Culture Food

6 Delicious African Foods for Non-Africans

african foods for non-africans
Written by Abraham Odhiambo

From the West to East and North to South, there are plenty of African foods for non-Africans. The continent, which is known for its amazing landscapes, exciting cultures and beautiful people, has some of the most delicious meals you’ll ever taste. Africa is a continent that can claim to have invented cooking given the first “barbecue” might have taken place here.

African Foods for non-Africans

Recently, many of the continent’s favourite dishes have been popping up on menus worldwide. This is because they are delicious, powerfully nutritious and naturally meet the guidelines of experts. We have listed below the most popular African foods you can recommend to non-Africans.

1. Jollof Rice

Jollof rice

Nigerian Jollof rice. Photo/ 12 Tomatoes.

You must have heard about  Jollof Rice before coming across this article. It is West Africa’s most cherished dish, perfect for large celebrations or at home.There’s no doubt about its delightful nature among African foods for non-Africans. One of the fun debates on the social media of West African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana is about Jollof rice. Ghanaians argue that their Jollof is better than that of Nigeria, and Nigerians do the same. Whatever the case, Jollof rice is quite exquisite and tastes amazing. The dish is typically made with long-grain rice, meat, onions, tomatoes, spices and vegetables in a single pot. It is one of the African foods you should recommend non-Africans to try.

2. Tajine 

Tajine, a delicacy commonly eaten by Moroccan people, is a stew that contains a lot of meat and vegetables. It is named after the earthenware pot in which it is cooked and called maraq or marqa. You will always find tajine served with some sort of Moroccan bread which is not just a side accompaniment but the tool that is used to eat the dish.

Tajine

Tajine. Photo/ Melarossa.

3. Pap en vleis/Shisha Nyama

Pap en vleis, literally maize porridge and meat, is a combination dearly loved across many countries in Southern Africa. It is a colourful umbrella of a term that encompasses virtually any combination of starch and stewed or braaied meat with a side serving of relish, chakalaka or spicy gravy. This is one of the delicious African foods you should recommend to non-Africans.

4. Kitfo 

Ethiopian restaurants can be found all over Africa and, in fact, the whole world. This is because the East African country has some of the best dishes you will ever taste one of them being Kitfo.

Kitfo

Kitfo. Photo/ The Ethiopian Food.

Kitfo is a spiced raw beef dish that has been seasoned with Ethiopian spices such as mitmita (a chill powder blend) and niter kibbeh (clarified butter with herbs). The meaty Kitfo is so delicious that it even gets a reaction from Ethiopians, not just tourists who are having it for the first time.

5. Bunny Chow

Bunny Chow is not only one of the African foods for non-Africans but also a meal that satisfies the tastes of South Africans from all backgrounds. The beloved dish is an Indian-South African invention created out of necessity. It was originally vegetarian but is now often made with meat. Instead of on a plate with more traditional starches, the curry is ladled into a loaf of bread which acts as a takeaway container and accomplishment the main event.

6. Piri Piri Chicken

When visiting Mozambique, don’t focus too much on spicy prawns and seafood and miss on the iconic Galinha a Zambeziana. Most tourists simply refer to it as grilled chicken piri piri. This is a succulent feast of chicken cooked with lime, coconut milk, pepper, garlic and piri piri sauce. It is traditionally served with a dish of cassava leaves cooked in a peanut sauce. The delicious meal is one of the African foods you can recommend to non-Africans.

What Are Good African Foods?

  • Piri piri chicken
  • Bunny chow
  • Kapenta with sadza
  • Namibian vension

What Is the Most Common African Food?

  • Shakshouka
  • Jollof Rice
  • Fufu
  • Banku
  • Kenkey

What African Food Is Worth Trying For the First Time?

  • Droewors (Biltong)
  • Nigerian Jollof Rice
  • Authentic Injera
  • Tajine
  • Nyama Choma

What Food Has an African Influence?

Jambalaya (mixed rice, meat and vegetables), gombo (okra), hopping johns (peas) and feijoada (black beans and meat) are all dishes that have been re-adapted from Senegal, Guinea, Benin and Nigeria. Variations of these dishes can be found in American and the Caribbean region.

About the author

Abraham Odhiambo

Abraham Odhiambo is a writer with interests in nature, travel, African safari and sports. I'm pursuing a bachelor's degree in Media and Communication at Egerton University.

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