Nigerian Food: 25 Traditional Nigerian Dishes to Try
Nigerian food is big on flavor and even bigger on generosity. Nigeria has more than 250 ethnic groups,1 so every region brings its own soups, spices and swallows, from Yoruba amala and ewedu to Igbo bitterleaf soup and Hausa tuwo with miyan kuka. Here are 25 traditional Nigerian dishes to know, how they're eaten, and where to get the ingredients in the U.S.
Quick answer: the most popular Nigerian foods are jollof rice, egusi soup with pounded yam or fufu, pepper soup, suya, moi moi, fried rice, ogbono soup, amala with ewedu, akara, puff puff and dodo (fried plantain). A typical meal pairs a soup or stew with a swallow or rice.
Nigerian rice dishes
1. Jollof rice
Smoky party rice cooked in blended peppers and tomatoes. Recipe →
2. Fried rice
Nigerian-style fried rice with liver, mixed vegetables and curry, the other party favorite.
3. Ofada rice & ayamase
Aromatic local rice with fiery green pepper "designer stew." Recipe → · Shop ofada rice →
4. Coconut rice
Rice cooked in coconut milk with peppers and crayfish.
Nigerian soups & stews
Soups are the heart of Nigerian cooking. They're thick, rich and eaten with a swallow rather than with a spoon.
5. Egusi soup
Ground melon seeds with leafy greens and assorted meat or fish. Recipe →
6. Ogbono soup
Silky, "draw" soup made from ground wild mango seeds. Shop ogbono →
7. Bitterleaf soup (ofe onugbu)
An Igbo classic with washed bitter leaf and cocoyam. Shop bitter leaf →
8. Pepper soup
Light, spicy broth with goat meat or catfish and aromatic spices. Recipe →
9. Nigerian stew (obe ata)
Red tomato-and-pepper stew fried in oil, served with rice, yam or beans.
10. Banga soup
Palm-fruit soup from the Niger Delta, often with fresh fish. Shop palm nut cream →
11. Ewedu & gbegiri
Yoruba jute-leaf soup and bean soup, served together with amala.
12. Nsala (white soup)
Light Igbo soup thickened with yam and spiced with uziza. Shop uziza →
Nigerian swallows
A "swallow" is a soft, stretchy dough you pinch off with your fingers and dip into soup.
13. Pounded yam (iyan)
Smooth, stretchy and the king of swallows. Shop pounded yam →
14. Eba
Garri stirred into hot water: fast, filling and slightly tangy. Garri guide →
15. Amala
Dark, earthy swallow made from yam flour (elubo). Shop amala flour →
16. Fufu & semo
Fermented cassava fufu, or quick semolina "semo." How to eat fufu →
17. Tuwo shinkafa
Northern swallow made from soft, mashed rice.
Soup + swallow pairing chart
Nigerian street food & snacks
18. Suya
Spicy grilled beef skewers with yaji peanut spice, onions and tomatoes. Recipe →
19. Puff puff
Soft, sweet fried dough balls. Recipe →
20. Moi moi
Steamed bean pudding with peppers and palm oil. Recipe →
21. Dodo
Sweet fried ripe plantain, served with almost everything.
22. Chin chin
Crunchy fried dough snack, a holiday must-have. Shop chin chin →
Nigerian breakfast
23. Akara & pap (ogi)
Fried bean fritters with smooth fermented corn porridge. Shop custard →
24. Yam & egg
Boiled or fried yam with scrambled egg and pepper sauce. African yam guide →
25. Kunu & zobo
Tiger nut or millet drink, and chilled hibiscus drink. Zobo recipe → · Shop tiger nuts →
Nigerian food by region
Yoruba (Southwest)
Amala & ewedu, ofada & ayamase, moi moi, akara
Igbo (Southeast)
Bitterleaf soup, oha soup, nsala, abacha
Hausa & Fulani (North)
Tuwo shinkafa, miyan kuka, suya, masa, kunu
Niger Delta (South-South)
Banga soup, starch, fisherman soup, owo
Stock your Nigerian pantry
Swallow FloursPounded yam & more →
Egusi SeedsFor egusi soup →
Ground OgbonoFor ogbono soup →
Red Palm OilFor stews →
Jumbo Crayfish BouillonBig flavor →
Maggi CubesEssential →
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Nigerian food questions
What is the national dish of Nigeria?
There's no official one, but jollof rice is the dish most Nigerians would name, with egusi soup and pounded yam close behind.
What do Nigerians eat every day?
Rice with stew, beans, yam, bread with akara, and a soup with a swallow like eba or pounded yam are everyday staples.
Is Nigerian food spicy?
Often, yes. Scotch bonnet peppers go into most stews and soups, but you can use fewer and add more bell pepper for a milder taste.
What is a good Nigerian dish for beginners?
Jollof rice, moi moi or suya. They use familiar ingredients and are easy to cook at home.
Where can I buy Nigerian food ingredients in the U.S.?
At Yado African & Caribbean Market, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago, or online with shipping across the U.S.
