Top 10 Most Famous African Dishes that You Must Try

Most famous African dishes. While food is one of the most important things in the world, in Africa it is a central part of our culture and identity, and it defines what we're all about. And when it comes to food, Africa is considered to have the most nutritious diets in the world. Whether it's the national dish of a country, a traditional meal that sits alongside religion, daily meals that make us who we are, or the food we throw in the trash, food has a place in every aspect of the lives of Africans. From the pounded ground cassava to the mixture of rice and lentils, follow along as we review and dive deep to explain the top 10 most famous African dishes. 10. Koshari, Egypt Koshari is a street food that originated in Egypt and is served in almost every Egyptian home and corner. It is a bowl made by mixing boiled lentils, rice, spicy tomato sauces, garlic, and spices. The koshari dish is popular in Egypt and the Middle East but is very popular in North Africa too. It is considered as one among the healthy vegetarian dishes which sometimes is called koshari, kosheri, or koshari, referring to a dish that consists of rice and lentils. This Egyptian beloved food can be eaten any time of the day. It has a very good taste and is very cheap too. Optionally, it can be served with a sprinkling of garlic juice or vinegar and hot sauce. This iconic Egyptian dish often takes not more than two hours for preparations and cooking. Please don't forget to like, subscribe, and turn on the notification bell on our YouTube channel for more videos like this. 9. Egusi, Nigeria Nigeria is blessed with a wide variety of food with all the ethnic groups in the country having their traditional dishes. Egusi soup is one of such traditional dishes that can be traced a long way back, steaming from Yoruba culture. Egusi itself is a West African name for squash, melon, and gourd seeds, which are rich in fat and protein. It is made with pounded melon seeds and is commonly served with fufu, pounded yam, or iba. It boasts many beneficial nutrients which are good for the body like protein, potassium, vitamin B1, sulfur, fats, calcium, carbohydrates, and zinc. The nutrients present in it like zinc, copper, and vitamin E are beneficial antioxidants that help to prevent cell damage and boost immunity. It also helps prevent heart attacks and lower blood pressure thanks to the omega-6 fatty acids found in it. A fun fact is that it helps to fight the signs of early aging and this is due to the vitamin E that is present in high amounts. 8. Ndizinyama, Tanzania Ndizinyama is a popular Tanzanian dish made with plantains or bananas and meats. As Tanzania grows more than 4 million tons of banana each year, it is very common to find bananas in many households or restaurants. They can be eaten as Ndizinyama where they are mixed with meat, or mtori, as a combination of meat and banana stew. In Kilimanjaro, they can even be brewed into a local beer known as Mbege. Ndizinyama is very popular especially in Kilimanjaro among the Chaga tribes and Bukoba where they are highest. They are widely grown in these areas. Most of the time, they are eaten without side dish but most prefer to mix it with rice or pilau. To add its flavor, it is mixed with curry powder or coconut milk. 7. Githeri, Kenya Githeri is a typical traditional Kenyan dish which is eaten in many households on many occasions. It is made with beans and maize mixed and boiled together and it can optionally be flavored with curry powder or white pepper. In Tanzania, it is known as Makande but the maize used to make it is a threshed one. It is a staple food for many ethnic groups of Kenya like Kikuyu, Meru, Kamba, Mbere and Embu tribes. It is very easy to access as maize and beans are available in many parts of Kenya. Githeri is very popular in many parts of East Africa especially Kenya and Tanzania because it is served as the main meal for students in school since the 1920s. Many people prefer to eat it with spicy tea or avocados as they make a perfect combination to give you a good eating experience. This dish contains huge amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, potassium, sodium, vitamin, calcium and iron which all make a perfect combination for a healthy diet. Aloko is a local Ivorian dish made from fried plantains. It is also present in other parts of Africa where it is called Dodo in Nigeria, Misole in Cameroon, Makemba in DRC, Amanda in Togo and Kalewele in Ghana. The name originates from the large Akan ethnic group in the eastern Ivory Coast called Baule. It is served with crushed chili and braised chicken and is mostly known as a fast food and sold across the streets of Ivory Coast and Nigeria. It can be served as a snack, a starter or a side dish to the main courses like jollof rice or barbecued meat. In the Ivory Coast, it is commonly combined with tilapia fish and is considered easy to make and very delicious. Number 5. Chapati. East Africa. Africans have a love for food that is unmatched in the world. This love is also reflected in their culinary traditions where every region has its unique dishes and unique cuisine. One of the biggest East African appetizer dishes is chapati which is easy to make and delicious. It is made of wheat flour, warm water, sugar, table salt, margarine and oil. It is very different from the Indian chapatis and is very common in restaurants where it's served with chicken soup, banana, beef stew called mutori, spicy tea or bean stew. It can also be paired with any other side dish as it is a versatile side dish staple. In Uganda, they are known as Rolex where they are rolled with a vegetable omelette. One chapati is estimated to have 70 calories, 3 grams of protein and 15 grams of carbohydrates. It takes around one and a half hours to prepare and cook eight pieces of chapati. What most people like about chapati is that they can be eaten as breakfast, lunch or dinner with a combination of other side dishes. Number 4. Chicken pastilla. Morocco. Some people just can't get enough of Moroccan pastilla. These pastries have been around for centuries and have been traditionally made using rabbit meat, chicken meat, wheat flour, almond and sugar. It is a very aromatic and full of flavor pastilla and they are sometimes called bastilla. This recipe uses chicken as the main meat filling. However, there are traditional variations that use rabbit or pigeon instead. The pastilla is a long thin pastry usually stuffed with almonds, cinnamon and sugar. It is sold on the streets of cities across the country. In Morocco, it is served as a starter either as the one with poultry or seafood at the beginning of special meals. It is one of the African dishes you don't want to miss. Even though it takes some time to prepare, it will be worth the wait and effort. Number 3. Shisanyama, South Africa. Shisanyama is a Zulu word which means burned meat. It is one of the popular dishes found along the South African streets. It involves people coming together to grill meat in an open space with a butcher near where they choose the meat they like from the butcheries and then they barbecue it for you. Shisanyama is made from beef cuts, chicken and sausages. It has a combination of barbecued meat and thick made storage. At many places where Shisanyama is served, you will find alcohol, loud music and delicious aromas of barbecued meat. On Sundays in South Africa, Shisanyama is very common. It is a perfect day for people to meet up, hook and enjoy with friends and family and enjoy this delicious barbecued meat. Number 2. Fufu, West Africa. A traditional food dish made from ground cassava, the pounded flesh of cassava plants which is mixed with hot water and then served. The dish is popular in West Africa especially Ghana and Nigeria. It is also regarded as a comfort food in most of the West African countries. In some East African countries like Tanzania and Kenya, fufu is called ugali but is made from stiff maize flour porridge. It is known to have very low levels of cholesterol and is rich in potassium. It is one of the dishes which are highly prescribed by doctors for people with low levels of potassium in their blood. It also helps to reduce inflammation and promote digestive health. Fufu pairs well with most stews like egusi soup, okra soup and tomato stew. It can also be eaten with roasted meat or soup. In East Africa, most people prefer to eat beef, chicken, small fish or vegetables. Number 1. Jollof rice, West Africa. Jollof rice is a very famous dish in West Africa. It is a staple cuisine in most West African countries especially Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. You will find it in almost every hotel, fast food outlet and household. It is made of rice that is cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic and seasonings. In East Africa, they call it pilau and they mix it with spices which increase the aroma. The rice is usually cooked with tomato sauce and can be served with a salad or any other well-prepared vegetables. In Tanzania, most prefer to eat it with a chopped salad called kachumbari. You can eat it with juice or any soft drink to make your meal enjoyable. A fun fact is that they say this dish strengthens national bonds taking the example of how Nigerians unite in solidarity against Ghanaians over who makes superior jollof rice. Same applies to Tanzanians and Kenyans. These are the 10 most famous African dishes that are extremely famous. When you visit Africa for the first time and you go to a restaurant, you must order the local food. This is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture and try the local delicacies. I hope that this video will help you plan your trip to Africa and that you will enjoy these African dishes when you are in the African countries or when you find these dishes in African restaurants which are available overseas. For more videos like this, please subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notifications when we upload new videos. Until next time, take care!