Nigerian Food Recipes
Helping You Explore Top Nigerian Recipes

Nigerian food recipes are derived from a number of grains, rhizomes, bulbs, fruit seeds, vegetables and an avalanche of fruits. See top Nigerian foods here and how to prepare them. You would be able to contribute your comments and add to this conversation on foods eaten by Nigerians within and outside the shores of that country. 

Nigerian food recipe choice is as diverse as the country of over 190 million people, 500 distinct tribes and languagesNigerian food recipe choice is as diverse as the country of over 190 million people, 500 distinct tribes and languages.

Are you searching for Nigerian food, looking to make that top of the world Nigeria food dish for your spouse or family? Then, you are looking at food eaten by an estimated 190 million people. As a result of this huge population, Nigeria is considered the most populous country in Africa.

Nigerian is a country in the western part of Africa, with over 500 distinct ethnic groups. As expected with such diversity, each region has its unique cuisine. 

However, due to interaction amongst the different ethnic groups, dishes once considered regional have attained national status.

Western and early Arabian contact have influenced the preferences and choices you would find on the Nigerian table. 

 Nigerian food consists of what we call"swallows"(these are fufu, dumplings. Staples like cassava, plantain, yam, cocoyam, millet, beans, maize, or rice are boiled, steamed, fried and served with a Nigerian soup or stew of choice.

Soups and stews are generally a careful and deliberate blend of spices and seeds or thickeners in a broth enriched with fish and assortment of meats and leafy vegetables if desired. 

Desserts are fruits grown near homes.

Below is a list of typical breakfast, lunch and dinner, not an exhaustive list but an overview of what to expect.

What Is A Typical Nigerian Breakfast?

Akara or Beans CakeAkara or Beans Cake

The typical Nigerian breakfast largely depends on what is affordable and available where you live. I think these two considerations is the same for people everywhere. Breakfast might be very light or as elaborate as dinner.

The following are popular choices:

  • Akara (shown here to the right), served with pap (ogi or akamu). Akara is made from soaked, peeled beans (black eye beans), blended into a thick paste and fried. If you live abroad, you can substitute custard for pap or ogi. 
  • Bread smeared with butter or margarine sometimes dunked in tea or hot chocolate or served with fried, scrambled or boiled egg and a cup of tea.
  • Moi-moi served with bread or pap with a bowl of fresh fruits.
  • Fura de Nunu is Nigerian kefir from cow's milk served with millet or corn porridge and very popular breakfast in Northern Nigerian.
  • Fried Ripe Plantain (Dodo) Served with either boiled or fried egg and a cup of tea
  • Boiled Yam and Green plantain served with pepper soup and fresh fish - more in Southern / Midwestern Nigeria.
  • Boiled Yam served with scrambled eggs or corned beef sauce. You can substitute potatoes for yam, if you cannot find yam abroad.
  • Boiled Rice and Stew.

The list goes on and on. We have listed only healthy and authentic African food choices easily found across the country. 

Nigerian Lunch Ideas

Lunch and dinner are the same, depending on preference, it could be light snacking or meals like:

  • Miya Kuka served with Tuowo Masara or Tuwon Shinkafa or Tuwon Acha
  • Eba (made from grated fried cassava) served with a choice of soup
  • Pounded Yam severed with an authentic Nigerian soup
  • Starch or Usin served with banga soup
  • Rice and fried plantain or dodo
  • Beans served with fried plantain or dodo
  • Jolloff rice, moi-moi, fried plantain, and salads

What Should I Make For Dinner Tonight? Nigerian Dinner Ideas:

Dinner or supper in Nigeria is usually eaten anytime from 6 to 8pm.

It is often a lighter meal than lunch. Popular supper or dinner menu list in Nigeria include:

Jellof riceJolloff rice served with moi-moi, meat, fish, prawn and salad.

Nigerian Snacks?

In between food, snacking is very common. Popular Nigerian snacks include:

  • Chin chin
  • Fried plantain chips (kpekere)
  • Roasted corn or maize
  • Ground nut (Gugurou and ekpa)
  • Suya
  • kilishi.

Cooking is a very important skill quickly learned at very young age by both boys and girls, however, culturally more is expected from the girls. Cooking is done mainly by the women and the skill is passed on from one generation to the nxet. Young women are taught early that "the fastest way to a man's heart is via his stomach"... and you get there by learning to cook delicious meals!

This site was created to create awareness on African food from every region and Nigerian food is often highlighted.

Easy Nigerian Recipes To Try.

Do You want to try out some easy recipes to get you started on Nigerian food? Click Here to get started with a free ebook.

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