Original Story Published by: Tobi Oredein for iNews
Photo Source: Eliss Parrinder
(Above) The chef Lope Ariyo.
As someone who has only been to Nigeria twice and cannot speak or understand Yoruba, the language my family members speak, food has played an integral part in my journey to discovering and learn about the country.
Through spending time in the kitchen with the older women in my life, I have learned how to cook a range of dishes, including West Africa’s most famous meal, jollof rice (a mild to spicy tomato-based rice) – a mouth-watering dish that is usually served with stewed fish or meat.
Five dishes to try
Jollof rice Any newbie to West African cuisine has to taste this staple.
Yam porridge This delicious dish is mashed yam in a spicy tomato-infused stew. It is a great vegan dish.
Suya The Nigerian kebab – teamed with chips after a night out, it is the stuff food dreams are made of.
Efo riro Also known as spinach stew, it blends spinach in a spicy red pepper and melon seed sauce and is cooked in palm oil. Most people add meat or fish, but mushrooms can be used instead.
Puff Puff A West African doughnut, best served straight from the deep fat fryer.
While my interest in learning how to cook West African food stems from a desire to be closer to my Nigerian heritage, it seems that the food industry is also paying attention to this region. At the end of last year, the BBC said West African food could be 2018’s big food trend. And with numerous restaurants, pop-ups and street-food stalls making their mark in the UK, the cuisine is likely to be here to stay.
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