Nigerian cuisine stands out as one of the most distinctive in West Africa and across the globe. When you enter a typical Nigerian kitchen, you can anticipate a rich assortment of ingredients, condiments, and flavors. Whether exploring the food culture in Nigeria, indulging in dishes prepared by Nigerians, or experiencing the culinary delights of Nigerian homes, tourists will surely encounter at least one of these remarkable elements.
We are not referring to the space in a home or restaurant where we make food. We are talking about any kitchen or location where a typical Nigerian is in charge.
Some of the most popular dining cultures of Nigerians
Depending on how you feel about this, we can also refer to the most common dining habits of the most typical Nigerian food lover. For instance, the Yoruba people have an impeccable tolerance and love for the spiciest foods. There is an extra spicy kick when an outsider tries their food!!! The Idoma people have an insatiable desire for a relish called “Okpehe”. I mean, they add it to everything: rice, beans, and stew. An Idoma woman can’t make soup without Okpehe!!!
Some say recently that an Igbo man has a great love for Crayfish. They add it to everything, just like an Idoma woman does with her okpehe. I believe the love of anything with flesh is native to the Tiv tribe. They love their meat to pieces!!!
In the northern part of the country, some of the most delicious small chops are Massa (rice akara) and gwote. We can eat it with a plate of soup or a sprinkle of sugar and mixed prepper spice (yagi). Although Igala people from Kogi State, Nigeria, enjoy their masa with a plate of beans.
16 Traditional Dishes to Look Out For
Here are some of the must-try Nigerian delicacies to enjoy. This, of course, is listed in no particular order.
- Abacha and Ugba with a side of Kanda (cow skin) or fish
- Amala and Ewedu
- Beans and plantain prepared with palm oil and a lot of crayfish!!
- White Rice with stew, egusi soup, or sauce.
- Dodo (Fried Plantains) or Bole, roasted plantain
- Nigerian tomato stew or chicken stew is perfect for post-service enjoyment on Sundays. We usually pair them with white rice, beans, and a side of plantain.
- Boiled yam with palm oil
- Garnished Nigerian jollof rice
- Semolina and Ogbono soup
- Akpu and egusi soup
- Okra soup garnished with assorted roundabouts, towels, and cow liver is a Nigerian staple. Pair this with Eba (garri), Semolina, or pounded yam.
- Tuwo Shinkafa, eaten with any draw soup, is a tasty treat!!!
- Edikiako and Fufu on its own or a side of 404!!!
- Nigerian honey beans (Ewa oloyin) are a Nigerian food you can find on the streets of Nigeria, particularly in Lagos.
- Bitterleaf soup pairs perfectly with swallows such as pounded yam, Akpu, and Semo.
- Moin Moin (or moi moi)
What are Some Typical Nigerian food?
Nigerian food is broad and diverse. However, our diversity is only apparent in the preferred ingredients and how each ethnic group prepares and serves food. Every ethnic group enjoys similar food, but you will find the difference in the ingredients and how they serve it. In other words, we eat very similar food in Nigeria. These are rice, beans (black-eyed peas), and popular soups like Egusi, Okra, and Ogbono soup.
Rice
Rice is one of the most common foods in Nigeria and other West African countries, like Ghana. In Nigeria, we prepare and serve it in several ways. These include plain boiled rice served with chicken stew, sauce, salads or other side dishes.
There is also the coveted Nigerian Jollof rice. It is one of the exported delicacies of the country. Although the most popular Jollof rice is made with common proteins like beef, chevon, pork or fish, there are other variations. These variations are palm oil rice, Ofada rice and Okpehe rice. We prepare the traditional Okpehe rice with authentic Ofada rice and condiments like Okpehe, crayfish and smoked fish.
Pepper soup (meat, catfish or chicken)
Pepper soup is a watery soup made with various spices and protein as the centerpiece. Catfish, beef, goat meat, or chicken is the centerpiece of this dish. As its name implies, Pepper soup is a remarkably spicy dish. This means it is better when you enjoy it with any cold drink. This classic Nigerian food is made with ingredients like pepper, African nutmeg or calabash nutmeg, Lemon basil (curry leave), thyme, curry, and of course pepper.
Try any Nigerian soup and Fufu
it doesn’t matter the type of soup or fufu you choose to have, this dish is the perfect Nigerian food to try if you want something heavy. There are assorted flavors, methods, and kinds of soup and fufu. A few of them were mentioned above!! all you need to do is pick the perfect soup and pair it with a choice from a long list of Nigerian fufu.
Typical Nigerian street foods
From Bole to Ewa oloyin and Akara, the streets of Nigeria are filled with delicious bites strong enough
Typical Nigerian grilled food
From Kilishi to Suya and grilled seafood, there is a very long list of grilled Nigerian foods waiting for you to enjoy at sundown. Besides the spicy flavor, the familiar aroma and vibrant nightlife add to the fun and excitement. Bring your closest friends as you revel in the most delicious grilled Nigerian food.
Nigerian snack aka small chops
Nigerian small chops are our version of appetizers or snacks. The most popular Nigerian small chop is chin chin and puff puff (fried dough). You can find them at parties, malls, stalls, and hawkers’ baskets.
Nigerian delicacies to try in the night
The nightlife in a typical Nigerian city is vibrant, bursting with aromas and loud music with a splash of alcohol. When you go out with your friends, there are several options to enjoy your evening in the typical Naija style. Check out these Nigerian foods that would match your night of fun and entertainment the Nigerian way. It is fun to enjoy this food in the stalls with your friends. However, sometimes bringing it home to enjoy with your family may also be the best part of your day. I will let you decide. However, there is something special about bringing any of the above dishes home. Maybe it is the way the aroma hits when you unwrap it. It would also be how it attracts inattentive family members. Then again, it can be the joy of eating with your family.
Grilled catfish
Extremely spicy grilled fish (any fish) with a side of potato chips and freezing beer to go with it.
It is necessary to try the best street food the country offers. We usually make our street food with a lot of love and kindness. The fascinating part is that they are very affordable. These street foods include deep-fried Akara (bean cake), deep-fried potatoes, and deep-fried yams. I usually fry them side by side in the same stall, which means you can get all three at once! They serve this fried deliciousness with a splash of spicy sauce.
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