Yes, you know (all thousand variations of) Jollof rice, and yes, you know Fufu, but you haven’t even scratched the surface of the wonderful taste journey of West African delicacies.
If there is anything that makes life worth living, it’s food and not just any kind of food, GOOD FOOD! West Africa boasts rich cultural diversity, and with that comes an even richer diversity of good food.
In this article, we have put together five West African delicacies that would get your taste buds tingling in appreciation for all things sweet and savoury.
Togo’s Gboma Dessi
Togo, whose capital, Lome, is known as the Paris or Pearl of West Africa, is home to the Gboma Dessi. A Spicy beef and spinach soup dish.
Gboma Dessi is a taste fest containing diced beef gently stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, garlic, onions, ginger, and chilli pepper blended.
The special ingredient that gives the soup its distinctive flavour is the Gbotemi spice blend. This blend integrates cloves, anise, cardamom and ajwain seeds.
The Gboma Dessi can be served with rice.
Senegal’s Yassa
Senegal, home to the Lac Rose, a naturally pink lake that attracts a flood of tourists, is known for its fine cultural cuisine. Senegal is the originator of the famed Jollof rice, the rice dish with many variations across West Africa.
Yassa is a mouth-watering chicken dish known as comfort food to the Senegalese. Caramelized onions and its lemony flavour make the poulet-au-Yassa a favourite not just in Senegal but all around West Africa.
You can relish the Yassa dish with rice, potatoes, salad or bread.
Nigeria’s Suya and Dodo
We’re giving you two at the price of one!
Nigeria is a country that boasts of about 250 ethnic groups and 500 languages, so when we say that there is a plethora of delicacies in Nigeria, you best believe it!
These two foods are not as much dishes as they are snacks, but they are both enjoyed by most Nigerian people.
Suya, a smoked and spiced meat skewer snack, originates from the Hausa tribe of Northern Nigeria. It is a popular food that can be found anywhere in the country.
Dodo, fried plantain, is not a traditional Nigerian food. It is, however, famously enjoyed by most Nigerians with several online banter on social media on how the right crisp level, colour, and even shape of fried plantain should be.
The Gambia’s Benachin
The Gambia, the smallest country in Africa, is a tourist’s delight because of its pretty sun-kissed beaches.
Benachin is very similar to Jollof rice and is often used as a substitute. Its preparation method is the same as Jollof’s, and it is a flavorful dish.
Ghana’s Waakye
Ghana is said to be at the centre of the world. The home to the biggest man-made lake in the world, Lake Volta, Ghana is one of the contenders for the ‘Best Jollof rice’ title. That is, however, not the delicacy we would be highlighting in this article.
Pronounced ‘waa-che’, Waakye is Ghana’s well-flavoured and exquisite version of the popular Rice and Beans combo enjoyed all around the world.
It is a popular street food in the country and is served with heaps of sides like avocado, eggs, salad, and fried plantain, to mention a few. The Waakye sauce, known for its garlicky flavour, makes the dish even more delightful.
Closing
The weekend is a time to let go of work stress. You might want to spend it alone, or with family and friends.
Try out one of the recipes above. You don’t have to travel to a country to experience its culture. Take yourself and your family on a trip to another country from the comfort of your house.
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