22 Traditional African Recipes
The African recipes are flavorful and contain heat but if you want the less spicy recipe you can customize it as per your taste.
These recipes taste great and are easy to make.
Let’s find the
Best African Recipes
1. Nigerian Jollof Rice
This seasoned rice recipe is one of the most popular recipes in Western Africa. It is best served with beef or chicken and you make sure you slow-cook the rice.
You need a 5-quart pot. It can be a great make-ahead recipe.It is a main dish and is best served with chicken or beef.
The recipe takes around 90 minutes to make. on the stovetop, including 15 minutes of prep time.
The ingredients include plum tomatoes, onion, thyme, butter, and Golden Sella basmati rice.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 2-3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
2. West African Peanut Stew
The best thing about the recipe is you can make it veg or non-veg, depending on your preference.
It takes a little more than an hour to make, including 25 minutes of prep time and 50 minutes of cooking time.
The ingredients include peanut oil, ginger, sweet potatoes, peanut butter, and black pepper. If you love non-veg then add chicken.
3. Moroccan Chicken And Rice
I was introduced to this recipe in Morocco, and I loved the recipe. It is a perfect dinner recipe for busy weeknights.
It takes almost 2 hours to make, including 20 minutes of prep time and 50 minutes of prep time. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
The ingredients include chicken thighs, cumin, garlic, turmeric, rice, chicken stock, Greek yogurt and oregano.
4. Kenyan Samosa
It is one of the best snack recipes. This appetizer is quite popular in Africa. You can make it for a game day or a movie night.
You can stuff the samosa with vegetables and potatoes, or you can stuff it with meat, either way, it will taste awesome.
It takes around an hour to make, including 15 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes of cooking time.
The ingredients include ground beef, flour, tortillas, carrot, pepper, cabbage, salt, cilantro, and oil.
5. West African Fufu
It is one of the best side dishes. Fufu has a mild flavor and tastes like a mix of potato and sweet potato. You can fry it or bake it.
The tools needed are a blender and a peeler. I like it even more as it’s rich in nutrients so it’s healthy and I love to serve healthy food to my family.
The recipe is quick and easy to make and you can serve it in 30 minutes. It requires 15 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking time.
The ingredients include cassava, green plantain, and water. It is best served with stew or soup.
6. North African Chermoula Meatballs
This is comfort food at its best. I simply love this recipe and like to serve it with mashed potatoes or bulgar wheat.
The recipe for meatballs includes minced beef, coriander, black pepper, Chermoula spice, and salt.
For the sauce, you need a mix of ginger, cinnamon sticks, paprika, garlic, tomatoes, and currants. It is best served with bulgur wheat.
7. Nigerian Beef Stew
It is a classic recipe of Nigeria and is one of the most popular dinner recipes. The stew is best served with bread or rice. You need a saucepan. It is also known as African stew.
It is one of the best comforting recipes. The recipe requires 45 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cooking time. You can either boil the beef or you can grill it.
With a combination of bell peppers, beef, onion, chicken bouillon powder, and tomatoes, you can make this lovely recipe. You can replace beef with chicken or pork. It is best served over a bed of rice.
8. Ogbono Soup
It is a rich-flavored Nigerian soup. Packed with proteins, it’s comfort food at its best. The soup is best served with eba or yams. It is also known as Draw Soup.
It takes around 45 minutes to make the recipe, including 10 minutes of prep time and 35 minutes of cooking time.
With a mix of ogbono seeds, meat stock, palm oil, beef, and cayenne powder, you can make this lovely soup. If you are on a keto diet, you can also go ahead with this soup.
9. Bobotie
This is one of the most loved South African recipes. It is perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
It takes a little more than an hour to make. Preheat the oven to 356°F. Top it up with full cream milk and eggs.
The ingredients include white bread, mixed herbs, sultana, minced meat, butter, garlic, and bay leaves.
10. South African Hertzoggie
It is one of the most famous South African desserts. You can enjoy it on its own or with a cup of tea.
You need a mini muffin baking tray. To make this pastry, you need to preheat the oven to 356°F.
With a combination of self-raising flour, butter, apricot jam, baking powder, and egg yolks, you can make one of the loveliest African recipes.
11. Kenyan Beef Curry
I tried this at an African restaurant during my last trip to Kenya, and I was blown away. I tried to make it at home and after a couple of failed attempts, managed to get it right.
Since then, I have made it numerous times and everyone loves it in my family. This recipe is best served with rice. You need a Dutch oven.
With a combination of paprika, garlic, sirloin steak, tomato paste, and hot chili, you can make this lovely recipe.
12. Jollof Rice
It is one of the most popular African recipes and I have included multiple variations of this recipe becuase each cook brings out a different variation of the same recipe.
You can make it for dinners, get togethers and for holidays too. It is one of the most versatile African dishes. It requires 15 minutes of prep time and 50 minutes of cooking time.
The ingredients include red bell pepper, curry powder, rice, onion and tomatoes. It is best served with coleslaw or roasted chicken.
13. Kuku Paka
The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes of cooking time. I like it little spicy so you can use chili. If you like cayenne pepper, you can use that as well.
The ingredients include chicken thighs, black pepper, chicken drumsticks, coconut milk, and salt. You can replace chicken thigh with chicken breast.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will be good for up to 4 days. It is best served with flatbread or enjoyed over a bed of rice.
14. Shakshuka
I was served this recipe at my friend’s house, and I was so impressed. I asked her for the recipe, and she happily obliged.
It requires 15 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients include yellow onion, smoked paprika, eggs, bell pepper, and spinach.
You can enjoy it for breakfast or dinner. For breakfast, serve it with fruit salad, and for dinner with a simple salad.
15. Chakalaka
It is one of the most popular African sides. You can even make it in advance and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.
You need a Dutch oven, or even a saucepan will work. It requires 25 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.
The ingredients include baked beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, cabbage, and curry powder. You can serve it hot or cold.
Keep the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and it will be good for up to 5 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
16. Shakshuka
It is one of the most delicious African recipes. My entire family loves it. It’s quite popular among my friends and relatives and they request me to make it whenever they come over and I happily oblige.
The recipe requires 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients include eggs, paprika, parsley, tomatoes and feta cheese.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
17. Beef Trinchado
It is one of the most loved African recipes. This is comfort food at it’s best. It requires 25 minutes of prep time and 1 hour 30 minutes of cooking time. You need a saucepan, bowl, knife and a jug.
The ingredients include rump steak, red wine, butter, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, onion and flour. It is best served with French fries or bread.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 2-3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
18. Nigerian Jollof Rice
The recipe is a perfect side dish for dinner. You need a food processor and a saucepan for this recipe.
It requires 15 minutes of prpe time and 30 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients include ginger, tomatoes, curry powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika and rice.
You can replace cayenne pepper with chili pepper. It goes well with kebabs or grilled chicken or fish.
19. Ghana Jollof Rice
It is another version of Jollof rice. This is such a crowd pleaser. Different part of Africa have different versions of the same recipe but they all taste awesome.
The recipe requires 25 minutes of prep time and 2 hours of cooking time. The ingredients include beef, onion, black pepper, bouillon powder, bell pepper and knob ginger.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
20. Easy Nigerian Beef Stew
It is a stable Nigerian recipe. This is perfect for dinner and parties. It is comfort food at its best. The best thing is that it’s highly versatile.
The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 40 minutes of cooking time. It is usually spicy, but you can reduce the heat.
The ingredients include beef, salt, water, bouillon powder and pepper. You can replace beef with lamb or goat meat.
21. Jollof Rice Recipe
This is a Nigerian Jollof rice and is pretty easy to make. It requires 15 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes of cooking time.
For best results, use long grain rice. You can use Jasmine or Basmati rice. You need a blender and a pot. It is versatile so you can add protein or veggies as per your wish.
The ingredients include Roma tomatoes, onion, red bell peppers, rice and curry powder. It is best served wih coleslaw or grilled chicken. You can use canned or fresh tomatoes though I prefer the latter.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 3-4 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
22. Vegan Red Beans & Rice
This is great for a weekend meal. Soak the beans for at least 10 hours before you make the recipe. It is best served with bread.
It is one of the best African recipes. The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time and almost 2 hours of cooking time.
The ingredients include red kidney beans, vegan sausages, thyme, rice, onion and garlic. You can use fresh or dried thyme.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 2-3 days. It freezes well for 2-3 months.