25 Unique African Recipes to Try

Chicken Yassa Chicken Yassa is a tangy and spicy dish from Senegal that features marinated chicken cooked with onions and peppers. Ingredients: 4 chicken thighs 2 large onions, sliced 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 2 lemons, juiced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cloves of garlic, minced 1 teaspoon thyme Salt and pepper to taste Cooking method: In a large bowl, combine chicken thighs, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Marinate for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Sauté onions in a pan until soft, then remove and set aside. In the same pan, cook the marinated chicken until browned. Add the onions back to the pan and cover with a lid, simmering for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot with rice or couscous. Jollof Rice Jollof Rice is a vibrant and flavorful West African dish, commonly served at celebrations, featuring rice cooked with tomatoes and spices. Ingredients: 2 cups of long-grain rice 1 can of tomatoes 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 onion, chopped 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon curry powder 3 cups chicken stock Salt and pepper to taste Cooking method: Blend tomatoes, red bell pepper, and onion into a smooth puree. In a pot, sauté the puree with tomato paste, thyme, and curry powder. Add rice and chicken stock, stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is cooked. Fluff rice before serving. Bobotie Bobotie is a traditional South African dish made with spiced ground meat baked with an egg-based topping. Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef 1 onion, chopped 2 slices of bread, soaked in milk 2 tablespoons curry powder 1 tablespoon sugar 1/4 cup raisins 2 eggs 1 cup milk Salt and pepper to taste Cooking method: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Sauté onions until soft, then add ground beef and cook until browned. Stir in curry powder, sugar, raisins, and soaked bread. Transfer mixture to a baking dish. Beat eggs with milk, pour over meat mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Egusi Soup Egusi Soup is a rich West African stew made with ground melon seeds and leafy greens. Ingredients: 1 cup ground egusi seeds 1 lb assorted meat (beef, tripe) 2 cups spinach or kale 1 onion, chopped 2 tomatoes, chopped 1 tablespoon ground crayfish 2 tablespoons palm oil Salt to taste Cooking method: Boil the meat in a pot until tender, then set aside. In another pot, heat palm oil and sauté onions and tomatoes. Add ground crayfish and egusi seeds, stirring well. Add the cooked meat and a cup of water, simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the spinach or kale, cook until wilted. Season with salt and serve. Piri Piri Chicken Piri Piri Chicken is a spicy Mozambican dish known for its flavorful marinade made with piri piri peppers. Ingredients: 4 chicken quarters 4 piri piri peppers or chili peppers 4 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon paprika Salt to taste Cooking method: Blend piri piri peppers, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and paprika into a smooth sauce. Marinate chicken quarters in the sauce for at least 1 hour. Preheat grill or oven to 375°F (190°C). Grill or bake chicken for 30-35 minutes until cooked through. Serve hot with your choice of sides. Bunny Chow Bunny Chow is a popular South African street food consisting of hollowed-out bread filled with spicy curry. Ingredients: 4 small loaves of bread 1 lb chicken or lamb, diced 1 onion, chopped 2 tomatoes, chopped 2 tablespoons curry powder 1 tablespoon ginger, minced Salt to taste Fresh cilantro for garnish Cooking method: In a pot, sauté onions with ginger until fragrant. Add chopped tomatoes and curry powder, cook until tomatoes soften. Stir in meat, cooking until browned and tender. Hollow out bread loaves, fill with the curry mixture. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving. Kachumbari Kachumbari is a fresh and tangy Kenyan salad made with tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers. Ingredients: 3 tomatoes, diced 1 red onion, sliced 1 chili pepper, finely chopped 1 tablespoon lemon juice Salt and pepper to taste Fresh cilantro for garnish Cooking method: In a bowl, mix diced tomatoes, sliced onion, and chopped chili pepper. Drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Toss well and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve chilled as a side dish. Moroccan Couscous Moroccan Couscous is a fluffy, fragrant dish often paired with vegetables and spices for a hearty meal. Ingredients: 2 cups couscous 2 cups vegetable broth 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 zucchini, chopped 1 carrot, chopped Salt and pepper to taste Cooking method: Bring vegetable broth to a boil, and stir in couscous with cumin and cinnamon. Remove from heat, cover, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and mix in chopped zucchini and carrot. Season with salt and pepper, serve warm. Biltong Biltong is a South African snack made from dried, spiced meat, similar to jerky. Ingredients: 2 lbs beef or game meat 2 tablespoons coriander seeds 1 tablespoon black pepper 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 cup vinegar Cooking method: Slice meat into strips, marinate in vinegar for an hour. Crush coriander seeds and mix with salt and black pepper. Rub the spice mixture onto the meat strips. Hang the meat to dry in a well-ventilated area for 3-5 days. Slice and serve as a snack. Mandazi Mandazi is a slightly sweet, fried bread from East Africa, often enjoyed as a snack or breakfast. Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon cardamom 1/2 cup coconut milk Oil for frying Cooking method: In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and cardamom. Gradually add coconut milk to form a dough. Roll out dough and cut into triangles. Heat oil in a pan and fry the dough until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.