Collection
Africa Recipes
Fifty-four countries of tagines, stews, and fire-kissed grills. Below are 329 authentic Africa recipes, each tied to a real country and region, with the cultural story, ingredients, and step-by-step method, adaptable to seven dietary needs.
329 recipes
Chicken Tagine with Preserved Lemon & OlivesMarrakesh-Safi, Morocco · medium · 80 minSlow-braised chicken perfumed with saffron and ginger, brightened by salty preserved lemon and green olives.
Misir Wot (Spiced Red Lentil Stew)Amhara, Ethiopia · easy · 60 minRed lentils melted into a deep, chili-red stew built on berbere spice and slow-caramelized onions.
Nigerian Jollof RiceLagos, Nigeria · medium · 65 minLong-grain rice simmered in a smoky, slightly spicy pepper-and-tomato base until every grain is stained red.
Thieboudienne (Senegalese Fish & Rice)Dakar, Senegal · advanced · 110 minSenegal’s national dish: herb-stuffed fish braised with vegetables over deeply tomato-stained broken rice.
Ta'ameya (Egyptian Falafel)Cairo, Egypt · medium · 40 minEgypt’s own falafel, made from split fava beans instead of chickpeas, packed with herbs for a vivid green centre and fried to a shattering crisp.
KoshariCairo, Egypt · easy · 60 minCairo’s carb-on-carb street food: lentils, rice, and pasta under spiced tomato sauce and crispy onions.
Nkatenkwan (Groundnut Soup)Ashanti, Ghana · easy · 70 minA silky, gingery peanut soup simmered with chicken and chilies, eaten with soft rice balls.
Chakalaka & PapKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · easy · 50 minA punchy curried vegetable-and-bean relish beside smooth white maize porridge, braai-day essentials.
Shakshuka bel HarissaTunis, Tunisia · easy · 35 minEggs poached directly in a fiery, harissa-laced pepper and tomato sauce, eaten from the pan with bread.
Sukuma Wiki & UgaliNairobi, Kenya · easy · 40 minCollard greens braised with tomatoes and onion beside firm maize ugali, Kenya’s daily bread and greens.
Zanzibar PilauZanzibar, Tanzania · medium · 70 minRice simmered with whole spices from the island’s own groves, cardamom, clove, cinnamon, with beef and a kachumbari salad.
Frango à ZambezianaMaputo, Mozambique · medium · 65 minChicken marinated in lemon, garlic and piri-piri with coconut milk, then grilled slowly over calm coals and basted with more coconut until it is gold outside and soft within.
Frango Piri-PiriMaputo, Mozambique · medium · 60 minButterflied chicken grilled under a lemon-garlic piri-piri baste, the original of a dish the world now queues for.
Friday Couscous with Seven VegetablesAlgiers, Algeria · medium · 75 minSteamed couscous under a saffron-tinted vegetable stew, the meal that gathers Algerian families every Friday.
Ugandan RolexKampala, Uganda · easy · 40 minA fresh chapati rolled around a vegetable omelette, Kampala’s street breakfast, "rolled eggs" said fast.
NdoléLittoral (Douala), Cameroon · medium · 80 minCameroon’s national dish: bitterleaf greens simmered with ground peanuts, beef, and shrimp into a deep, satisfying stew.
Muriwo Unedovi (Greens in Peanut Butter)Harare, Zimbabwe · easy · 35 minCollard greens folded into a creamy peanut-butter sauce, Zimbabwe’s everyday pairing for sadza.
RomazavaAnalamanga (Antananarivo), Madagascar · easy · 75 minMadagascar’s national broth: zebu beef and mixed leafy greens with ginger and tomato, ladled over rice.
Doro WatAmhara, Ethiopia · medium · 115 minEthiopia’s celebration dish: chicken slow-stewed in a mountain of caramelized onions and berbere, with whole eggs.
Muamba de GalinhaLuanda, Angola · easy · 75 minAngola’s national dish: chicken stewed golden in palm oil with okra, garlic, and chili until the sauce turns silk.
Seswaa with PapGaborone, Botswana · easy · 160 minBeef simmered for hours with little more than salt, then pounded into rich shreds, Botswana’s dish of weddings and state occasions.
Dholl PuriPort Louis, Mauritius · medium · 70 minFeather-soft flatbreads with ground split peas hidden in the dough, folded around bean curry and chutney.
Ful MedamesAlexandria, Egypt · easy · 35 minSlow-cooked fava beans mashed with cumin, lemon, and olive oil, the breakfast that has powered Egypt for millennia.
Red RedGreater Accra, Ghana · easy · 50 minBlack-eyed peas stewed in red palm oil beside caramelized fried plantains, named twice for its two shades of red.
Poulet YassaCasamance, Senegal · easy · 75 minChicken smothered in a mountain of lemon-and-mustard onions, grilled then braised, Casamance’s gift to West Africa.
Pondu (Saka Saka)Kinshasa, DR Congo · easy · 80 minCassava leaves pounded and simmered with palm oil, eggplant, and smoked richness, the Congo’s daily green.
LablabiTunis, Tunisia · easy · 35 minChickpeas in garlicky cumin broth ladled over torn bread, hit with harissa, lemon, and a soft egg, Tunisia’s working breakfast.
Egusi SoupEnugu (Southeast), Nigeria · medium · 65 minGround melon seeds cooked into a rich, nubbly soup with greens and assorted meats, the pride of the Igbo southeast.
Shiro WotAddis Ababa, Ethiopia · easy · 30 minGround-chickpea flour whisked into a spiced, silky stew, the dish that feeds Ethiopia on fasting days and hard times alike.
Chicken BastillaCasablanca-Settat, Morocco · advanced · 105 minA sweet-savory pie of spiced shredded chicken and almonds in crackling pastry, dusted with sugar and cinnamon.
Bunny ChowKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · medium · 80 minA hollowed half-loaf of bread filled with fiery Durban curry, the ultimate hand-held street meal.
Bariis IskukarisMogadishu, Somalia · medium · 70 minFragrant basmati rice cooked with xawaash spice, caramelized onions, and raisins, Somalia’s festive celebration rice.
SuyaKano (North), Nigeria · easy · 42 minThin beef skewers crusted in spicy, nutty yaji spice and grilled over coals, northern Nigeria’s legendary night-market snack.
BobotieWestern Cape, South Africa · easy · 70 minCurried spiced mince baked under a golden savory custard, sweet with dried fruit and fragrant with bay, South Africa’s national comfort.
Bamia (Sudanese Okra Stew)Khartoum, Sudan · easy · 70 minTender lamb and okra simmered in a garlicky tomato broth spiced with black lime, Sudan’s everyday comfort, scooped with kisra.
MolokhiaCairo, Egypt · easy · 40 minFinely minced jute leaves cooked into a green, garlicky soup finished with a sizzling coriander-garlic ta’leya.
Kefta Mkaouara (Meatball Tagine)Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco · easy · 55 minSpiced meatballs simmered in a cumin-scented tomato sauce with eggs cracked on top, a bubbling tagine eaten with bread.
MaafeBamako, Mali · easy · 95 minA rich West African groundnut stew of peanut butter, tomato, and root vegetables simmered around tender meat.
IsombeKigali, Rwanda · easy · 80 minPounded cassava leaves stewed with spinach, eggplant, and peanut into a soft, savory green.
Nshima with IfisashiLusaka, Zambia · medium · 60 minStiff maize porridge served with greens simmered in a creamy ground-peanut sauce.
CachupaSantiago (Praia), Cape Verde · medium · 180 minThe slow-simmered national stew of hominy corn, beans, and meats, endlessly reboiled and always improving.
ZigniAsmara, Eritrea · medium · 115 minA fiery Eritrean beef stew built on berbere spice and long-cooked onions, eaten with injera.
Pasta al Sugo e BerbereAsmara, Eritrea · easy · 45 minSpaghetti tossed in silsi, the Eritrean tomato sauce spiked with berbere, the everyday pasta of Asmara.
TibsiAsmara, Eritrea · medium · 40 minCubes of beef seared hard with onion, green chili and berbere until the edges brown, an Eritrean celebration dish eaten with injera.
AmiwoCotonou, Benin · medium · 75 minCornmeal cooked directly in a spiced red tomato-and-pepper sauce, served with braised chicken.
Gboma DessiLomé, Togo · easy · 75 minA rich Togolese spinach stew simmered with tomato, red palm oil, and beef or fish.
Cassava Leaf StewFreetown, Sierra Leone · medium · 100 minFinely pounded cassava leaves slow-cooked with palm oil, beef, and smoked fish over rice.
SkoudehkarisDjibouti City, Djibouti · medium · 75 minDjibouti's national dish: spiced rice cooked with lamb, tomato, and cardamom in one pot.
Langouste à la VanilleMoroni, Comoros · medium · 45 minSpiny lobster gently cooked in a fragrant sauce of vanilla, cream, and lime, the Comoros on a plate.
Poulet NyembweLibreville, Gabon · easy · 80 minGabon's national dish: chicken simmered in a rich, tangy sauce of palm-nut pulp with chili and greens.
Riz GrasOuagadougou, Burkina Faso · medium · 85 minBurkina Faso's "fat rice": rice simmered in a rich tomato-and-meat broth until every grain is stained red.
IbiharageBujumbura, Burundi · easy · 75 minBurundi's fried kidney beans with onion, garlic, and chili, served with plantain or rice.
Kanda ti NymaBangui, Central African Republic · medium · 70 minCentral African meatballs simmered in a nutty tomato-and-okra sauce thickened with ground pumpkin seeds.
DarabaN'Djamena, Chad · easy · 60 minA silky Chadian okra-and-greens stew enriched with peanut butter and tomato, eaten with millet.
Liboke ya MbisiBrazzaville, Republic of the Congo · medium · 65 minWhole fish seasoned and steamed in banana or marantacea leaves until fragrant and flaking.
PepesupMalabo, Equatorial Guinea · easy · 50 minA fiery, clear fish pepper soup of Equatorial Guinea, sharp with chili, ginger, and lime.
Swazi Chicken Stew with PhutuMbabane, Eswatini · easy · 70 minA homey Eswatini chicken stew in tomato and onion, served with crumbly steamed maize phutu.
SuperkanjaBanjul, The Gambia · medium · 80 minThe Gambia's rich okra stew with palm oil, smoked fish, and meat, spooned over rice.
Latchiri e KossamConakry, Guinea · medium · 75 minHand-rolled maize couscous steamed fine and served with cool, tangy curdled milk, the Fula celebration dish of Guinea.
Caldo de PeixeBissau, Guinea-Bissau · easy · 65 minA Guinea-Bissau fish-and-rice pot simmered with palm oil, tomato, and greens in one dish.
Basotho Chicken Stew with PapaMaseru, Lesotho · easy · 70 minA highland chicken stew served with papa, the stiff maize porridge of Lesotho.
TorborgeeMonrovia, Liberia · medium · 85 minA pungent, spicy Liberian stew of red cowpeas and bitter eggplant with smoked meats and fish, slicked with red palm oil.
Grilled Chambo with NsimaLilongwe, Malawi · easy · 45 minLake Malawi's prized chambo fish, grilled whole, with nsima and a tomato-onion relish.
MéchouiNouakchott, Mauritania · medium · 230 minWhole lamb (or a shoulder) slow-roasted with cumin and salt until falling off the bone, desert feast food.
KapanaWindhoek, Namibia · easy · 30 minNamibia's open-fire street beef: thin strips grilled fast over coals and dusted with a spicy dry rub.
DambouNiamey, Niger · medium · 60 minSteamed grain tossed with moringa leaves, tomato, and oil, a light, nourishing dish of Niger.
Calulu de PeixeSão Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · medium · 85 minA layered island stew of fish and leafy greens with okra and tomato in red palm oil.
Peixe GrelhadoSão Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · easy · 35 minWhole fish marinated in lime and garlic, grilled over charcoal and served with a fresh chili and herb molho de pimenta.
Arroz de FolhaSão Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · medium · 70 minSeasoned rice bloomed in red palm oil, parcelled in banana leaves and steamed until the leaf perfumes the grain, a festive Santomean dish.
Seychellois Fish CurryVictoria, Seychelles · easy · 50 minA fragrant Creole coconut fish curry brightened with lime, ginger, and fresh curry leaves.
WalwalJuba, South Sudan · medium · 55 minThe Nilotic staple: sorghum or millet flour rolled by hand into couscous-like granules and boiled into a thick porridge, eaten with milk or thin yoghurt.
Couscous bel HoutTunis, Tunisia · medium · 90 minTunisian fish couscous: steamed semolina under a spicy tomato broth of fish and vegetables.
Kedjenou de PouletAbidjan (Lagunes), Côte d’Ivoire · easy · 90 minChicken slow-cooked sealed in a pot with peppers, tomato, and aromatics, with no added water, cooking in all its own juices.
Matoke with Groundnut SauceKampala, Uganda · medium · 100 minSteamed green bananas (matoke) mashed soft, served with a rich purple groundnut sauce.
RougaillePort Louis, Mauritius · easy · 55 minA Creole tomato stew of Mauritius, simmered with thyme, ginger, and curry leaf around fish or sausage.
BazinTripoli, Libya · medium · 90 minA firm barley-flour dome served in a spiced lamb-and-tomato sauce with a hard-boiled egg.
BaghrirMarrakesh-Safi, Morocco · easy · 35 minSpongy "thousand-hole" semolina pancakes drenched in a warm honey-and-butter syrup.
ChechebsaAmhara, Ethiopia · easy · 35 minShredded flatbread tossed in spiced niter kibbeh and berbere, a warm, savory Ethiopian breakfast.
Akara and OgiLagos, Nigeria · medium · 45 minFluffy black-eyed pea fritters with ogi, a smooth fermented corn pap, a classic Nigerian breakfast pair.
FondéDakar, Senegal · easy · 35 minA comforting Senegalese millet porridge cooked with milk, sugar, and a hint of orange-flower or nutmeg.
Hausa Koko and KooseAshanti, Ghana · medium · 45 minA spiced fermented millet porridge with koose, crisp black-eyed pea fritters, Ghana's classic Ghanaian breakfast.
Mieliepap with AmasiKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa · easy · 25 minSoft maize porridge served with amasi, tangy cultured milk, an everyday South African breakfast.
UjiNairobi, Kenya · easy · 25 minA smooth, slightly sour fermented millet-and-sorghum porridge, sipped warm to start the day.
MaandaziZanzibar, Tanzania · easy · 40 minLightly sweet East African fried dough triangles scented with cardamom and coconut.
Bouillie d'ArachideAbidjan (Lagunes), Côte d’Ivoire · easy · 30 minA creamy Ivorian peanut-and-millet breakfast porridge sweetened and scented with nutmeg.
BadjiasMaputo, Mozambique · easy · 30 minCrisp Mozambican chickpea-flour fritters flecked with onion and served with fiery piri-piri.
MsemenAlgiers, Algeria · medium · 50 minFlaky square semolina flatbreads folded in layers and griddled, served with honey or jam.
Puff-Puff and BeansLittoral (Douala), Cameroon · medium · 55 minSweet fried dough balls served with a savory stewed bean pot, a filling Cameroonian breakfast.
BotaHarare, Zimbabwe · easy · 25 minA soft, thin maize-meal breakfast porridge enriched with peanut butter and a little sugar.
Mofo GasyAnalamanga (Antananarivo), Madagascar · medium · 35 minSlightly sweet fermented rice-flour cakes griddled in round moulds, "Malagasy bread" for breakfast.
Pão de MilhoLuanda, Angola · medium · 60 minAngolan corn bread: a moist, golden cornmeal loaf, faintly sweet and rich with coconut, sliced for breakfast with butter and coffee.
DiphaphathaGaborone, Botswana · easy · 30 minSoft Botswana griddle breads: quick, dense little flatbread rounds cooked in a dry pan and split with butter or jam for breakfast.
Farata with Butter Bean CurryPort Louis, Mauritius · medium · 55 minFlaky griddled flatbread (farata) served with a light butter-bean curry, a popular Mauritian breakfast.
MikateKinshasa, DR Congo · easy · 40 minSweet Congolese fried dough balls, golden, pillowy, and dusted with sugar, for breakfast with tea.
SfinzTripoli, Libya · medium · 40 minStretchy, lacy fried dough eaten warm with honey or date syrup, a Libyan weekend breakfast.
CanjeeroMogadishu, Somalia · medium · 35 minA thin, spongy fermented pancake (laxoox) eaten with a drizzle of sesame oil, sugar, or stew.
GurasaKhartoum, Sudan · easy · 35 minA thick, soft Sudanese griddle pancake eaten with a stew or with sugar and ghee for breakfast.
MaasaBamako, Mali · medium · 40 minMalian pancake-doughnuts: lightly fermented rice-and-millet batter fried into golden puffs and dusted with sugar, sold hot from roadside pans.
Ibijumba n'IkivugutoKigali, Rwanda · easy · 30 minThe classic Rwandan breakfast: warm boiled sweet potatoes served with ikivuguto, a tangy cultured fermented milk.
VitumbuwaLusaka, Zambia · easy · 35 minLightly sweet Zambian rice-flour fritters, crisp outside and fluffy within, for breakfast with tea.
Cuscuz DoceSantiago (Praia), Cape Verde · medium · 55 minA steamed cornmeal cake, faintly sweet, eaten warm with butter, honey, or milk for breakfast.
Kicha Fit-fitAsmara, Eritrea · easy · 35 minShredded flatbread tossed with spiced clarified butter and berbere, a warming Eritrean breakfast.
AbloCotonou, Benin · medium · 45 minSoft, slightly sweet steamed rice-and-corn cakes eaten plain or with a spicy sauce for breakfast.
AyimolouLomé, Togo · easy · 60 minA one-pot of rice and beans cooked together and served with a spicy pepper sauce, Togo's breakfast.
Sierra Leonean Fry FryFreetown, Sierra Leone · easy · 40 minA plate of assorted fried things with a peppery gravy to dip them in, the Freetown street breakfast.
LahohDjibouti City, Djibouti · medium · 35 minA soft, honeycombed fermented pancake eaten with ghee and honey or a spicy stew in Djibouti.
Mkatra FoutraMoroni, Comoros · medium · 40 minSoft coconut-scented griddle breads from the Comoros, torn and eaten with tea or curry.
Bouillie de BananeLibreville, Gabon · easy · 30 minA smooth Gabonese plantain porridge, gently sweet and spiced, to start a rainforest morning.
MassaOuagadougou, Burkina Faso · medium · 35 minLittle fermented millet fritters, crisp and tangy, sold hot with a spicy or sweet topping in Burkina Faso.
Ibitoke n'IbiharageBujumbura, Burundi · easy · 55 minBurundi's beans and plantains: red beans and green cooking bananas simmered together with onion and warm spice into a filling plate.
BeignetsBangui, Central African Republic · easy · 40 minCentral African breakfast doughnuts: puffy, golden yeasted fritters fried fresh at dawn and dusted with sugar, eaten with sweet coffee.
KisserN'Djamena, Chad · medium · 35 minChadian sourdough crepes: thin, tangy fermented millet pancakes griddled soft and lacy, torn and dipped into sauce or eaten with sugar.
Beignets CongolaisBrazzaville, Republic of the Congo · medium · 105 minPuffy, faintly sweet fried dough balls sold hot on Brazzaville street corners and eaten with sweet coffee at daybreak.
Plátano Frito con HuevoMalabo, Equatorial Guinea · easy · 17 minSweet ripe plantains fried till caramelized and topped with a fried egg, Spanish and African breakfast worlds on one plate.
UmncushuMbabane, Eswatini · easy · 135 minSwazi samp and beans: dried maize kernels and sugar beans slow-boiled together until soft and creamy, a homely Eswatini staple.
TapalapaBanjul, The Gambia · medium · 50 minThe Gambia's daily bread: a crusty, dense baton of mixed millet, maize, and wheat flours, baked in a clay oven and torn open for breakfast.
LafidiConakry, Guinea · easy · 40 minA Guinean morning plate: okra and garden-egg eggplant mashed with chili and fermented locust bean, spooned over rice with a slick of red palm oil.
FidjósBissau, Guinea-Bissau · easy · 30 minBissau breakfast fritters: a mashed-banana and flour batter fried into small golden puffs, sold in paper cones on the morning streets.
MakoenyaMaseru, Lesotho · easy · 40 minGolden Basotho fat cakes: crisp-edged deep-fried dough balls, soft and lightly sweet inside, sold hot from street stands for breakfast.
Liberian Rice BreadMonrovia, Liberia · medium · 60 minA moist, tender quick bread of rice flour and mashed ripe banana, spiced and baked into a golden loaf for breakfast or tea.
ZitumbuwaLilongwe, Malawi · easy · 25 minMalawian banana fritters: very ripe bananas bound with a little cornmeal and deep-fried into sweet, golden, craggy morsels.
LakhNouakchott, Mauritania · medium · 35 minSteamed millet couscous under cool sweetened curdled milk and fresh grated coconut, the Sahelian sweet Mauritania makes to mark the end of Ramadan.
OshikwiilaWindhoek, Namibia · easy · 30 minNamibian mahangu pancakes: golden, slightly crisp pearl-millet flatcakes griddled fresh, the fuel that carries Owambo schoolchildren through the morning.
Fura da NonoNiamey, Niger · medium · 40 minSpiced millet dough balls broken into cool soured milk and sweetened, the iconic Hausa-Fulani breakfast drink-meal of Niger.
Fruta-Pão FritaSão Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · easy · 25 minGolden fried breadfruit, crisp outside and fluffy within, eaten with strong island coffee on São Tomé mornings.
Ladob BanannVictoria, Seychelles · easy · 30 minRipe plantains simmered soft in sweet, vanilla-and-nutmeg coconut milk, a Creole breakfast or dessert from the Seychelles.
ComboJuba, South Sudan · easy · 40 minSouth Sudanese greens in peanut sauce: leafy greens simmered with tomato and groundnut paste into a rich, creamy relish, eaten with rice.
Ngai NgaiBrazzaville, Republic of the Congo · easy · 50 minA tart roselle-leaf stew (ngai ngai means "sour sour") cooked down with onion, tomato, and red palm oil and served with fried fish and fufu, a Congolese staple.
LoubiaCasablanca-Settat, Morocco · easy · 105 minWhite beans slow-simmered in a garlicky tomato sauce with cumin and paprika, a humble everyday Moroccan lunch.
ChebakiaFès-Meknès, Morocco · advanced · 90 minFlower-shaped fried dough drenched in orange-blossom honey and coated in sesame, the sweet of the Moroccan Ramadan table.
TibsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia · easy · 35 minSizzling sautéed beef or lamb with onions, chili, and rosemary, served on injera, a celebratory Ethiopian favorite.
Moi MoiLagos, Nigeria · medium · 90 minA savory steamed pudding of blended black-eyed peas, peppers, and onion, a versatile Nigerian staple.
Chin ChinLagos, Nigeria · easy · 45 minCrunchy little cubes of sweet fried dough with a hint of nutmeg, Nigeria's favorite anytime nibble.
NdambéDakar, Senegal · easy · 75 minA spiced black-eyed pea stew served in a crusty baguette, Senegal's everyday street breakfast-lunch.
ThiakryDakar, Senegal · easy · 40 minSweetened steamed millet couscous folded through vanilla yogurt and cream with raisins, a cool West African pudding.
HawawshiCairo, Egypt · easy · 45 minSpiced minced meat baked inside crisp flatbread until juicy and golden, an Egyptian street sandwich.
Om AliCairo, Egypt · easy · 45 minA warm bread pudding of flaky pastry soaked in sweet spiced milk with nuts and coconut, Egypt's national dessert.
WaakyeGreater Accra, Ghana · easy · 75 minRice and beans cooked with sorghum leaves that tint it reddish-brown, the everyday one-pot lunch of Ghana.
Nkate CakeGreater Accra, Ghana · easy · 25 minA crunchy peanut brittle bound in dark caramel, a popular Ghanaian street sweet sold in cut slabs.
GatsbyWestern Cape, South Africa · easy · 45 minA foot-long roll crammed with meat or masala fillings, hot chips, and peri-peri, Cape Town's legendary sharing sandwich.
Malva PuddingWestern Cape, South Africa · easy · 55 minA sticky apricot-jam sponge drenched in hot cream sauce, South Africa's best-known baked pudding.
BrikTunis, Tunisia · medium · 25 minA crisp fried pastry parcel with a runny egg, tuna, and herbs inside, the essential Tunisian starter-lunch.
MakroudhTunis, Tunisia · medium · 65 minDiamond-shaped semolina pastries filled with spiced date paste and soaked in honey, a Tunisian and Maghrebi classic.
Nyama ChomaNairobi, Kenya · easy · 75 minSimply salted goat or beef slow-grilled over charcoal and eaten with kachumbari and ugali, Kenya's social feast.
KaimatiNairobi, Kenya · medium · 110 minCrisp cardamom-scented dumplings tossed in sugar syrup, a Swahili-coast sweet loved across Kenya.
Zanzibar UrojoZanzibar, Tanzania · medium · 60 minA tangy turmeric-and-mango broth piled with fritters, potato, and crunchy toppings, Zanzibar's famous mix.
KashataZanzibar, Tanzania · easy · 30 minChewy-crisp coconut candy scented with cardamom, a sweet of the Swahili coast.
Attiéké PoissonAbidjan (Lagunes), Côte d’Ivoire · easy · 45 minFermented cassava couscous served with grilled fish and a fresh onion-tomato relish, Côte d'Ivoire's national plate.
MatapaMaputo, Mozambique · medium · 80 minCassava leaves stewed with peanuts, coconut, and prawns, one of Mozambique's most cherished national dishes.
Bolo PolanaMaputo, Mozambique · medium · 70 minA rich, moist cake of cashews and potato scented with citrus, named for an elegant Maputo neighborhood.
ChakhchoukhaAlgiers, Algeria · medium · 120 minTorn flatbread bathed in a spiced lamb, chickpea, and tomato sauce, an Algerian dish for gatherings.
Kalb el LouzAlgiers, Algeria · medium · 65 minA syrup-soaked semolina cake with an almond heart, fragrant with orange blossom, a jewel of the Algerian Ramadan table.
LuwomboKampala, Uganda · medium · 115 minChicken or beef stewed in a rich groundnut sauce, steamed inside a banana leaf, a royal Ganda dish for celebrations.
KabalagalaKampala, Uganda · easy · 30 minSweet little pancakes of ripe banana and cassava flour fried until golden, a favorite Ugandan snack.
Poulet DGLittoral (Douala), Cameroon · medium · 65 minFried chicken and sweet plantain simmered with peppers and vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, a Cameroonian celebration favorite.
Nyama ne SadzaHarare, Zimbabwe · easy · 75 minBeef stewed with tomato and onion served with stiff maize sadza, the everyday heart of the Zimbabwean table.
Ravitoto sy HenakisoaAnalamanga (Antananarivo), Madagascar · medium · 95 minPounded cassava leaves slow-cooked with pork, garlic, and ginger, one of Madagascar's best-known dishes.
Koba AkondroAnalamanga (Antananarivo), Madagascar · medium · 140 minA dense steamed cake of banana, ground peanuts, and rice flour wrapped in banana leaf, a Malagasy street sweet.
MufeteLuanda, Angola · medium · 65 minGrilled fish with beans, cassava, and sweet potato under a tangy palm-oil and onion sauce, an Angolan coastal feast.
Cocada AmarelaLuanda, Angola · medium · 50 minA rich golden pudding of coconut and egg yolks scented with cloves, a Portuguese-influenced Angolan sweet.
DikgobeGaborone, Botswana · easy · 135 minSamp and beans (or sorghum) slow-cooked soft together into a filling one-pot, a staple of the Botswana table.
Mine FritePort Louis, Mauritius · easy · 35 minWok-fried egg noodles tossed with chicken, prawns, and vegetables in a savory sauce, Mauritius's favorite street lunch.
NapolitainePort Louis, Mauritius · medium · 45 minTwo crumbly shortbread biscuits sandwiched with jam and coated in bright pink icing, a Mauritian bakery icon.
MadesuKinshasa, DR Congo · easy · 105 minWhite beans simmered in a savory palm-oil, onion, and tomato sauce, an everyday staple of the DR Congo table.
Macaroni ImbakbakaTripoli, Libya · easy · 60 minPasta simmered in a spiced lamb-and-tomato sauce until it absorbs it all, Libya's signature everyday pasta.
GhraybahTripoli, Libya · easy · 38 minMelt-in-the-mouth buttery shortbread scented with a hint of cardamom, a Libyan and Maghrebi celebration cookie.
SuqaarMogadishu, Somalia · easy · 40 minSmall cubes of meat sautéed with potato, peppers, and Somali xawaash spice, a quick everyday dish.
XalwoMogadishu, Somalia · advanced · 75 minA dense, glossy, cardamom-scented sweet set with cornstarch and ghee, the centerpiece of every Somali celebration.
ShaiyahKhartoum, Sudan · easy · 35 minStrips of lamb quickly fried with onion, peppers, and spices, a popular Sudanese meat dish for gatherings.
FakoyeBamako, Mali · medium · 70 minA slippery jute-leaf sauce with meat and smoked fish, served over rice or with tô, a Malian and Sahelian favorite.
Rwandan BrochettesKigali, Rwanda · easy · 50 minMarinated goat skewers grilled over charcoal and served with grilled plantain, Rwanda's favorite social food.
Kapenta with NshimaLusaka, Zambia · easy · 45 minSmall dried fish fried with tomato and onion, served with stiff maize nshima, an everyday Zambian staple.
Pastel com Diabo DentroSantiago (Praia), Cape Verde · medium · 65 minA crisp corn-dough pastry with a spicy tuna filling, whose fiery name means 'pastry with the devil inside'.
Tô with Okra SauceOuagadougou, Burkina Faso · medium · 45 minA smooth, firm millet paste eaten with a slippery okra and tomato sauce, the daily staple lunch of Burkina Faso.
NdagalaBujumbura, Burundi · easy · 30 minTiny silver fish from Lake Tanganyika pan-fried crisp with onion and tomato, a lakeside lunch of Bujumbura.
Wassa-WassaCotonou, Benin · medium · 55 minSteamed yam-flour couscous tossed with a spiced tomato and onion sauce, a northern Beninese lunch staple.
Gozo with Groundnut SauceBangui, Central African Republic · medium · 50 minSmooth cassava fufu served with a rich, savory peanut sauce, an everyday plate across the Central African Republic.
FumbwaBrazzaville, Republic of the Congo · medium · 60 minWild forest greens simmered with groundnut paste, palm oil, and smoked fish into a deep, savory Congolese stew.
Fah-FahDjibouti City, Djibouti · medium · 95 minA fiery, aromatic goat and vegetable soup brightened with green chili and lime, Djibouti's favorite restorative lunch.
Tsebhi BirsenAsmara, Eritrea · easy · 55 minRed lentils simmered with berbere, onion, and tomato into a warming spiced stew, scooped up with injera.
Poisson BraiséLibreville, Gabon · easy · 45 minWhole fish marinated and grilled over coals, served with fried plantain and a fresh tomato-onion relish, Libreville's classic lunch.
DomodaBanjul, The Gambia · medium · 80 minThe Gambian groundnut stew: meat simmered in a thick, tangy peanut sauce with tomato and pumpkin, served over rice.
Sauce GomboConakry, Guinea · easy · 50 minOkra stewed with red palm oil and smoked fish into a glossy, savory sauce, spooned over rice in the Guinean style.
Pescado con YucaMalabo, Equatorial Guinea · easy · 45 minFish braised in a tomato and onion sofrito, served with boiled cassava, a Spanish-inflected coastal lunch of Malabo.
ChabéuBissau, Guinea-Bissau · medium · 50 minFish simmered in a thick red palm-nut sauce with onion, tomato, and chili, served over rice, a signature dish of Guinea-Bissau.
MatabaMoroni, Comoros · medium · 65 minPounded cassava leaves slow-cooked in coconut milk with fish, a fragrant green stew that is Comoros' national dish.
Palm Butter RiceMonrovia, Liberia · medium · 75 minChicken simmered in a rich palm-nut sauce with chili and greens, ladled over rice, one of Liberia's most cherished dishes.
NyekoeMaseru, Lesotho · easy · 105 minA filling one-pot of sorghum and beans simmered slow with pumpkin and onion, the warming everyday lunch of the Lesotho highlands.
Maru wa LahméNouakchott, Mauritania · medium · 90 minMeat and vegetables simmered in a mustard-scented broth, then rice cooked in that broth, the generous communal lunch of the Mauritanian table.
MkhwaniLilongwe, Malawi · easy · 30 minTender pumpkin leaves simmered with groundnut flour into a creamy green relish, eaten with nsima across Malawi.
Vetkoek with MinceWindhoek, Namibia · medium · 120 minGolden fried dough buns split and stuffed with savory curried beef mince, a favorite Namibian street lunch.
Dan WakeNiamey, Niger · medium · 40 minSoft bean-flour dumplings tossed with oil, spice, and onion, a popular Hausa street lunch of Niger.
Kari ZouritVictoria, Seychelles · medium · 80 minOctopus simmered until tender in a fragrant coconut curry with ginger, garlic, and island masala, a Seychelles classic.
Krain KrainFreetown, Sierra Leone · easy · 45 minChopped jute leaves stewed with red palm oil and smoked fish into a savory green sauce, served over rice.
KajaikJuba, South Sudan · easy · 45 minFresh Nile fish simmered in a light tomato and onion stew, a staple lunch along South Sudan's rivers.
Feijoada à SantomenseSão Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · easy · 75 minIsland beans simmered with red palm oil, smoked fish, and greens, the São Toméan take on Portuguese-Creole feijoada.
SidvudvuMbabane, Eswatini · easy · 40 minSweet pumpkin cooked down with maize meal into a smooth, comforting porridge, a traditional Eswatini favorite.
NashifN'Djamena, Chad · easy · 40 minGround beef sautéed with tomato, onion, and warm spices into a quick, savory dish eaten with bread or rice in N'Djamena.
DjenkouméLomé, Togo · medium · 60 minA savory red maize-meal paste cooked with tomato and palm oil, served with grilled chicken, a Togolese celebration favorite.
LaduMoroni, Comoros · easy · 35 minToasted ground rice cooked in ghee and bound with sugar, cardamom, and a note of black pepper into fragrant sweet balls, a Comorian teatime treat.
ChakeryBanjul, The Gambia · easy · 35 minSteamed couscous folded through sweetened, vanilla-scented yogurt with raisins and pineapple, a cool Gambian celebration dessert.
Mbatata CookiesLilongwe, Malawi · easy · 35 minSoft, lightly spiced biscuits made from mashed sweet potato, a homey Malawian teatime treat.
Benne CakesFreetown, Sierra Leone · easy · 25 minToasted sesame seeds set in crisp caramel, a simple, ancient West African sweet from Sierra Leone.
OshifimaWindhoek, Namibia · easy · 25 minNamibia's stiff pearl-millet porridge, beaten smooth, shaped into a mound, and eaten by hand with stews, greens, or soured milk.
MotohoMaseru, Lesotho · easy · 45 minLesotho's fermented sorghum porridge, soured overnight with a tomoso starter and eaten warm by the bowl or thinned into a tangy drink.
MotogoGaborone, Botswana · easy · 25 minBotswana's soft morning sorghum porridge, stirred smooth over a low fire and eaten with sugar and a pour of milk or tangy madila.
Mgaiwa PhalaLilongwe, Malawi · easy · 25 minMalawi's everyday breakfast porridge of whole-ground maize simmered with milk and finished generously with sugar.
AseedaJuba, South Sudan · medium · 30 minSouth Sudan's smooth sorghum dough dome, beaten glossy over the fire and eaten by hand from a shared bowl with mullah stew.
Chura GertehBanjul, The Gambia · easy · 40 minThe Gambia's thick groundnut-and-rice porridge, faintly oily and nutty, served hot with yoghurt or condensed milk.
IncwancwaMbabane, Eswatini · easy · 30 minEswatini's sour fermented maize porridge, tangy from a day or two of natural souring and eaten spoonable or thinned to a drink.
IgikomaKigali, Rwanda · easy · 20 minRwanda's morning porridge of sorghum, maize, and soya flour, whisked smooth and drunk warm and sweet from a mug.
Igikoma cy'UburoBujumbura, Burundi · easy · 20 minBurundi's warming finger-millet porridge, whisked thin and smooth, sweetened, and often enriched with a spoon of roasted groundnut flour.
Bouillie de MilN'Djamena, Chad · easy · 25 minChad's smooth millet breakfast porridge, simmered sweet and finished with a splash of milk, gentle enough for dawn and for small children.
Bouillie de FonioConakry, Guinea · easy · 30 minA creamy Guinean breakfast porridge of tiny fonio grains simmered in water and milk, sweetened and warmed with gentle spice.
Bouillie de ManiocBangui, Central African Republic · easy · 20 minA silky Central African cassava porridge, whisked from the national staple flour and sweetened, often enriched with a spoon of peanut paste.
Papa de ArrozBissau, Guinea-Bissau · easy · 40 minGuinea-Bissau's gentle rice porridge, the national grain simmered soft and loose, sweetened and served with a pour of milk.
Papas de MilhoLuanda, Angola · easy · 25 minAngola's soft maize breakfast porridge of fine fuba cooked smooth, taken sweet with milk and sugar or savoury with a pinch of salt.
MoniBamako, Mali · easy · 40 minMali's millet porridge of tiny hand-rolled flour pearls simmered in tamarind-soured water and sweetened, eaten at breakfast and Ramadan.
Bourzwa Griye (Grilled Red Snapper)Victoria, Seychelles · easy · 45 minA whole red snapper slashed and packed with a garlic, ginger, and chili paste, grilled over coals and served with a chunky Creole tomato sauce.
Salad Pwason Fime (Smoked Fish Salad)Victoria, Seychelles · easy · 20 minFlaked smoked fish tossed raw with sour green mango, red onion, tomato, and chili in a bright lime and oil dressing.
Poulet Braisé (Cameroonian Grilled Chicken)Littoral (Douala), Cameroon · medium · 65 minChicken marinated in garlic, ginger, and scotch bonnet, gently simmered tender, then charred over coals and basted with its spiced marinade.
Yemarina Yewotet Dabo (Honey and Milk Bread)Amhara, Ethiopia · medium · 70 minA tender, lightly sweet loaf enriched with honey, milk and warm spices, Ethiopia's way of making the most of the honey it is famous for.
Gâteau Coco (Fried Coconut Cakes)Abidjan (Lagunes), Côte d’Ivoire · easy · 35 minSmall diamonds of fresh coconut and flour fried until crisp at the edges and fragrant, an Abidjan street sweet.
Cameroonian Banana CakeLittoral (Douala), Cameroon · easy · 60 minA moist, lightly spiced loaf built on very ripe bananas, the hawked teatime cake of coastal Cameroon.
Chikenduza (Candy Cakes)Harare, Zimbabwe · medium · 55 minSoft, yeasted sweet cakes baked tall and finished with a bright pink glaze, a Zimbabwean bakery treat.
Kgojwa ya Moretlwa (Wild Berry and Milk Pudding)Gaborone, Botswana · easy · 20 minPounded wild moretlwa berries steeped and whisked into cold sweet milk, a traditional Botswana after-meal sweet.
Ndizi wa Nazi (Plantains in Coconut Milk)Kinshasa, DR Congo · easy · 30 minRipe plantains simmered gently in spiced coconut milk until soft and creamy, a sweet from the DR Congo table.
Basbousa (Semolina Cake in Syrup)Khartoum, Sudan · easy · 55 minA tender semolina cake enriched with yogurt and coconut, soaked in lemon syrup, a much-loved Sudanese sweet.
Meni-Meniyong (Sesame and Honey Brittle)Bamako, Mali · easy · 25 minToasted sesame seeds set in caramelised honey and cut into crunchy fingers, a sweet found in every Malian market.
Rwandan MandaziKigali, Rwanda · easy · 35 minLightly sweet fried dough scented with cardamom and cinnamon and enriched with coconut milk, a Kigali street favourite.
Mabuyu (Sweet-Coated Baobab Seeds)Lusaka, Zambia · easy · 25 minTangy baobab seeds tumbled in a bright sugar coating, the nostalgic street candy of Zambia.
Pudim de Leite (Milk Flan)Santiago (Praia), Cape Verde · medium · 70 minA silky baked milk custard under a dark caramel, one of Cabo Verde's most popular desserts.
Himbasha (Celebration Bread)Asmara, Eritrea · medium · 60 minA mildly sweet cardamom bread scored in a sunburst pattern and studded with raisins, Eritrea's festive loaf.
Yovo Doko (Sweet Fritters)Cotonou, Benin · easy · 35 minLight, puffy sweet fried dough balls dusted with sugar, often called the national dessert of Benin.
Galidossi (Gari and Milk Dessert)Lomé, Togo · easy · 15 minCrunchy cassava gari soaked in cold sweet milk with roasted peanuts, a refreshing Togolese street dessert.
Djiboutian Banana FrittersDjibouti City, Djibouti · easy · 25 minLight little fritters of mashed ripe banana and flour scented with nutmeg, fried and dusted with sugar, a Djibouti favourite.
Bananes au Four Croustillantes (Crisp Baked Bananas)Libreville, Gabon · easy · 30 minBananas rolled in breadcrumbs, fried crisp and baked, then dressed with brown sugar and cool cream, a Gabon classic.
Gapal (Millet and Milk Dessert)Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso · easy · 20 minFine millet blended with tangy yogurt, baobab and ginger into a thick, cool spooning dessert, a Fulani speciality.
Beignets de Banane (Banana Fritters)Bangui, Central African Republic · easy · 25 minMashed ripe bananas fried in a light batter with a hint of lime, the sweet end to a Central African meal.
Le Ouaddaï (Fried Millet Fingers)N'Djamena, Chad · easy · 35 minCrisp fried fingers of sweetened millet and wheat, a teatime sweet from the Ouaddaï region of Chad.
Makemba (Sweet Fried Plantain)Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo · easy · 20 minVery ripe plantains fried until caramelised and dusted with cinnamon sugar, a simple Congolese sweet.
Akwadu (Baked Bananas with Coconut)Malabo, Equatorial Guinea · easy · 30 minBananas baked in butter, citrus and honey under a blanket of coconut, a simple Equatoguinean sweet.
KoeksistersMbabane, Eswatini · medium · 60 minPlaited dough fried crisp and plunged into ice-cold spiced syrup, a sticky sweet loved across Eswatini.
Doce de Papaia (Papaya Sweet)Bissau, Guinea-Bissau · easy · 60 minPapaya slowly cooked with sugar, lime and cinnamon until glossy and translucent, a Bissau-Guinean preserve-sweet.
Kanyah (Peanut and Rice Sweet)Monrovia, Liberia · easy · 30 minGround roasted peanuts and toasted rice flour pressed with sugar into a dense, crumbly sweet, a Liberian classic.
Dates Stuffed with ButterNouakchott, Mauritania · easy · 15 minPlump dates split and filled with cardamom-scented butter, a Saharan sweet of Mauritanian hospitality.
Sweet Mahangu PorridgeWindhoek, Namibia · easy · 30 minNamibian pearl millet simmered soft in sweet vanilla cream and served with stewed fruit, a homely dessert.
Alkaki (Fried Wheat Sweet)Niamey, Niger · medium · 60 minCrushed wheat kneaded with milk and butter, shaped, fried and soaked in tamarind sugar syrup, a Zinder speciality.
Sonhos de Banana (Banana Fritters)São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · easy · 25 minMashed banana fritters fried until crisp and rolled in cinnamon sugar, a Portuguese-island sweet of São Tomé.
Nouga Koko ek Bannann (Coconut and Banana Nougat)Victoria, Seychelles · easy · 35 minFreshly grated coconut cooked with sugar and banana into a soft, chewy candy scented with vanilla and nutmeg.
Kuindiong (Semolina Pudding)Juba, South Sudan · easy · 30 minA creamy semolina and yogurt pudding topped with miok, a nutty butter-and-sugar crumble, a Dinka sweet.
Konkoé (Smoked Catfish Stew)Conakry, Guinea · medium · 65 minSmoked catfish simmered with eggplant, potato and okra in a spiced tomato and palm oil sauce, served over rice.
Moamba de Ginguba (Peanut Chicken Stew)Luanda, Angola · medium · 75 minAn Angolan chicken stew built on ground peanuts, palm oil, tomato and okra, simmered until nutty and rich and ladled over funge or rice.
Serobe (Offal Stew)Gaborone, Botswana · medium · 180 minA Botswana delicacy of well-cleaned tripe and intestines slow-simmered until tender, chopped fine, and served with stiff bogobe porridge.
Eru (Wild Greens with Waterleaf)Littoral (Douala), Cameroon · medium · 75 minA rich, oily stew of finely shredded eru forest leaves and waterleaf cooked with palm oil, smoked fish and crayfish, eaten with garri or water fufu.
Jollof RiceGreater Accra, Ghana · medium · 80 minLong-grain rice steamed in a reduced, deeply spiced tomato-and-pepper stew until every grain is stained red and the base lightly caramelises.
Ngalakh (Baobab & Peanut Millet Cream)Dakar, Senegal · easy · 45 minSteamed millet couscous folded into a sweet, nutty peanut cream soured with baobab-fruit pulp, chilled and scented with orange-blossom and vanilla.
PotjiekosWindhoek, Namibia · medium · 175 minMeat and root vegetables layered in a three-legged cast-iron pot and slow-cooked undisturbed over coals into a tender, richly spiced stew.
Mloukhia (Jute Leaf Beef Stew)Tunis, Tunisia · medium · 260 minA dark, glossy Tunisian stew of powdered jute leaves slow-cooked with olive oil and beef until silky and almost black.
La Capitaine Sangha (Nile Perch in Red Sauce)Bamako, Mali · medium · 60 minA signature Malian dish of Nile perch simmered in a spiced tomato sauce and served with fried plantains and rice.
Camarão Grelhado (Grilled LM Prawns)Maputo, Mozambique · easy · 30 minLarge prawns grilled over charcoal and basted with a fiery, garlicky piri-piri butter, the star of the Mozambican coast.
AgatogoKigali, Rwanda · easy · 50 minA hearty Rwandan pot of green plantains simmered with tomato and greens and finished with crushed peanuts.
Maboké de Capitaine (Steamed Fish in Banana Leaf)Bangui, Central African Republic · easy · 45 minWhite fish steamed in banana-leaf parcels on a bed of onion, garlic, tomato, and chilli, a classic of the Central African Republic.
Jarret de Boeuf au Gombo (Beef and Okra Stew)N'Djamena, Chad · medium · 200 minSlow-cooked beef shank in a glossy okra sauce, a Chadian classic eaten with a ball of millet boule.
Umbidvo Wetintsanga (Pumpkin Leaves with Groundnuts)Mbabane, Eswatini · easy · 40 minTender pumpkin leaves simmered with onion and tomato and made creamy with crushed groundnuts, a cherished Swazi dish.
Kansiyé de Poisson (Fish in Peanut Sauce)Conakry, Guinea · easy · 60 minGuinea's version of the West African peanut stew: fish simmered in a tomato sauce thickened with peanut butter.
Caldo de MancarraBissau, Guinea-Bissau · medium · 75 minGuinea-Bissau’s beloved peanut stew: chicken browned and simmered in a creamy groundnut and tomato broth with sweet potato and okra, ladled over white rice.
Kondowole with Greens RelishLilongwe, Malawi · medium · 45 minA sticky, elastic cassava-flour staple from northern Malawi, shaped into a smooth mound and served with a simple tomato-and-greens relish.
Vindaye PoissonPort Louis, Mauritius · medium · 45 minFried firm fish folded into a tangy, mustardy pickle of turmeric, mustard seeds, garlic, ginger and vinegar with barely-cooked onions, eaten with fresh bread or rice.
Kisra with MulahJuba, South Sudan · medium · 80 minThin, tangy fermented sorghum flatbread torn to scoop up mulah, a rich okra and meat stew, the everyday staple pairing of South Sudan after asida.
BenachinBanjul, The Gambia · medium · 90 minThe Gambian one-pot: rice simmered in a rich tomato broth with fish and chunks of cassava, sweet potato, carrot and cabbage until it soaks up every drop, served family-style.
Poulet à la MoambeBrazzaville, Republic of the Congo · medium · 80 minChicken braised low in a glossy, rust-red palm-nut sauce until tender and richly savoury, the national dish of the Congo, served with rice, plantains or fufu.
Makayabu (Salted Fish in Tomato Sauce)Kinshasa, DR Congo · easy · 60 minSalt cod soaked back to life and braised with onion, tomato and pepper, a pantry staple across the DR Congo table.
Poulet BicycletteOuagadougou, Burkina Faso · medium · 80 minLean free-range chicken parboiled with aromatics, then marinated in tomato, ginger and chili and grilled over charcoal until smoky.
Wagasi in Tomato SauceCotonou, Benin · easy · 40 minGolden-fried Fulani cheese simmered in a spicy tomato and onion sauce, one of West Africa's rare traditional cheese dishes.
Chorba FrikAlgiers, Algeria · medium · 80 minThe Ramadan soup of Algeria: a spiced tomato broth with lamb, chickpeas and smoky green freekeh, thick enough to eat as a meal.
GitheriNairobi, Kenya · easy · 105 minBoiled maize and beans finished in a tomato and onion masala, one of the oldest and most dependable Kenyan home meals.
Dovi (Chicken Peanut Stew)Harare, Zimbabwe · medium · 75 minChicken simmered in a velvety peanut butter and tomato sauce with greens, Zimbabwe's gentle, comforting Sunday stew.
KatogoKampala, Uganda · easy · 55 minGreen cooking bananas simmered in one pot with beans, tomato and onion, the everyday Ugandan breakfast.
Renga RengaBujumbura, Burundi · easy · 60 minSweet potato leaves simmered with red palm oil, onion, mint and smoked fish into a savoury Burundian greens stew.
Canja de GalinhaSantiago (Praia), Cape Verde · easy · 75 minA thick, comforting Cape Verdean chicken and rice soup with carrot, potato and a bright squeeze of lime.
Atkilt Alicha (Mild Cabbage Stew)Asmara, Eritrea · easy · 45 minA gentle, turmeric-golden stew of cabbage, carrot and potato enriched with spiced butter, the mild counterpart to fiery zigni.
Pilao (Comorian Spiced Rice)Moroni, Comoros · medium · 85 minFragrant basmati layered with tender beef and a warm island spice mix of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and cardamom.
MorohoMaseru, Lesotho · easy · 30 minLeafy greens cooked down with onion and tomato, the everyday vegetable that Basotho eat with papa at almost every meal.
Dumboy and Pepper SoupMonrovia, Liberia · medium · 90 minLiberia's national plate: a sticky pounded-cassava dumpling served in a fiery pepper soup of meat, shrimp and okra.
SabayadDjibouti City, Djibouti · easy · 40 minA folded, pan-fried flatbread with a crisp exterior and warm flaky layers, the Djiboutian answer to a flat croissant.
Pollo con Salsa de CacahueteMalabo, Equatorial Guinea · easy · 75 minChicken simmered in a rich peanut sauce with tomato, onion and garlic, a Central African groundnut stew from Equatorial Guinea.
Akoho sy Voanio (Coconut Chicken)Analamanga (Antananarivo), Madagascar · easy · 70 minChicken simmered in a spiced coconut sauce with tomato, ginger and saffron, a Malagasy dish beloved at Christmas.
Miyan Kuka (Baobab Leaf Soup)Niamey, Niger · medium · 75 minA dark, savoury soup thickened with powdered baobab leaves, meat and palm oil, eaten with a mound of tuwo.
Mullah Waika (Dried Okra Stew)Khartoum, Sudan · easy · 70 minA silky, velvety stew of meat thickened with sun-dried okra powder, one of Sudan's most beloved traditional dishes.
CambuuloMogadishu, Somalia · easy · 100 minSlow-cooked adzuki beans finished with butter and a little sugar, a comforting Somali evening dish.
Blá-Blá de PeixeSão Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · easy · 55 minA simple island stew of fresh or smoked fish simmered with tomato, onion and red palm oil, served with boiled banana or breadfruit.
Granat Stew (Groundnut Stew)Freetown, Sierra Leone · easy · 70 minA rich Freetown peanut stew of meat in a smooth groundnut and tomato sauce, ladled generously over rice.
Mchuzi wa Samaki (Coconut Fish Curry)Zanzibar, Tanzania · easy · 60 minA Swahili-coast fish curry in a coconut and tomato sauce, brightened with tamarind and warm Indian-influenced spices.
KalembulaLusaka, Zambia · easy · 40 minTender sweet potato leaves simmered with pounded groundnuts into a creamy Zambian relish for nshima.
Poisson à l'OdikaLibreville, Gabon · medium · 60 minFish stewed in odika, a dark paste of ground wild mango seeds with a chocolatey depth, one of Gabon's signature sauces.
Poisson Fumé aux Bananes PlantainsLibreville, Gabon · easy · 40 minSmoked fish simmered in a tomato, onion and chili sauce, served over golden fried ripe plantains, an easy Gabonese plate.
Mauritanian CouscousNouakchott, Mauritania · medium · 100 minSteamed semolina piled with lamb and Saharan vegetables in a spiced broth, Mauritania's share of the Maghreb couscous tradition.
Aïch (Millet Couscous in Chicken and Bean Broth)Nouakchott, Mauritania · medium · 95 minCoarse hand-rolled millet couscous stirred into a paprika-stained chicken and bean broth until the grain drinks it up and thickens to a savoury porridge.
Koklo MemeLomé, Togo · easy · 60 minCharcoal-grilled chicken marinated with ginger, garlic and chili, Togo's most famous dish, served with a fiery tomato-pepper sauce.
Akume with Ademe SauceLomé, Togo · medium · 60 minA smooth cornmeal swallow served with ademe, a slippery jute-leaf sauce cooked with smoked fish and palm oil.
Mukimo (Mashed Greens, Maize and Potatoes)Nairobi, Kenya · easy · 50 minA soft, earthy Kikuyu mash of potatoes, green peas, maize and pumpkin leaves pounded into one bright green mound.
Mchicha wa Nazi (Greens in Coconut Milk)Zanzibar, Tanzania · easy · 35 minAmaranth greens slow-wilted with onion, tomato and chili, then made silky with coconut milk in the Zanzibari style.
Sauce Graine (Palm Fruit Stew)Abidjan (Lagunes), Côte d’Ivoire · medium · 90 minA rich, earthy Ivorian stew built on palm fruit pulp with meat and smoked fish, spooned over rice or foutou.
Sauce Gombo Ivoirienne (Okra Sauce)Abidjan (Lagunes), Côte d’Ivoire · easy · 60 minA silky, faintly stringy Ivorian okra sauce with beef and smoked fish in a tomato and palm oil broth, eaten with foutou or rice.
Mahjouba (Mhadjeb Stuffed Semolina Flatbread)Algiers, Algeria · medium · 65 minThin, hand-stretched semolina flatbreads folded around a jammy tomato, onion and harissa filling and griddled crisp.
Malakwang (Sour Greens in Groundnut Sauce)Kampala, Uganda · easy · 45 minTangy malakwang leaves simmered until tender then folded into a smooth groundnut sauce, sweet, sour and nutty at once.
Nhopi (Pumpkin and Peanut Porridge)Harare, Zimbabwe · easy · 50 minMashed pumpkin cooked into mealie-meal and enriched with peanut butter, a lightly sweet Shona comfort porridge.
Vary Amin'anana (Rice with Greens)Analamanga (Antananarivo), Madagascar · easy · 40 minSoft, soupy rice cooked with leafy greens and ginger, the everyday restorative bowl of the Malagasy highlands.
Mbika (Pumpkin Seed Stew)Kinshasa, DR Congo · easy · 50 minGround pumpkin seeds simmered into a thick, nutty-tasting stew with smoked fish, greens and red palm oil, a Congo Basin staple.
Rishda (Noodles in Onion and Chickpea Sauce)Tripoli, Libya · medium · 70 minFresh hand-cut noodles steamed and dressed with busla, a sweet onion and chickpea sauce warm with cinnamon and cloves.
Mbatten (Stuffed Potato Fritters)Tripoli, Libya · medium · 70 minPotato slices sandwiched around spiced minced meat, coated and fried until the outside is golden and the potato tender.
Baasto iyo Suugo (Somali Spaghetti)Mogadishu, Somalia · easy · 55 minSpaghetti under a xawaash-spiced beef and tomato sauce, the Somali table always finished with a ripe banana on the side.
Sahan Ful (Sudanese Fava Beans)Khartoum, Sudan · easy · 30 minSlow-cooked fava beans crushed with cumin and lifted with tomato, onion and olive oil, the Sudanese breakfast of beans and bread.
Nkuku (Village Chicken Stew)Lusaka, Zambia · easy · 75 minFree-range village chicken browned in its own fat and simmered in a simple tomato and onion gravy, served with nshima.
Jagacida (Cape Verdean Rice and Beans)Santiago (Praia), Cape Verde · easy · 45 minRice simmered with beans, onion, garlic and bay until glossy and tender, the everyday jag of the Cape Verde islands.
Hamli (Eritrean Spiced Greens)Asmara, Eritrea · easy · 35 minCollard greens or chard wilted with onion, garlic, ginger and gentle spices, the everyday greens of the Eritrean platter.
Ata (Beninese Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)Cotonou, Benin · medium · 50 minSkinned black-eyed peas whipped into an airy batter with onion and chili, then fried into crisp, fluffy golden fritters.
Okra Soup (Sierra Leonean)Freetown, Sierra Leone · easy · 65 minFresh okra cooked down with beef and smoked fish in a red palm oil broth into a thick, silky Freetown Saturday soup.
Fasoolia (White Bean Stew)Djibouti City, Djibouti · easy · 50 minWhite beans simmered soft in a spiced tomato and onion sauce warm with cumin and cinnamon, eaten with bread or rice.
M'tsolola (Fish, Plantain and Coconut Stew)Moroni, Comoros · medium · 60 minFish poached with green plantain and cassava then finished in fresh coconut milk, the island stew of the Comoros.
Babenda (Greens, Grain and Groundnut Pot)Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso · easy · 55 minBitter greens and rice simmered with pounded groundnuts and pungent soumbala into a thick, nourishing one-pot meal.
Date and Banana MixBujumbura, Burundi · easy · 50 minA warm baked cake layering sliced banana and chopped dates through a soft batter, finished with cinnamon sugar.
Pescado Frito con Plátanos MadurosMalabo, Equatorial Guinea · easy · 45 minWhole fish marinated in lime and garlic and pan-fried until crisp, served with sweet caramelised fried plantains.
Likhobe (Sorghum and Bean Grain Stew)Maseru, Lesotho · easy · 140 minSorghum, beans and cracked wheat simmered slowly into a thick, nutty mountain porridge, a hearty Basotho staple.
Potato Greens (Palava Sauce)Monrovia, Liberia · easy · 50 minFinely chopped sweet potato leaves simmered in a seasoned red palm oil broth with smoked fish, served over rice.
Leksour (Lamb Stew on Pancakes)Nouakchott, Mauritania · medium · 100 minA spiced lamb and vegetable stew spooned over thin millet-and-wheat pancakes, rolled and eaten by hand.
Miyan Taushe (Pumpkin and Groundnut Soup)Niamey, Niger · easy · 65 minA creamy Hausa soup of mashed pumpkin and pounded groundnuts with meat and greens, thick, mildly sweet and savoury.
Omelete à Moda da TerraSão Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe · easy · 25 minA simple island omelette of eggs beaten with local greens and onion, fried in palm oil and served with fried banana.
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