Top Ten Food in Nigeria

Nigeria is a country known for her varieties of food. People from different ethnic group have their own different types of food. For example, the Yoruba’s have the Amala and Ewedu soup accompanied with Gbegiri (beans soup). The Igbo are known for Abacha is a popular cassava dish as well as popular soups like Oha and Egusi soup. While the Hausa’s has Tuwo shinkafa. There is the general food everyone in Nigeria love, that is the Jollof rice.

If you are ever planning to travel to Nigeria or ever want to try a Nigerian dish, here are the list of top 10 Nigerian foods to try.

1. JOLLOF RICE AND CHICKEN

This is the most popular food in Nigeria. It is served at both homes and parties. Rice, cooking oil, and vegetables like tomato, onion, red pepper, garlic, ginger, and scotch bonnet are all used to make Jollof rice. Jollof rice is a popular dish in West Africa. There are different styles different countries cook it. There is always a Jollof rice war as each country always brag about theirs being the best. The meal is then accompanied by the protein of choice, as well as fried plantains, chicken, fish, moi moi, steamed vegetables, coleslaw, lettuce, and other side dishes.

2. MOI MOI

Moi moi is also a very popular food in Nigeria. It’s a high-protein snack that’s a Nigerian specialty. it ia made with beans, egg, pepper, sardines, fish etc. it can be eaten with other Nigerian food like Garri, Jollof rice, fried rice and even fried fish.

3. EGUSI SOUP

This is egusi soup which is common in the eastern part of Nigeria. Egusi is commonly eaten with swallows like pounded yam, Semolina, Eba and Fufu. Some people also enjoy it with boiled white rice. It is made with pumpkin seeds (egusi), pepper, onion, red oil, assorted meat , stock fish, meat stock and seasoning cubes. Egusi soup is rich in protein and unsaturated fats.

4. VEGETABLE SOUP (EFO RIRO)

The vegetable soup is popular with the eastern people of Nigeria. It is made with different types of vegetable leaves like spinach, water leaf, bitter leaf, pumpkin leaf and local green leaf. It also contains beef, assorted meat, scotch bonnet, stock fish, paprika and seasoning cube. it is rich in iron and vitamins. It can be eaten with any form of carbohydrates such as garri, rice, yam, pounded yam, semovita, wheat, etc.

5. OKRO SOUP

The Okro soup is popular with the eastern people of Nigeria. It is made with Okro seeds. It also contains beef, assorted meat, stock fish, paprika and seasoning cube. It can also be made with seafoods like carbs, shrimp etc. It is also rich in iron and vitamins . It can be eaten with forms of carbohydrates like garri, pounded yam, semovita, wheat, etc.

6.TILAPIA PEPPER SOUP

This is tilapia fish pepper soup. fish pepper soup is a very spicy soup which people enjoy as appetiser or as a side dish while drinking. It is made with tilapia fish, saint leaf and lemon grass which gives the soup a delicious flavour, chilli pepper for the spice and pepper soup spice. Fish pepper soup is taken by all tribes in Nigeria.

7. GOAT MEAT PEPPER SOUP

This is goat meat pepper soup. Like the fish pepper soup, goat meat pepper soup is a very spicy soup which people also enjoy as appetiser or as a side dish while drinking. The soup is made with goat meat, scent leaf and lemon grass which gives the soup a delicious flavour, chilli pepper for the spice and pepper soup spice. Goat pepper soup is taken by most tribes in Nigeria.

8. AMALA WITH EWEDU AND GBEGIRI SOUP

Amala with ewedu and Gbegiri soup is popular in the western (Yoruba) part of Nigeria. Gbegiri is a delectable soup made from  beans. Beans are a must-have in our daily diets because they are naturally low in calories, rich in antioxidants and fiber, and full of cholesterol-free protein. Ewedu (Jute) is a wonderful leafy vegetable condiment that pairs well with Amala and other swallow foods. Ewedu is rich in vitamins and an effective fat burner. Amala is made with either yam powder or plantain powder. It is rich in carbohydrate and protein.

9. FISH AND PLANTAIN

This is a food that is common in the southern part of Nigeria. This is grilled tilapia fish and plantain with pepper sauce as a side dish. It is rich in protein, mineral and vitamins.

10. GROUNDNUT OR PEANUT SOUP

Although groundnut soup is now common throughout Nigeria, it originated in the northern part of the country, where it is known as “miyar gyada” and is a staple at special occasions such as weddings and funerals. It is eaten with different types of swallow like garri, fufu, pounded yam, semovita etc. It is rich in vitamins, calcium, potassium and proteins.