African cuisine is as diverse and fascinating as the continent’s cultures and traditions. With a fusion of tastes and flavours, the continent is an absolute foodie heaven. If you set foot in any of the following countries, don’t leave without treating yourself to these delicacies.
KENYA
Food-wise, Kenya is famous for nyama choma, roasted chicken, beef or goat meat that is seasoned with salt and slow-grilled until tender. Nyama Choma is served with a relish of thinly sliced raw tomatoes and onion.
ANGOLA
Muamba, a spicy chicken stew, is a must-try. This dish is made with palm oil or butter, garlic, okra and chilli pepper.
MOZAMBIQUE
The classic Mozambican dish, peri-peri chicken, consists of chicken marinated in lemon juice, garlic, coconut milk, and spicy peri-peri sauce. It’s usually accompanied with chips or matapa, cassava leaves prepared in peanut sauce.
NIGERIA
Two of Nigeria’s most famous dishes are jollof rice and egusi soup. The former’s basic ingredients are rice, tomatoes, onion, and pepper. The latter is prepared using melon seeds, palm oil, vegetables, dried fish and stewed meat. It’s best enjoyed with pounded yam.
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ETHIOPIA
The best known Ethiopian food is probably injera, the spongy sourdough flatbread normally eaten with meat, lentils, beans, and vegetable sauces.
ZAMBIA
Zambia’s staple food is nshima, a thickened porridge made from finely ground maize. It is usually accompanied by side dishes known as relishes, and they can be anything from beef to chicken stew to fish and beans.
GHANA
Chichinga, probably the most popular street food in Ghana, is a kebab made from beef, chicken or sausage with a peanut-spice rub or ground spices.
If you fancy something more filling, banku is your best bet. It’s cooked by placing a mixture of fermented corn and cassava dough in hot water until it forms a thick, smooth paste.
EGYPT
Considered the Egyptian national dish, koshari consists of rice, lentils and macaroni, topped with crispy onions and spicy tomato sauce.
Another Egyptian favourite is ful medames, a breakfast stew of lava beans simmered with olive oil, lemon juice, cumin and garlic.
ZANZIBAR
If you really want to awaken your taste buds, try urojo soup, a rich mashup of tangy chicken, chopped potato, kachori, thinly sliced onion, fried cassava chips, and a boiled egg. It also contains a blend of mango and ginger.
SOUTH AFRICA
South African’s are famous for their love of biltong, a cured, dried meat normally enjoyed as a snack. The meat is cured in a blend of salt, vinegar, sugar and spices before being hung to dry.
Another South African favourite is Cape Malay curry, known for its sweet, spice- and fruit-infused flavour.