West African Dishes You’ll Love
West African cuisine is incredibly diverse. The region itself comprises more than a dozen different countries, each with their own nuanced versions of popular dishes. Some well-known ones include Jollof Rice and Fufu—but there is so much more to discover. From Groundnut Soup and Stuffed Plantains to all things made with ancient, 'super grain' fonio, West African cooking will introduce you to a mosaic of flavors. There are many wonderful dishes to choose from but stew is an important go-to dish in many West African countries, either as an everyday meal or for celebratory events, such as weddings, graduations and Christmas. It pairs with a variety of starches, like rice and/or plantains, yams and beans. Depending on the country, the base of the stew can vary. In Ghana, the base is a blend of tomato puree and tomato paste while, in Nigeria, the base is tomato pureed with red bell pepper. This recipe is a hybrid of the two—with the addition of garlic. While stew can be made with several meat or seafood options, goat is the preferred choice in certain West African countries for its rich and robust flavor.
