh coconut to prepare these cookies. The Cassava root will also need to be grated. It is better if the sugar is in crystal form. After grating the ingredients, mix all of them in a bowl. Now pour the mixture into muffin tins and place the tin on a preheated oven. After baking the cookies for over 20 minutes on one side, flip them and bake them for another 10 minutes. Take them out and sprinkle dry fruits or sugar over the cookies.
