1. Jollof rice
What is it? Rice made with tomatoes, onions, scotch bonnets, and chili peppers. There are endless variations on this recipe, but those five ingredients are usual constants.
No list of Nigerian foods can be complete without a mention of Jollof rice. It’s a party dish brought out at celebrations, a signature regional dish, and the recipe with which many West African communities — and countries — like to stir up friendly rivalries. If I had to pick just one favorite from this entire list, this one would probably be it. 😍
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2. Pounded yam
What is it? Yams that have been crushed or stirred to a creamy, dough-like consistency. Pounded yams are considered a fufu (a kind of starchy side dish) usually served with a stew or efo.
One could compare pounded yams to mashed potatoes, but that’d be doing a disservice to the magically pull-apart dough-like texture attained by this dish. And you don’t need a mortar and pestle to cook pounded yams — you can make them with a hand mixer, a blender, or yam flour.
3. Pepper Soup
What is it? Light and spicy soup traditionally made with goat meat, but often with fish or other meat, as well as herbs and Nigerian spices.
Pepper soup is West Africa’s version of chicken soup (many Nigerian grocery stores even carry instant Peppersoup cubes!), and is known for its comforting, restorative, and universally delicious powers. While it has dozens of variations, no recipe is complete without its classic seasoning mix made up of spices like ataiko (Alligator pepper), uda, and gbafilo. You can buy a ready-made spice mix online, or you can make your own with non-Nigerian ingredients.
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4. Efo Riro
What is it? A rich spinach stew usually made with spinach, scotch bonnets, and red bell peppers.
“Efo Riro,” which roughly translates to “stirred leafy vegetable,” can be made with your meat or fish of choice, and traditionally attains its layered flavor from iru (locust bean) and ground crayfish. This recipe, as with many West African recipes, calls for palm oil, a crop that is native to the region. If, for whatever reason, you’d like to use something else, you can try substituting with a different vegetable oil. The recipe will still come together, but the taste will be different.
Get the recipe. Note that this recipe makes several substitutions for beginner chefs. Here and here are more traditional recipes.
5. Egusi Soup
What is it? A stew usually made with crayfish or other meat and thickened with ground melon seeds (egusi).
This soup gets its name from protein-rich egusi that lends the dish its velvety, creamy texture and rich flavor. Egusi is satisfying on its own, or with a side of fufu (like pounded yam), and comprises infinite layers of savory flavor that will greet your insides like a warm hug.
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9. Beef Stew
6. Beef Stew
What is it? A tomato-based beef stew served with rice or starchy vegetables.
It requires more than a handful of ingredients, and close attention to the pot to make sure the meat is tender while the sauce doesn’t get burnt, but other than that, the recipe is straightforward and perfect for a cozy winter night in.
