African Cuisine You Have To Try!

African Food Culture

Throughout history Africa has had a vibrant culture in food quality and specification, every country and culture has specific foods they hold dear to them whether they only eat it at specific occasions or every single day. In today's post we will be introducing to you foods from different cultures that will just make you salivate by their simple sight, let's dive in.

Fufu

One of the most popular African foods outside of Africa itself, you can ask even the least educated person what fufu is anywhere and they will give you a decent enough description. Fufu in Africa is consumed by at least 14 countries in Africa which includes : Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Liberia and many more. That is almost ⅓ of the continent that share this common delicacy. It consists mainly of yam, a vegetable that resembles potatoes and also grows underground. The yam is pounded in a mortar and is served on the side with specific sauces marking one of the best delicacies in all of African cuisine.

Jollof Rice

One of the most popular african dishes if not the most popular on this whole list. Also originates from west africa. It’s a really rich meal that captivates consumers with its bright red coloring which comes from tomatoes. The dish is prepared in six different west african countries who all have different ways of preparing it. The dish consists of rice cooked in a red tomato like sauce accompanied by different spices. It is usually served with some side pieces like chicken or multiple different meats. There is an ongoing argument amongst west africans which country serves the best jollof, well that’s up to you readers to decide.

Injera

Finally a dish that does not originate from west Africa, west African countries have been dominating this list in terms of popular eccentric cuisine, but east Africa has its own known delicacy. Most could argue it’s not as salivating as the previous foods on this list but brings its own twist. It originates from Ethiopia. It is a soft and spongy flatbread that has a brown like coloring. The steps to making it are almost like steps to making a pancake. The dish is usually served with various types of sauces, ranging from spicy to bland tomato-like flavors. Two of the most popular sauces that people use to eat Injera are : Doro Wat, a spicy chicken stew and Misir Wat, a popular beef stew. It is a meal usually consumed at big gatherings marking it’s significance as food that brings people together.

Plantain

Wait a second isn’t plantain  known for being a Caribbean island dish, yes and no. You most likely know plantain as a Puerto Rican dish but the plant grows in tropical regions meaning it also grows in tropical regions in Africa. So it is the only dish on this list that shares two different origins. The beautiful aspect of having multiple origins is that there are multiple ways to prepare it. The most popular ways a plantain is eaten are: Kelewele, a Ghanaian dish which consists of fried plantains served with variable forms of seasonings. The other way is Mofongo, a Puerto Rican dish consisting of mashed plantains, garlic, pork cracklings and broth. Because of the availability of this plant in multiple tropical regions it is the only one on this list consumed in every continent, including Africa, South America, Asia and even some consumers from North America.

Tagine

This recipe is one of those you would never know about unless you’ve had it. I mean the origin itself speaks to the fact. It’s consumed in three regions of prevalent North Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, regions that are probably not the most popular when it comes to food. But don’t expect disappointment because that is certainly what this dish does not bring. Unarguably the most versatile dish on this list in terms of the ingredients you can use, but it’s the preparation method that makes it unique. The dish is actually made and served in the tagine pot, whichever meat is being used is usually browned in the pot then is simmered with broth. It might resemble a typical broth stew but the different North African spices definitely add an eccentric umami. Normally served with couscous, a side starchy sand like textured carb. The dish is consumed in large families consisting of members eating from the same pot symbolizing community and hospitality.

Piri Piri Chicken

Chicken, the most consumed meat in the world, has multiple ways to cook it. I know you're thinking what makes the  Piri Piri chicken recipe so special? If you like bold spicy flavored chicken this is exactly the recipe for you. It originates from Portuguese settlers in Mozambique who discovered the famous spice, the African Bird’s Eye Chili pepper aka Piri Piri, the primary ingredient in this dish. The preparation of the dish consists of marinating the chicken with a blend of multiple spices along with Piri Piri, then comes the versatility of this dish you can fry it, grill it or bake it like any other form of chicken recipe and it will still come out savory glistening with the mixture of spices. Servable with any side dish it will have you exploring flavors you’ve never imagined.