Last Updated on April 1, 2024
Home to some of the most flavorful, colorful, and delicious dishes in the world, Africa is one of the best travel destinations for food lovers. From the spicy Jollof rice of the west to the savory tagine of the north, the African continent offers something for every palate. Considering a trip to Africa to experience its beautiful wildlife, diverse landscapes, and, of course, the food?
Here is our list of the top ten mouth-watering African cuisines you must try during your visit.
Jollof Rice
Countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Lone, and Liberia
The West African Jollof rice is one dish every traveling foodie doesn’t want to miss. It’s basically white rice cooked in a fresh tomato sauce. Other ingredients can include thyme, curry, ginger, garlic, chili peppers, and onions, but the exact composition and preparation may vary from one country to the other. This one-pot dish is typically served with fried plantain, beef, chicken, boiled egg, or fish.
There are many variations of Jollof rice, and the debate on which country cooks the best version has been going on for decades. But no matter which variant of Jollof rice you get, you’re in for a treat.
Bunny Chow
Country: South Africa
Bunny Chow is a popular South African street food that originated from the Indian community that arrived in the country in the early 19th century. To make this dish, a half or full loaf of white bread is hollowed out and then filled with hot mutton, chicken, or bean curries. Bunny Chow is typically wrapped in newspaper and eaten by hand, with a hunk of bread dipped into the curry sauce. It’s spicy, tasty, and soul-satisfying.
Tagine
Countries: Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia
Tagine, also spelled tajine, is a stew-like dish you’ll find in many North African countries. It consists of meat (lamb or beef), vegetables, and spices, all cooked together in a traditional ceramic pot, also called tagine. This savory dish can also be prepared in a regular stewpan or casserole. Tagine is often served with couscous, saffron rice, halloumi, flatbreads, and mint tea.
Fufu
Countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Togo
Also known as foo-foo or fou-fou, fufu is a popular “swallow” food in West and Central Africa. However, it is also available in some Caribbean countries like the Dominican Republic due to African migration. Fufu is a dough-like dish made from cassava, yams, or plantains that are pounded, boiled, and stirred into a fine, thick consistency. It is eaten with vegetable stews and soups, such as the egusi and ogbono soups (in Nigeria), nkate nkwan and abenkwan soups (in Ghana), or any other delicious West African soup.
Bobotie
Countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and Kenya
Bobotie is a traditional South African dish of Asian origin. It is quite similar to meatloaf but even tastier. Bobotie is made with ground beef seasoned with curry, herbs, dried fruit, and other spices. The beef is then topped with a milk and egg mixture and baked until golden brown. This dish is paired with chutney, yellow rice, mashed potatoes, or sambal salad. While bobotie is most popular in South Africa, you can also find it in other African countries like Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, and Kenya.
Ugali
Countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi
Ugali is an East African staple food made from cassava or corn flour that is cooked with water to form a thick dough-like porridge. It also goes by other names, such as nsima, mealie pap, sadza, or posho. Ugali can be eaten alone or with Sukuma Wiki, a delicious vegetable stew prepared with collard greens, tomatoes, onions, and other spices.
Couscous
Countries: Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria
Couscous is one of the most popular North African cuisines. This traditional Berber dish is made of steamed semolina grains and eaten alone or together with tagine or plates of vegetables. There are different types of couscous based on the region. While the Moroccan version includes spices like saffron and cinnamon to enhance the flavor, the Algerian couscous features a tomato-based sauce to improve the taste. A hearty and luxurious version that includes grilled meat, lamb, and chicken is known as couscous royale.
Ndole
Country: Cameroon
Ndole is Cameroon’s national dish. It is made with boiled bitter leaves, melon seeds, peanuts, spices, and crayfish. The choice of protein includes fish, meat, or shrimp. Ndole is often served with fufu, rice, yam, plantain, bobolo, or miondo (a starchy delicacy made from grounded cassava and wrapped in banana leaves). If you like rich and flavorful foods, you’ll definitely love Ndole.
Ful Medames
Countries: Egypt, Morocco, and Sudan
Ful Medames is a popular breakfast dish in Egypt and other African countries like Morocco and Sudan. It consists of mashed fava beans flavored with herbs, ground cumin, olive oil, and a lemon garlic sauce. This traditional Egyptian dish is usually served with pita bread and sliced veggies. Since it uses meat-free ingredients, Ful Medames is a vegetarian’s delight.
Pounded Yam and Egusi Soup
Country: Nigeria
The list of must-try African cuisines won’t be complete without pounded yam and Egusi soup. This Nigerian delicacy comprises pounded yam (as the name suggests) and Egusi soup, a savory West African soup made with ground melon seeds, garlic, onions, spices, vegetables, fish, chicken, or meat. The Egusi soup also goes well with rice, eba, or amala (a staple swallow food made from yam or plantain flour). This food combination is sweet, rich, and filling.
Conclusion
African cuisines are as diverse as its people, and it’s impossible to include all the tasty dishes on this list. Those are some of the most popular delicious meals you can look forward to in Africa. However, we recommend that you research these food options, go through the ingredients, and check reviews to know which one to savor or avoid during your trip. In addition to gratifying delicacies, food enthusiasts visiting Africa will also have the opportunity to experience its rich cultures firsthand, tour the vibrant cities, see amazing wildlife in the wild, and, depending on where you stay, perhaps safari animals on the reels as well.
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