Enjoying Nigerian food and preparing a Nigerian food menu

Nigerian food is as spicy, heavy and busting with local’s flavours. Our food is most times heavy because the average Nigerian prefers volume. Apart from nutrition, food is sometimes synonymous with fun and entertainment. We use food to entertain our guests at parties and in our homes.  

A typical Nigerian soup is usually paired with swallows like semolina, Eba, wheat and so on, unlike the European soup that makes a complete meal. 

A typical Nigerian meal, especially soup, requires a few ingredients. While these ingredients are crucial in producing specific flavours, they are not compulsory. Some of these ingredients are okpehe, crayfish, dry dish, and palm oil.

Five popular and hilarious Nigerian food cultures.

These are rather hilarious food cultures in Nigeria. While some of these cultures are unspoken, every Nigerian unconsciously live by these “rules”. Some of these food cultures in Nigeria are:

• Swallow is not as sweet if we eat them with a spoon.
• Food should be the last item on every agenda because people leave once they eat.
• We serve rice and stew every Sunday after the service. This culture is so popular that it is observed in 95% of Nigerian homes.
• Rice is a big part of celebrations in Nigeria. Birthday parties, Christmas parties, and Christmas day will not be complete until we enjoy our party jollof rice.
• This may not be as popular. Some believe Nigerian soups, especially Egusi and Okra, taste better after the second day.

Preparing a perfect Nigerian food menu

Unlike the Europeans that have three-course meals, they serve most Nigerian meals as one wholesome meal. Here are some meals that are a must-have on every typical Nigerian menu and a must-try for every traveller new to Nigeria.

A list of Typical Nigerian meals for breakfast

• Pap and Mio Mio or Akara
• Custard and fried plantain
• Tea and bread with egg
• Fried yam, plantain, potatoes and or egg sauce
• Pap and bread
• Moi Moi and oatmeal
• Agidi and stew 
• Masa and soup or stew.
• Okpa and pap or garri.

A list of Typical Nigerian meals for lunch  

• Akpu, Semolina, Eba or starch can be paired with soups like egusi, Okra, bitter leaf, and groundnut soup. Although, pairs like Okra soup and semolina, Akpu and Egusi and bitter leaf soup and pounded yam stand out as compatible pairs.
• Jollof Rice and pepper meat
• Fried Rice and chicken
• Beans porridge and gari
• Yam, potatoes or plantain porridge
• Roasted yam and palm oil
• Gwote

Drinks

The most popular Nigerian drinks are

• Zobo
• Fruit Juice
• Kunu
• Soya Milk
• And regular soft drinks.

Small Chops

• Puff puff
• Chin Chin
• Masa
• Egg Roll
• Fish, chicken and meat pie

Popular indulgent food in Nigeria

These foods are not complete meals or appetisers. They are perfect for dining out with friends or enjoying at a bar along with cold palm wine in the evening. Popular indulgent food in Nigeria includes:

• Grilled catfish
• Goat, chicken, catfish or beef pepper soup.
• Nkwobi 
• Isi ewu
• Suya
• Akara or fried yam and with sauce or dry pepper