30 Best African Foods: Delicious Recipes You Can Try At Home🌍 (2024)

African foods offer a dynamic, vibrant, and flavorful treat.

The region has so much to offer as the variety of these foods can come in handy on different occasions.

For some, it may seem exotic, but the rich use of spices and other ingredients just creates a totally unique yet worthwhile tasting experience.

From the classic African casserole, Bobotie, and West African Vegetable & Peanut Stew to Atakilt Wat and Couscous.

This list of 30 African recipes can provide you with a better insight into the intense flavor that the region usually offers.

#26 on the list might even turn out to be your go-to chicken salad.

Enjoy!

Bobotie is a classic casserole that consists of curried ground beef and a creamy egg custard topping that showcases a combination of spicy, zingy, savory, and aromatic flavors.

This meal is a common staple in terms of African recipes.

Give this recipe a go and enjoy the flavor at home!

This dish is also called groundnut stew, maafe, or domoda.

Cooked with lots of vegetables, the distinct flavor of this stew is highlighted by the creamy peanut butter.

This dish is a perfect choice for a family meal as it is typically consumed from a large communal bowl.

This stew is best served over rice or couscous.

Biltong is beef jerky and has been considered somewhat a “national food”.

This dish is consistently present in different lists of top African recipes and has good reason to do so.

Try making this at home, and you’ll understand why.

When translated, Boerewors literally means “Farmers Sausage”.

This dish oozes with the flavors of salt, coriander, vinegar, and a variety of unique spices.

If you want to make your BBQ a little bit different the next time around, you’ll enjoy treating your friends and family with Boerewors.

The Cape Malay Chicken Curry is typically eaten without using utensils.

This dish is filled with a mix of spices and offers a unique combination of sweet and spicy flavors.

Try serving this for a special occasion.

You won’t regret it!

Malva Pudding is a dessert that is spongy on the inside and caramelized on the outside.

It is usually soaked in butter sauce and comes with ice cream or whipped cream.

This is one dish that typically comes to mind when you think of dessert.

Let your family indulge in this tasty treat.

The Chakalaka is a South African recipe that mainly consists of vegetables mixed with spices and tomatoes.

This versatile dish gives out delicious flavors and can be consumed either as a relish, a condiment, or a side dish.

It can be eaten any day of the week or served during huge celebrations or occasions.

Bunny Chow is a popular meal that can be eaten fairly quickly.

Traditionally, the Bunny Chow is served in a scooped loaf of bread.

This is one of those dishes that will leave you wanting more!

Wanted to try a co*cktail mixed with a milkshake?

Dom Pedro is a delicious blend that can help turn your dinner party into a memorable occasion.

Whether you want to consider this a beverage or a dessert, you’ll definitely have a treat!

This is just too good!

The name of this recipe is already a clue!

Melktert is the South African counterpart or version of milk tart.

This tasty delight has been present in the region since the Dutch arrived in the 1700s

This sweet treat is basically like a braided doughnut.

After being cooked crisp, these doughnuts are soaked in syrup that has a sweetly spiced taste.

Not only does it look good when cooked, it definitely tastes good as well!

Doro Wat is a stew that is packed with a distinct flavor.

It consists of tender cooked chicken, spiced sauce, and boiled eggs.

If you want a distinct Ethiopian dish, Doro Wat is definitely a must-try!

If you want to try out a signature food from Zimbabwe, Sadza should be one of the dishes on top of your list.

Typically, this porridge is made using white maize or cornmeal.

Chermoula is a common fish marinade that has been widely used in fish dishes in Morocco and most of North Africa.

Although it is famous as a fish marinade, it can also be used on shellfish and chicken.

Chermoula is best served fresh but can also be stored for future use.

This dish is popular in Tanzania and Kenya.

Pilau is cooked by mixing rice with beef, vegetables, or chicken, in broth.

It showcases a brown rice color because of the combination of the ingredients.

Apricot Blatjang is one of the classic South African recipes influenced by a number of nations.

It is a popular dish as it also serves as a great condiment with meat dishes such as braai and bobotie.

season, make sure to bookmark this recipe.

This is an African dish that you should never miss out on!

If you want to try any Senegal dish, Thieboudienne should be your number one choice!

The combination of fish and rice is highlighted by the incredible layers of flavor.

This is as authentic as it gets when it comes to Senegalese cuisine.

Cachupa is a signature dish in Cape Verde.

It’s said that anyone who grew up in a Cape Verdean household has had this dish even as a child, so it’s a good place to start if you’d like to immerse yourself in their culture.

This slow-cooked stew is usually composed of beans, hominy, vegetables, and seasoned meats.

The Vegetable Tajine is a stew that oozes classic Moroccan flavors.

The mixture of sweet and savory blends well with the effect of the spices.

This specific recipe is served best with pita bread or couscous.

Another Moroccan treat, the Matbucha, is a pepper and tomato dip that goes well with North African and even Middle-Eastern tapas.

The blend of peppers, tomatoes, olive oil, paprika, and garlic showcases a great treat for those who like spicy foods.

If you crave a delicious, filling, and comforting meal, Ful Medames is one dish that can satisfy them all.

This incredible Egyptian dish is made up of fava beans, spices, and onions.

Ful Medames is best served with cut vegetables and pita bread.

Soaked Garri is Nigeria’s version of the cereal.

It can be consumed in different ways, such as a cold beverage, a cereal, or eaten with different Nigerian soups.

This was labeled as a poor man’s food, but this meal’s taste has made it a popular choice!

Nigerian Egusi Soup is made up of leafy vegetables and ground melon seeds.

This soup is a common staple in Nigerian tribes and is usually paired with dishes such as pounded yams.

It goes well with beef, goat, fish, or shellfish.

If you are craving a unique chicken salad, you could never go wrong with this Tunisian dish!

The combination of Tunisian smoked paprika, caraway, turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne blends well with chicken cutlets and produces a flavorful meal.

This is one of the most revered African recipes because it is easy to prepare, and the taste is just amazing!

Kelewele is a popular dish from Ghana that consists of spiced fried plantains.

This simple Baked Kelewele recipe is easy to prepare.

Make sure to serve it with roasted peanuts.

Among all the African recipes, one of the most common is the Jollof rice, as it is present in different African countries.

This Nigerian Jollof Rice recipe takes it up a notch by offering a tastier treat.

Atakilt Wat is an Ethiopian stew made up of carrot, potato, and cabbage.

This hearty dish is perfect as a gluten-free option.

Not only is it easy to make, but it tastes great as well.

Couscous pairs well with many African dishes.

It is a side dish composed of steamed balls of crushed durum wheat.

The bottom line

African recipes have distinct, flavorful, savory, and amazing tastes.

As you may have noticed from the list, there is a diverse choice of stews, desserts, and rice recipes.

That is the reflection of the rich culture and tradition amongst the various African countries epitomized through food.

So, if you want to treat friends and family to a signature meal from North, South, East, or West Africa, don’t hesitate to check the African recipes on this list.

Looking for more African food options, we’ve compiled a list of 23 BEST African Desserts that you should definitely check out.