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A spread of West African dishes

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West African Recipes

58 recipes — each showing allergens, prep time, and servings. Page 1 of 3.

Jollof Rice West African

Jollof Rice

West Africa's most beloved rice dish — tomatoes, peppers, and spices slow-cooked until every grain is deeply flavored and kissed with a smoky bottom crust.

65 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Egusi Soup West African

Egusi Soup

Ground melon seeds simmered with palm oil, leafy greens, and bold spices into a rich, nutty stew that's a cornerstone of Nigerian home cooking.

70 min Serves 3
Seafood Shellfish
Pounded Yam West African

Pounded Yam

Silky, stretchy, and pillowy-soft, this hand-pounded West African staple is the perfect vehicle for scooping up rich, hearty soups and stews.

30 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Suya West African

Suya

Nigeria's iconic street food — thin-sliced beef rubbed in a fiery yaji spice blend of ginger, peanuts, and paprika, then chargrilled over open flame.

35 min Serves 3
Peanut
Moi Moi West African

Moi Moi

Smooth, savory bean pudding seasoned with peppers, onions, and spices then gently steamed — a protein-packed Nigerian classic loved at celebrations and everyday meals.

85 min Serves 4
Egg Fish Seafood
Akara West African

Akara

Golden, crisp-edged bean fritters made from blended black-eyed peas — light inside, satisfyingly crunchy outside, and perfect with a spicy pepper dip.

45 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Efo Riro West African

Efo Riro

A vibrant Yoruba spinach stew loaded with assorted meats, stockfish, and crayfish in a deeply seasoned palm oil base — bold, fragrant, and irresistible.

75 min Serves 3
Fish Seafood Shellfish
Waakye West African

Waakye

Rice and beans cooked together with dried millet stalks until tender and faintly earthy, served with a rainbow of Ghanaian toppings and a fiery pepper sauce.

75 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Kelewele West African

Kelewele

Ripe plantains cubed and tossed in ginger, cloves, and cayenne before hitting hot oil — caramelized, spicy-sweet, and wildly addictive as a Ghanaian street snack.

25 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Red Red West African

Red Red

Ghana's beloved comfort dish — soft black-eyed peas stewed in spiced palm oil, served alongside sweet fried plantains for a satisfying contrast of savory and sweet.

60 min Serves 4
Fish Seafood Shellfish
Peanut Soup (Maafe) West African

Peanut Soup (Maafe)

Velvety West African peanut stew simmered with tomatoes, sweet potato, and tender meat until deeply nutty and warming — a crowd-pleaser across Senegal, Mali, and beyond.

70 min Serves 3
Dairy Peanut
Fufu West African

Fufu

Smooth, elastic cassava-and-plantain dough with a mild, slightly tangy flavor — shaped into soft balls and dipped into rich soups for a hands-on West African feast.

55 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Banga Soup West African

Banga Soup

Palm nuts slow-cooked and pounded to release a rich, rust-colored broth layered with earthy spices, dried fish, and fragrant herbs — a taste of the Niger Delta.

70 min Serves 4
Fish Dairy Seafood +1
Edikaikong Soup West African

Edikaikong Soup

Calabar's prized dark-green vegetable soup, brimming with waterleaf, fluted pumpkin, periwinkles, and smoked fish in a luscious palm oil base.

80 min Serves 4
Seafood Shellfish
Ogbono Soup West African

Ogbono Soup

Wild mango seeds ground into a silky, mucilaginous draw soup with a deep, nutty flavor — perfect for wrapping around fufu and packed with meat and crayfish.

55 min Serves 3
Fish Seafood Shellfish
Thieboudienne West African

Thieboudienne

Senegal's national dish — fish and vegetables nestled into tomato-stained broken rice, slow-cooked in one pot until every grain absorbs the sea-kissed, spiced broth.

130 min Serves 4
Fish Peanut Seafood
Yassa Poulet West African

Yassa Poulet

Chicken marinated in bright lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and a mountain of caramelized onions, then grilled and braised until tangy, tender, and deeply savory.

300 min Serves 4
mustard Peanut
Ndole West African

Ndole

Cameroon's national stew — bitter leaves simmered with ground peanuts, smoked fish, and tender beef into a complex, earthy dish that's richly satisfying.

125 min Serves 4
Fish Peanut Seafood +1
Domoda West African

Domoda

Gambia's hearty peanut stew with sweet potato, tomatoes, and slow-cooked meat in a thick, golden sauce — comforting, mildly spiced, and deeply nourishing.

65 min Serves 3
Dairy Peanut
Kenkey West African

Kenkey

Fermented Ghanaian corn dough steamed in corn husks — slightly sour, dense, and satisfying, traditionally paired with fried fish and fiery pepper sauce.

120 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Banku West African

Banku

A smooth, slightly tangy Ghanaian dough of fermented corn and cassava, cooked to a stretchy consistency — the perfect partner for okra stew or grilled tilapia.

55 min Serves 4
No common allergens
Shito West African

Shito

Ghana's intensely savory black pepper sauce — dried fish and shrimp blended with chiles and spices into a deeply umami condiment that transforms any meal.

75 min Serves 4
Fish Seafood Shellfish
Afang Soup West African

Afang Soup

A luxurious Nigerian soup of sliced afang leaves and waterleaf cooked with an abundance of seafood, meat, and crayfish in a fragrant palm oil broth.

80 min Serves 4
Fish Seafood Shellfish
Ofe Nsala West African

Ofe Nsala

Eastern Nigeria's elegant white soup — no palm oil, just the pure, clean broth of catfish, utazi leaves, and pounded yam as thickener, with layers of subtle heat.

55 min Serves 4
Fish Seafood Shellfish