Rumour has it that the phrases “good food” and “Nigerian dishes” are now interchangeable in the English Language. Okay! We got you! That was a joke. Stay with us as we introduce you to ten mouthwatering national foods of Nigeria.
While we might be joking about “good food” and “Nigerian dishes” now been interchangeable, you should know that that joke is not far from the truth.
When it comes to countries that have the yummiest and healthiest foods, Nigeria is top on the list, and that is because their meals are from naturally personally planted and reared crops and animals, seeing as they are number one in Africa when it comes to agriculture.
So, stay anticipating as we introduce you to the national foods of Nigeria – ten must-try Nigerian dishes.
10. Akara and pap – signature breakfast
Akara and pap is a signature breakfast for most Nigerian homes. Akara is a rich, crunchy, filling fritter that is made from ground beans, onion, and spices and is deeply fried with healthy vegetable oil. It is best served hot with pap, sugar, and milk.
Whenever you travel to Nigeria and you feel like resting all day, there is no need to take sleeping pills. Just have akara and pap for breakfast, and you will sleep like a baby.
9. Nigerian pepper soup – popular therapeutic soup
Pepper soup is a popular therapeutic soup in Nigeria that can be cooked with different proteins like beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and so on. Whatever you prefer! Just add some spices and onion.
This soup is referred to as pepper soup because, as the name suggests, you’d need to add plenty of pepper if you want to get that hot, burning, sensational taste that pepper soup should give. You can enjoy pepper soup alone or served with white rice or fufu.
8. Pounded yam – a quick way to a Nigerian man’s heart
Another important item on our list of the national foods of Nigeria is pounded yam. It’s said that the quickest way to win a Nigerian man’s heart is by serving him pounded yam and a well-cooked Nigerian soup.
Making pounded yam is simple. Peel and boil the quantity of yam you want until it’s really soft, then pound to taste. It’s a good and healthy replacement for artificially made swallows.
Although pounded yam has been mainly attributed to the Yorubas, other tribes in Nigeria, especially the Igbos, also enjoy it. It is mostly served during the celebration of the New Yam Festival in Igbo lands.
7. Egusi soup – processed melon
Egusi soup is made from processed melon seeds and ingredients like red oil, seafood, vegetables, onions, crayfish, spices, and whatever else you can afford to add! Just do you and enjoy!
This soup can be used to enjoy with every and any kind of swallow, just like other Nigerian soups such as afang soup, okro soup, oha soup, edikaikong, ogbono soup, banga stew, and many more.
6. Abacha and ugba – African salad
Abacha and ugba, also known as African salad, is a popular national food of Nigeria. It is especially consumed among the Igbos in Eastern Nigeria.
You can prepare abacha by grating cassava and letting it dry under the sun for some days, after which you can now mix it with red oil, salt, spices, crayfish, ugba (a type of oil bean seed), smoked or dried fish, and whatever else suits your taste.
Then, stir until everything is well-mixed. Note that you do not need fire or heat to make this dish. Trust us, after you taste this, you’ll never want to leave Nigeria.
5. Nkwobi – every Nigerian’s favourite
Nkwobi is the perfect local treat for when you feel like romancing your taste buds or simply enjoying life!
It is made from well-prepared cow foot or cow leg, mixed with spicy palm oil sauce and then beautified with utazi leaves and sliced onion, adding a sprinkle of bittersweet taste and freshness.
Thinking of giving someone a treat when you visit Nigeria? Take them to a nkwobi and palm wine joint.
4. Tuwo shinkafa – rice meal swallow
Another food on our list of national foods of Nigeria that you must try is the Hausa tribe-invented tuwo shinkafa. This food comes in the form of ball-shaped mashed rice or corn.
To make tuwo shinkafa, just cook your rice or corn with water and then use a long-handled wooden spoon to mash it and shape it into balls. It is best served with well-cooked Nigerian stews or soups.
3. Bole and fish – street food
Bole is simply roasted plantain. But what makes it special is that it is roasted with heat from local firewood, which gives it a unique, never-to-forget Nigerian taste.
It is a street food that is best served with deliciously well-prepared local red oil sauce and locally roasted fish with plenty of pepper.
In Nigeria, it is believed that bole and fish prepared by elderly women or mothers are the tastiest. You’ll find out if this is true or not when you visit.
2. Banga stew – also known as ofe akwu
Banga stew, also called ofe akwu, is a delicious Nigerian cuisine, mainly served with white rice or fufu.
Unlike the regular vegetable oil stew that you are used to, this stew is made from palm nut fruits, spices, meat, fish, onion, salt, crayfish, and whatever else you’d like to add.
Banga stew is an original Nigerian recipe that was invented by the Urhobo people in the Delta State. However, the sumptuousness of this meal cannot be enjoyed by just one tribe, which is why banga stew has now become a delicacy enjoyed by everyone in Nigeria.
1. Amala and ewedu – swallow made from flour
Amala and ewedu soup is a simple and traditional Yoruba dish that is loved by many Nigerians. Amala is a swallow made from flour and is usually served with ewedu soup.
This soup is made from jute leaves and seasoned with locust beans and crayfish. The taste that comes from the combination of amala and ewedu will make you so happy to be alive! You should definitely try it.