Dishes that bring back happy memories — Nigerian cuisine makes you feel warm, loved and cared for. We’ve collected 21 recipes that are perfect for expats missing their homeland. Explore these traditional Nigerian dishes and be healed by the familiar taste.
Jollof rice
Egusi soup
Ogbono soup
Pepper soup
Suya
Afang soup
Efo riro
Puff-puff
Pounded yam
Eba
Nkwobi
Tuwo shinkafa
Akara
Chin chin
Dodo
Abacha and ugba
Amala
Palm nut soup
Edikaikong
Fufu
Beans porridge
FAQ — Nigerian dishes
Jollof rice
The first in our list of Nigerian dishes is Jollof rice. It’s simple yet flavourful and filling. The core ingredients of this traditional African food are rice, vegetables, and chicken or beef stock.
Rice is an important ingredient in Nigerian food culture, and for a reason! This grain is low in fat yet rich in nutrients, such as magnesium, vitamins and more. A good choice for a healthy diet.
More articles for Nigerian expats:
Egusi soup
Nigerian cuisine has something to offer for soup lovers. Egusi soup is one of the most popular Nigerian meals because of its taste and simple recipe. The main ingredient here is egusi seeds, obtained from cucurbitaceous plants (think of it as a melon). You’ll also need:
- some protein (beef, chicken, goat meat, fish),
- locust beans,
- palm oil,
- spinach,
- pepper mix,
- onions,
- stock cube,
- beef stock,
- salt.
Some of these ingredients (like locust beans and egusi) can be hard to find in foreign stores, but you can order them from Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and other delivery services. Nothing can stop us from trying Nigerian local dishes.
The full recipe of Egusi soup is here.
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Ogbono soup
One of the best Nigerian foods to try is Ogbono (wild mango seeds) soup, which is actually more like a stew than a soup. For this traditional African food, you'll need:
- ogbono seeds,
- meat,
- stock,
- ugwu,
- pepper,
- periwinkle,
- palm oil (often used in Nigerian dishes),
- crayfish,
- salt.
Pepper soup
We told you that there are plenty of soups among traditional Nigerian dishes! Pick any meat you like here — Nigerian food culture is open to changes and experimentation.
Ingredients:
- meat,
- onion,
- Scotch bonnet,
- pepper soup spice,
- garlic,
- ginger root,
- leaves (basil, efinrin, utazi),
- stock cubes,
- black pepper,
- salt.
Make it as pepper-ish as you like, and read the step-by-step instructions here.
Suya
Suya is street food and one of the top Nigerian dishes that can be cooked at home. It's grilled meat that melts in your mouth. This recipe deserves the title of the best Nigerian foods to try.
Ingredients:
- flank, sirloin, or topside,
- roasted unsalted peanuts,
- vegetable oil,
- kosher salt,
- lemon or lime juice,
- chilli powder,
- ground ginger,
- onion powder,
- sea salt,
- sweet paprika,
- cabbage, red onions, and tomatoes.
Afang soup
Back to soup again. Afang soup is one of the best Nigerian foods for pregnant women because of folic and vitamin A.
Ingredients:
- cow leg,
- goat meat,
- onion,
- stock cube,
- salt,
- Cameroon pepper,
- palm oil,
- smoked catfish,
- okazi,
- baby spinach,
- ground crayfish.
Efo riro
Or Nigerian spinach stew. It’s one of the Nigerian dishes that is full of flavour. Definitely worth a try!
Ingredients:
- spinach,
- meat,
- palm oil,
- vegetables,
- broth,
- spices.
Meat, veggies, spice and palm oil — four pillars of Nigerian local dishes.
Puff-puff
Time for snacks! Nigerian dishes can be sweet and fluffy — puff-puff is a great example. Like suya, it’s street food that tastes as good when you make it at home.
Ingredients:
- flour,
- Yeast,
- warm water,
- sugar,
- cooking oil.
Pounded yam
It can be eaten alone, but usually, pounded yam is paired with other Nigerian dishes, especially soups. All you need are yam and water. The cooking process is simple, too: peel, boil and pound the yam.
The only challenge you may face is finding the main ingredient, but deliveries help.
Eba
One of the Nigerian local dishes with chewy and soft texture. The core ingredient is cassava, a tropical plant. Turn it into garri (cassava flakes) and use hot water for cooking. With two ingredients, you’ll get a magical food that tastes just right.
Nkwobi
Want something spicy in Nigerian cuisine? This cow feet dish is ready to satisfy your needs. It may take over an hour to cook, but the result is a worthy reward.
cow foot,
salt,
bouillon cube,
palm oil,
garlic powder,
ground ginger,
baking soda,
ground Cameroon pepper,
ground ehuru calabash nutmeg,
ugba,
coarsely ground crayfish,
onion,
utazi leaves.
Tuwo shinkafa
Regarding simplicity, it’s one of the best Nigerian foods. Grab rice, add water and roll the prepared grains into balls. Serve with meat, vegetables, or whatever you love to eat — it’s a great side dish.
Akara
Bean cakes, traditional African food. You can eat it instead of nachos while watching a movie: tasty and matches with sauces well.
Ingredients:
- black-eyed peas,
- onion
- fresh bell peppers,
- habanero,
- salt,
- crushed red pepper,
- oil.
Chin chin
Puff-puff, chin chin… Nigerians know how to make their dishes sound cute and delicious. It’s smal and cruncy, one of the top Nigerian dishes to stay one’s hunger.
Ingredients:
- milk,
- vanilla extract,
- all-purpose flour,
- sugar,
- baking powder,
- salt,
- lemon or orange zest,
- nutmeg,
- unsalted butter,
- vegetable oil.
Dodo
Dodo can be a side dish, dessert, or appetiser. This dish is a saviour when you want to eat something but can't decide what exactly.
Ingredients:
- yellow plantains with black spots,
- salt,
- vegetable oil.
Popular Nigerian meals are affordable and simple, yet savoury and cosy.
Abacha and ugba
The first salad in our golden collection of traditional Nigerian dishes. It won’t fill you up fully, but will be a godd addition to the lunch or dinner menu.
Ingredients:
- abacha,
- ehu seeds,
- ugba,
- crayfish,
- seasoning cube,
- palm oil,
- powdered potash,
- salt and pepper.
Amala
A meal served during huge events like weddings and birthdays. No one stops you from cooking it in your daily life, though. Made with yam flour and water, Amala is served with soups. Best Nigerian foods complement each other and create a deeper taste.
Palm nut soup
Missed soups? We’re sure you won’t get tired of them because Nigerian soups are all unique. This one is nutty, so automatically is one of the top Nigerian dishes.
Ingredients:
- palm-nut concentrate,
- catfish,
- shrimp,
- spices.
Edikaikong
Yes, it’s soup again. Nigerian food culture is full of them. Full of vegetables and nutrients.
Ingredients:
- water leaf,
- pumpkin leaves,
- goat meat,
- shelled apple snails,
- smoked shrimp,
- palm oil,
- red onions,
- crayfish,
- chicken bouillon,
- salt.
Fufu
Another swallow traditional food. Buy cassava, green plantains and prepare some water, with three ingredients you’ll create a perfect pair for other Nigerian dishes. It has a subtle taste that enhances the main course.
Beans porridge
Lastly, we’ll share a dish that brings comfort. This soup is warm like a blanket and is easy to cook.
Ingredients:
honey beans/Nigerian brown beans/black eyed peas,
palm oil,
Roma tomatoes,
Scotch bonnet pepper,
red onion,
bell pepper,
crayfish,
shrimp bullion,
salt.
At least one of these recipes should suit your taste and fuel a happy spark of satisfaction. The secret ingredient of Nigerian cuisine is love shared between people, remember it when cooking dishes for yourself, friends and family.
FAQ — Nigerian dishes
What is Nigeria's famous food?
The most popular Nigerian dishes are jollof rice, egusi soup, ogbono soup, suya and others.
What is the food culture of Nigeria?
Food culture in Nigeria is rich and vibrant. Main ingredients are beef, goat meat, fish, spices, plantains, palm oil, rice and beans.
What is garri?
Garri is a flour made from cassava roots.
Are yam and cassava the same?
No, yam and cassava are different plants.
What is the food capital of Nigeria?
Many travellers go to Calabar for food tourism.
How to send money to Nigeria?
To transfer funds to Nigeria from the UK, Europe, or the UAE, use Profee. This online service has beneficial rates and little to no fees. The money will arrive quickly, while being protected by Profee at each step.
