The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Nigerian Foods. If you manage to be in an Nigerian restaurant or you are visiting Nigeria, I recommend the following
1. Jollof Rice
Jollof rice is one of the most widely eaten dishes in West Africa, but mainly in Ghana and Nigeria. The dish consists of rice with tomato, onion, peppers, chilli and spices and can be served with chicken, beef, eggs, turkey or fish. However, vegetarians choose to serve it with plantains and/or Nigerian salad. Jollof rice is a food that is consumed consistently throughout the year.
2. Puff Puff
This kind of donut hole is delicious and the best thing is that you don’t need any strange ingredients to make it. They are dipped in syrup to give them a sweet touch and some even opt for honey or simply sugar or sugar and cinnamon. These are usually sold as they are, in little bags with 4 or 5 pieces. You can eat them hot or cold.
3. Pepper Soup
Spicy fish soup, one of Nigeria’s most popular dishes. The main ingredients include various cuts of meat, chillies and fried fish. It is served as an informal dish at entertainment venues. A Nigerian company manufactures diced pepper soup from a blend of spices often used in pepper soup.
4. Egusi Soup
It is a tradition and a delicacy shared in most households. It owes its name to a type of bitter melon, whose flesh is not edible. What is used are its seeds, which become the protagonists of this tasty dish. Any combination of crab, shrimp and smoked fish can be used in place of the shrimp (which is usually used).
5. Efo Riro
It is a stew of meat and green leafy vegetables with meat, fish and more vegetables, palm oil and crayfish. It is one of the most traditional meals in Nigeria, a dish widely served in the main tourist spots.
6. Akara
Akara is a snack that originated in Nigeria and has migrated to several West African countries. It is a kind of fried cake or fritter that is made from carilla beans. It can be considered a breakfast staple or a fast street food that can be found everywhere and at any time.
7. Beef Stew
Beef stew is made with tomatoes, red pepper, Scotch bonnet, onions and, of course, beef. Nigerian beef stew has been saving lives for years. It is the perfect accompaniment to boiled rice. In fact, some people with confidence problems add beef stew to their jollof rice and fried rice. This stew is also great with bread, yam, plain okra and ewedu, not forgetting some Nigerian soups as well.
8. Ewa Agoyin
This is a popular street food in Nigeria. It consists of extremely soft or mashed beans served with a spicy stew made with bell peppers, hot peppers, onions and palm oil. Ewa agoyin is commonly sold as street food, although it is also often prepared in many Yoruba homes. It is a hearty dish that is usually combined with soft bread, boiled yam or dodo.
9. Pounded Yam
It is very similar to fufu, and is made from boiled yam which is peeled and then cut into small cubes and then pounded into a smooth, sticky mixture before being shaped into balls and served. It is a type of Nigerian gulp food. Swallowing foods are pasty, starchy dishes that are soft and pliable enough to swallow without chewing. To eat, a small portion is torn off and used as a spoon for soups and stews.
10. Dodo
Dodo refers to fried and caramelized ripe plantains. They can be eaten on their own with eggs and tomato sauce or served as a side dish with Nigerian foods such as jollof rice, white rice, beans and ewa riro (stewed beans).
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional African Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.