African cuisines have unique ingredients and techniques that make them distinctive, attractive, and delicious.
Generally, all African cuisines created are a combination of vegetables, fruits, beef/meat, cereals, and locally made spices. Varying from West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa, North Africa, and Southern Africa, they all have unique ingredients and recipes that make tasty and brain-busting dishes.
In the season of celebrating Africa day, I have compiled 5 easy dishes which you can pick from, including their ingredients and procedures for you and your family to experience your ‘Motherland’ cuisine that will leave your taste bud yearning for more!
These are some of the most popular African dishes that you should try:
1) Egusi Soup – Nigeria
Egusi is one of the most popular soups and is generally accepted and eaten by all tribes in Nigeria. Grounded melon seed, beef, fish, and other kinds of protein and vegetables are used to create this beautiful dish.
Egusi soup can be eaten with any kind of swallow like Eba(Garri), Semovita, fufu, etc.
Ingredients
4 cups of ground melon seeds(depends on the number of servings)
NB: To make Egusi paste, pour water according to the quantity and mix to form balls.
Boiled Beef and Fish (Protein options are personal preference
1 bulb onions
3 – 5 fresh pepper or ground pepper
1 – half cup of palm oil
Salt (to taste)
Ground crayfish
Sliced Pumpkin leaves
Sliced waterleaf
A small quantity of Sliced bitter leaf (washed)
Let’s get started:
Get a pot, pour in the palm oil, and heat on medium heat for a minute.
Scoop ball sizes of egusi paste mixture into the heated palm oil.
Pour in the meat stock or broth
Leave to simmer for 20 – 30 minutes to allow the balls to cook properly.
Add the beef and fish and other protein.
Add sliced pumpkin leaves and waterleaf.
Stir, cover the pot, and allow to cook for 7–10 minutes.
Add the bitter leaf, check seasoning and salt for taste
Leave the pot open while it cooks for 5-10 minutes.
2) Nkate nkwan (Peanut butter Soup) – Ghana
Nkate nkwan is one of the popular soups in Ghana. It is made from peanuts which is why most people refer to it as groundnut soup or peanut butter soup. This soup is made up of peanuts, onions, tomatoes, and pepper.
It’s served with ‘Omo to and fufu.
Ingredients
3 lb chicken (with bone)
6 kakapo shito peppers (petite belles)
2 bulbs onions
3 cloves of garlic (optional)
1 (1-inch) piece of fresh ginger
3 large ripe tomatoes
4 cups of chicken stock
2 bay leaves
Scotch bonnet pepper or chili powder (according to taste)
½ cup unsweetened peanut butter
2 cups of water (plus extra as needed)
10 whole okra pods
Let’s get started:
Get a pot, and place the chicken pieces into a pot. Cut off the top and bottom edges of the onions and add them whole into the pot.
Add the tomatoes whole into the pot, removing the core tips. Add the garlic and ginger into the pot. They may be grated or added whole, then processed afterward.
Add the bay leaves, kakapo shito, and chicken stock then bring to a boil and simmer until tender.
Prepare the peanut sauce while the soup is simmering by placing the peanut butter into a pot and mixing it with ½ a cup of water. This will allow the peanut butter to meld well with the water before adding the rest.
Place the peanut sauce on high heat and add the remaining water. Simmer for about 20 minutes until peanut oil rises to the surface.
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When the onions and tomatoes are soft, remove them from the broth and place them into a blender. If you want the soup to be very spicy, you may add some of the kakapo shito now.
Process them in the blender, then pour them back into the soup and stir. Simmer for five minutes.
Pour the peanut sauce into the soup and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.
Cut off the head and tail of the okra and boil them briefly before adding them to the soup. It’s used as a garnish.
