West African Cuisine
A fusion of smells will engulf you on arrival in West African countries. Lots of spices are used in their cooking, of which curry, ginger, garlic, onions, chilli, peppers and tomatoes are the favorites. A typical meal in West Africa consists of starch, fish, chicken or meat with a healthy load of fat cooked in one pot. Staple foods in West Africa are cassava, plantain, yams, maize, beans and sweet potatoes among others. Rice is also a very popular staple in almost all West African countries. You will find peanuts in just about everything from soups and stews to snacks, pastes and garnishes. However each country offers its own favorites and delicacies that are impossible to resist.
In Ghana expect to find lots of fresh fruit and vegetables but if you buy it from the streets make sure to wash it properly before eating, preferably in purified water. Should you buy food from street vendors pick either hot or cold dishes and avoid foods at room temperature.
A favorite dish in Ghana is Jollof Rice, and do not leave the country without trying it. It is one of the most popular dishes in most West African countries, but there are regional variations in the name and ingredients of the dish. It basically consists of rice cooked in a stew consisting of stock, tomatoes, spices and meat all boiled together. They will either serve the rice as a side dish with chicken, meat or fish, or the meat will be added to the rice.
Fish is very important in Senegalese cooking as the country borders the Atlantic ocean. Since the population is largely Muslim pork is not popular but chicken, lamb, peas, eggs and beef can be found anywhere.
Peanuts is the main crop of the country, and as staples couscous, white rice, sweet potatoes, lentils and black-eyed peas are the most popular. Like in other West African countries meats and vegetables are stewed or marinated in herbs and spices and then poured over rice, couscous or eaten with bread.
Tiéboudienne or Ceebu Jën is dubbed as the national dish of Senegal, and translated into English it means “The Rice of Fish”. It consists of fish that was marinated in a mixture of parsley, lemon, garlic, onions and other herbs, and then cooked with tomato paste and vegetables. Rice is later added to the mixture.
Similarly you will also find The Rice of Meat, The Rice of Chicken and The Rice of Peanut in Senegal.
LIBERIA is known for rice eaten with spicy sauce like palava sauce, or okra sauce. Cassava leaf is another popular dish made with chicken, dried fish or meat, and palm oil.
Other favorite dishes include Palm butter soup made with heavy butter / oil strained from boiled and beaten palm nuts and cooked with chicken, crab, meat and /or shrimp; Torborgee (made from the Torborgee bean and mixed with palm oil and meat or fish); Fufu and goat meat soup; Potato greens or Collard greens. Fried plantain is a common side dish. Grilled fish is also popular.
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Have a sweet tooth, try local deserts such as Kanyah (ground peanuts mixed with toasted rice flour and sugar, Liberian rice bread (made with plaintain), or Sweet potato pie. You will be in for a treat.
Local Drinks include Ginger beer and Palm wine (a fermented sugar cane juice drink), among others.
NIGERIA is known for its fufu or garri. It is a staple which accompanies most meals and can be made from rice, plantain, cassava, corn or yam. Most Nigerians use cassava to make fufu. It is boiled and then pounded until has a dough-like consistency. It is eaten with the fingers and locals make it into balls and dip it into sauces or soups like eguzi soup.
Also try Maafe in Nigeria. It is a stew made with grounded peanuts, tomatoes and onions as a base. To the stew they add either chicken, beef or fish and leafy vegetables to create subtle flavors. It is a dish made in most West African countries but called by different names with slight differences in ingredients.
There is just too much to say about the variety of food and dishes in West Africa, and you will just have to try as much in the time available to you.
The food is very spicy, flavorful and divine. When you eat in local restaurants (non 4 or 5 star hotel restaurants), try and have a look at the kitchen and then decide whether you want to stick to it or find a different one!
Drink only purified bottled water wherever you go.
