Africa is diverse with its unique and different cultures, which tells you that even our food is diverse. We have so many different and unique foods we enjoy. Most people wonder what Africans eat, yet it varies based on the region.
In this article, we will show you a few of the most common foods you will find. Expect them to vary based on whether you are in the West, the East, the South or the North.
What Africans eat
Here we break down the foods we eat into different categories, as shown below. We bring you the list of foods in 8 categories to try today.
1. The staple starch
It’s almost true that the food in Africa is based on starch. The difference is that we eat it alongside other proteins and veggies. They come in the following parts.
Cassava: it’s a root vegetable that comes in the form of flour, fufu dough and granulated form like garri. We can also make Ugali using cassava flour, while they make fufu using granulated cassava. Check out Ugali vs fufu-which one is better?
Sorghum and millet: This is common in East and West Africa. We also eat them in the form of flour or just as an addition to other foods.
Maize/maize flour: Let’s say this is one of the most common options in Africa. It’s the one we use to make our favourite ugali. But then it will also make the porridge, or in some instances, we eat boiled or roasted corn. It’s also what we use to make our favourite githeri and Mukimu.
Wheat: Just like many other countries across the globe, there are a few countries, especially North and East South Africa, like to eat bread. Aside from bread, we also like chapati, pasta and bread in East Africa.
Rice: Well, this one is also common across Africa’s different regions. In West Africa, it’s a staple with some of the most unique and loved dishes, including Jolof and fried rice.
Potatoes: You can enjoy the potatoes in different ways, but in this case, I also have to list the sweet potatoes in this category to show you that we have a variety.
Matoke and Plantain: Countries like Uganda have matoke as a staple meal, but we, the neighbouring countries, eat matoke too only. They may refer to it as green bananas. Plantain is another one of the main ingredients in the unique meals of choice.
2. Meats and proteins
Again in this list, there are different options you will notice that we enjoy. Depending on your region, you will notice that we use different kinds of proteins. Traditional African chicken, for example, is held in high esteem in some cultures like ours.
In some countries, goat meat is preferred, while others prefer pork. This goes to show you the diversity we were talking about.
Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, and chicken are some of the most common options you will ever find. In Africa, we stew, grill, roast or fry the meat. Note, though, that we tend to cook it too well done; it’s only in Ethiopia that they eat it raw with a few other spices.
Fish and seafood: another staple in Africa is fish, particularly since many cultures were fishermen already. Fish and seafood is the staple choice for those living in the coastal region.
3. Vegetables and legumes
There are staple traditional African vegetables that you will find common in the different parts of the region.
Yams, arrowroot, and sweet potatoes: These you will find across the different parts of the country. Again we use it for different dishes, including making it part of other dishes.
Peas, cowpeas and lentils: This is another one of the staple dishes you will find across the different regions. We like to incorporate them in the stews soups and stews.
Others: okra, spinach, cowpea leaves, and amaranth are just a few of the most common vegetables in Africa, you know.
4. Traditional dishes
There are a few dishes that are just unique to a few African countries. And in such cases, you will find it much easier almost all the time you visit these places.
Injera: This is a staple in Ethiopia, and they use sourdough to make the flatbread. They make it using teff flour; the toppings may range from meats, veggies and sauces.
Nyama Choma: it’s a special Kenyan grilled meat you want to try whenever you visit.
Jollof rice is unique to West Africa; of course, they make it unique to different countries.
Tagine: this is another one of the most common options that they cook in North Africa. It’s a slow-cooked stew pot.
5. The spices and condiments
We, too, have different spices that are unique to us and note that the spices we use then match the flavours we are reaching for in our food.
Harissa: it’s a spicy paste that they make using olive oil and chilli peppers, which is common in North Africa.
Groundnut sauce is a common meal addition in Uganda and neighbouring countries. It features the use of peanuts.
Pilau masala: is a blend unique for making the pilau dish famously eaten in Kenay.
Periperi: Here is a hot sauce that is common in the southern sense of Africa.
6. Teas and coffee
Our love for something we call mixed African tea is evident. Many of us cant a spend a day without taking mixed tea. Most people will drink this tea as an accompaniment to food or as part of breakfast.
Then we have coffee that is common among Ethiopians, which they take as part of their traditional cuisine and culture. Coffee drinking in Ethiopia is something you have to see to understand what I’m talking about.
7. Tropical fruits
We have authentic fruits for Africa, and of course, we take them as snacks. Mangos, for example, are juicy and rich in fibre. We also have pawpaw, guavas, oranges, avocado, and pineapple.
8. Snacks
There are great snacks that we all enjoy to eat. They vary from region to region but are usually like desserts as they are mostly sugar-based. You can have other styles of snacks, though. Candied peanuts, Kaimati, bhajia, and samosa are some of the most common.
There you go with the list of the most common foods Africans eat, and you can learn to enjoy them too.