Nigerian food culture facts to know

Nigerian food culture facts to know

There numerous Nigerian food culture and facts you should know. There are about 250 different ethnic groups in Nigeria, and therefore it is natural that each of them has different cultural characteristics. This also applies to the food they cook. Today we will take you through the most common Nigerian food culture.

Nigerian food
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Source: UGC

Nigerian food crops

Firstly, let’s check the most common crops that are gathered in Nigeria. The main ones are:

Top crops
Photo: Federal Ministry of Information and Culture
Source: Depositphotos
  • Peanut

This is a flowering plant of the legume family, it is common in Nigeria and is used in a great variety of Nigerian food.

  • Cocoa beans

Cocoa beans are the seeds of the fruit of the cocoa tree. The most famous products that are made of cocoa beans are chocolate and various food additives.

  • Soy

The most versatile product. It can replace meat, vegetables, and also be served as a separate dish.

Nigerian food items

The most widespread Nigerian food items are:

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Traditional food and dressing of Tiv people

  • Pounded Yam and Egusi Soup
Pounded Yam and Egusi Soup
Photo: www.pinterest.ch/anitaturkson
Source: UGC
  • Tuwo Sinkafa
Tuwo Sinkafa
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Source: UGC

Probably one of the most delicious and memorable meals from northern Nigeria. This meal is prepared with boiled rice and spicy sauce.

  • Ewa Aganyin
Ewa Aganyin
Photo: Kalakutah Grill
Source: UGC

Every fan of Nigerian beans will definitely like this dish. This dish is made from boiled beans and pepper sauce.

  • Jollof rice
Jollof rice
Photo: Wazobia African Marke
Source: UGC

The dish usually consists of rice, tomatoes and tomato paste. Often, the ingredients can be meat, fish, shellfish, and various vegetables like potatoes or cabbage.

  • Amala and Ewedu soup
Amala and Ewedu soup
Photo: Kalakutah Grill
Source: UGC

This is a classic Nigerian dish that is most common among the Yoruba tribes.

  • Poundo-cocoyam and Oha soup
Poundo-cocoyam and Oha soup
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Source: UGC

This delicacy is most popular among residents of eastern Nigeria. The major ingredients of the meal is ora leaves.

  • Adalu
Adalu
Photo: Grated Nutmeg
Source: UGC

This is a delicious mixture of beans, corn, and aromatic spices.

  • Moin moin
Moin moin
Photo: WAKIKI
Source: UGC

This is a traditional Nigerian dish that is high in protein. It is pudding from boiled beans, pepper, and onion. The meal is very nourishing and tasty.

Read also

Top continental dishes in Nigeria

  • Abacha and Ugba
Abacha and Ugba
Photo: African Food Network
Source: UGC

This dish is also known as African Salad is most common in eastern Nigeria.

  • Semovita and Efo Riro
Semovita and Efo Riro
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Source: UGC

A delicious and popular dish, as well as an excellent alternative for those who have already become bored of Pounded yam.

  • Starch and Banga soup
Starch and Banga soup
Photo: My Active Kitchen
Source: UGC

A superb and very loved dish in southern Nigeria. Cornstarch is often added to the soup to create a unique flavor and taste.

  • Kilishi
Kilishi
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Source: UGC

One of the varieties of dried meat with unique spices and flavor.

  • Suya
Suya food
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Source: UGC

This dish can be described as grilled meat with spices.

  • Gala and Lacasera
Gala and Lacasera
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Source: UGC

This duo perfectly satisfies hunger and is irreplaceable when you are in a hurry and want to have a snack on the go.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Yamarita recipe you will like

  • Agege Rocky bread
Agege Rocky bread
Photo: Beautiful Nigeria
Source: UGC

Among a wide variety of bread in Nigeria, almost everyone considers Agege Rocky bread to be the unique and balanced in its ingredients.

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Best types of Nigerian snacks

  • Boli and Groundnut
Boli and Groundnut
Photo: Nigerian Food TV
Source: UGC

The perfect combination of fried banana and peanuts in butter.

  • Asun goat meat
Asun goat meat
Photo: The Guardian Nigeria
Source: UGC

A popular dish in Nigeria, which is prepared from goat meat and pepper sauce. The meat is grilled and is a perfect snack during the day.

  • Nkwobi
Nkwobi
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Source: UGC

It is a spicy beef meat that is most common in eastern Nigeria.

Nigerian vegetarian food

Nigerian vegetarian food
Photo: Connect Nigeria
Source: UGC

Nigerian vegan food is not so widespread as a usual one, but still, it is a common thing all over Nigeria.

  • Moin moin

This dish is a mixture of bean puree and spices. It can be combined with almost any Nigerian food and add various fillings to it.

  • Akara and Akamu

This dish is indeed one of the most widely spread breakfast dishes. The plate is made from bean paste, spices, and corn flour.

  • Stir-fry mushroom

Mushrooms are deep fried and are a great alternative to shrimps and chicken. This vegetarian dish is often served with pasta or cooked rice.

Read also

Delicious and simple fried rice recipe

  • Puff puff

A delicious snack that is a bright representative of vegetarian food. The dish is made from flour, sugar, and yeast.

  • Boli and pepper sauce

This dish is roasted plantain and spicy pepper sauce.

Nigerian food starters

Nigerian food starters
Photo: Mrs J Foods
Source: UGC
  • Puff puff sausage sticks

Initially considered as street food. However, this dish is increasingly being used at various night and home parties as a snack.

  • Peppered pomo and homemade boli

Perhaps this is the most famous and traditional Nigerian snack. Boli is desirable to eat hot.

  • Puff Puff with Minced Meat Filling

Minced meat filling always wins the hearts of adults and children when it comes to snacks. Meatballs are better to cook the day before serving.

Nigerian food spices

Nigerian food spices
Photo: Connect Nigeria
Source: UGC
  • Salt

The most indispensable seasoning, which is used in almost every dish. For example, Egusi soup is especially tasty when it is even slightly too salted.

  • Thyme

This seasoning is used to give the meat a tremendous aromatic flavor. In this case, the taste of meat becomes much more precious.

Read also

Yummy recipe of a white soup with goat meat

  • Curry powder

Very often this seasoning is used in meat dishes to give them a special flavor. For example, this could be Nigerian beef or chicken stew.

  • Nutmeg

This spice is used in traditional Nigerian cuisine for a long time. It is used both in primary and dessert dishes.

  • Black pepper

It combines perfectly with meat dishes and soups and has a unique aroma and taste.

  • Ehu or Ariwo

The main seasoning from which Nigerian pepper soup is prepared.

  • Stock cubes
Stock cubes
Photo: Eat This Much
Source: UGC

It is an irreplaceable seasoning in the kitchen of most homemakers.

  • Ogiri okpei

Traditionally Nigerian bouillon cubes, made by fermenting locust beans.

  • Habanero pepper

One of the main seasonings in Nigerian cuisine, which is used to add spice and flavor. There are two varieties of habanero pepper:

  1. Red
  2. Yellow

Red can be added to any dish, but yellow is more often used for soups.

  • Ogiri Igbo

This is a reasonably spicy seasoning, which in its consistency resembles tomato paste. This is a traditional seasoning and is most often used to make soups.

Read also

Prepare yummy efo riro soup at home and enjoy the meal with family

Nigerian junk food

Nigerian junk food
Photo: The Guardian Nigeria
Source: UGC

The list of this food is very diverse. We will try to stop on the most popular of them.

  • Jollof rice

One can argue for a long time who exactly invented this food and how it is prepared. However, the main thing you need to remember is that its composition always includes rice, tomatoes and tomato paste.

  • Akara

Deep fried beans.

  • Bean and plantain pottage

Roasted beans and plantain.

  • Suya

Practically means any grilled meat that is roasted with the addition of various seasonings. Most often fresh onions are added to it, and it is served wrapped in a piece of newspaper.

  • Moin moin

A vegetarian dish made of brown beans mixed with onions, palm oil, and spices. Then the resulting mixture is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.

  • Edikangikong
Edikangikong
Photo: Funke Koleosho's Food Blog
Source: UGC

Delicious vegetable soup with pumpkin leaf and waterleaf.

  • Dodo

This is a banana sliced diagonally and fried with salt.

Read also

Top 10 Yoruba foods, their names, pictures, and ingredients

  • Ogbono

Milled African mango soup with palm oil and spices. The basis for the soup can be meat broth.

  • Puff puff

Deep fried balls made of puff pastry. Most often, they are additionally sprinkled with powdered sugar.

  • Pepper soup
Pepper soup
Photo: Taste
Source: UGC

Very spicy broth with the addition of pieces of meat or fish, as well as a small amount of leaves of uziza.

  • Chin chin

Fried dough pieces.

  • Banga

It is a very popular soup that is stewed with palm fruit.

  • Afang stew

Pieces of meat are fried in palm oil with the addition of broth and seafood.

Nigerian food habits include a vast variety of different cultures and traditions. That is why it is challenging to choose one national food to represent the tribes of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: 4 amala food recipes

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Adrianna Simwa avatar

Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com