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A spread of West African dishes

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West African Recipes

57 recipes — each showing allergens, prep time, and servings. Page 2 of 3.

Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.
Ghanaian Light Soup — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Ghanaian Light Soup

A clear, fiery tomato-and-pepper broth simmered with goat or chicken and ginger, traditionally served with fufu as Ghana's ultimate comfort soup.

70 min Serves 5
Seafood Shellfish
Puff Puff — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Puff Puff

Pillowy Nigerian doughnuts — yeasted dough dropped into hot oil until perfectly round, golden, and light inside, dusted lightly with sugar for a festive treat.

60 min Serves 4
Wheat
Ofe Nsala — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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
Peanut Soup (Maafe) — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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
Peanut
Superkanja — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Superkanja

Gambia's deeply flavored okra stew — silky and gelatinous from slow-cooked okra, enriched with fish, palm oil, and spices into a uniquely comforting dish.

60 min Serves 4
Fish Seafood
Tuwo Shinkafa — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Tuwo Shinkafa

Northern Nigeria's soft, sticky rice swallow — mild and smooth, shaped into balls to scoop up rich miyan kuka or any hearty northern soup.

15 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Shito — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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
Pounded Yam — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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 listed common allergens
Dodo — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Dodo

Ripe plantains fried in hot oil until golden-edged and caramelized — sweet, soft, and slightly yielding, a beloved West African side dish that pairs with almost everything.

15 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Bofrot — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Bofrot

Ghana's plump, slightly chewy take on fried dough balls — golden outside, soft and airy within, fragrant with nutmeg, and irresistible warm from the fryer.

60 min Serves 4
Dairy Wheat
Attiéké — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Attiéké

Ivory Coast's signature fluffy, lightly tangy fermented cassava couscous, steamed until light and served alongside grilled fish or stew.

25 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Jollof Rice — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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 listed common allergens
Afang Soup — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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
Kenkey — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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 listed common allergens
Kunu Zaki — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Kunu Zaki

A creamy, lightly spiced Northern Nigerian millet drink sweetened and scented with ginger and cloves for a refreshing, nourishing beverage.

30 min Serves 2
No listed common allergens
Kedjenou — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Kedjenou

A slow-cooked Ivorian chicken stew sealed in its own pot so it braises in its juices with tomatoes, peppers, and ginger for intensely concentrated flavor.

60 min Serves 8
No listed common allergens
Kelewele — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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 listed common allergens
Fufu — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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 listed common allergens
Chin Chin — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Chin Chin

Crispy, golden fried dough snacks kneaded with coconut, nutmeg, and a hint of sweetness — addictively crunchy and a staple at Nigerian celebrations.

45 min Serves 4
Egg Dairy Wheat
Red Red — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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
Garri — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Garri

Toasted cassava flakes with a pleasantly sour, slightly smoky flavor — eaten soaked in cold water as a snack, or cooked into smooth, stretchy eba.

5 min Serves 4 Kid-friendly
Peanut
Ofada Rice — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Ofada Rice

Nigeria's short-grain, unpolished local rice with a distinctive nutty, slightly earthy aroma that makes it the ideal canvas for robust ayamase sauce.

40 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Suya — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

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
Zobo Drink — West African recipe West African Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Zobo Drink

A deep-crimson Nigerian hibiscus iced tea spiced with ginger and pineapple for a tart, refreshing, antioxidant-rich cooler.

35 min Serves 2
No listed common allergens

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