Burkina Faso traditional foods are your answer to simple but satisfying meals. West Africa is known for its cultural diversity. One thing that brings out West African heritage is their food, and Burkina Faso has an amazing food culture. Cultural food enthusiasts would be delighted to share a Burkinabe meal in Ouagadougou. The food culture is delightful and mirrors the norms and traditions of the country.
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What is the National Drink of Burkina Faso?
Dolo [millet beer] is Burkina Faso’s most popular traditional beer, prepared from fermented millet. Most homes have this alcoholic drink ready. This millet beer is fresh with a mildly sour and earthy taste. Burkinabes enjoy it during local festivals, social gatherings and markets. It’s usually served in gourds or a calabash to retain the earthy taste. Dolo is as popular as the traditional foods of Burkina Faso.
What are the Most Common Burkina Faso Traditional Foods?
The traditional culinary practices in Burkina Faso project the country’s cultural traditions and its agricultural way of life. Burkinabé food consists of nutrient-rich traditional dishes made from native ingredients such as millet, sorghum, rice and peanuts. These are the 10 most popular traditional dishes in Burkina Faso.
1. Riz Gras (Oily Rice)
Riz Gras, a popular rice dish in Burkina Faso. Photo/YouTube
Riz gras serves as Burkina Faso’s culinary centerpiece. Riz is oily rice mixed with tomato sauce, onions, peppers and plenty of meat. Riz is the Jollof version of spicy rice in Ouagadougou.
2. Mafe
Mafe is one of the popular traditional Burkina Faso foods locally known as tigadeguena. Photo/
Mafe is one of the popular traditional Burkina Faso foods, locally known as tigadeguena. It is a meat stew, either prepared with lamb, beef or chicken and cooked in peanut sauce, together with sweet potatoes, vegetables and onions. You can add spices if you love your food spicy. The dish comes with two eating options, which include rice or tô made from millet starch. Peanut sauce provides this dish with a rich, nutty taste which is satisfying.
3. Tô
Tô is a millet, maize, and sorghum flour mixture cooked in water to form a thickly smooth paste. You will find it daily in most homes alongside an Okra stew, baoabab lead sauce and tomato sauce.
4. Attiéké
Burkina Faso traditional foods aren’t complete without Attieke, a fermented and grated cassava dish served with dried or fried fish. This West African dish has its origins in Côte d’Ivoire, but many Burkinabé people enjoy it. Attieke has a slightly sour taste that’s wiped away by the fish and tomato-onion salad.
5. Dégué (Dégé)
Dégué is a sweet and refreshing dessert made from millet grains and yogurt Photo/Discover Burkina Faso
Dégué is a sweet and refreshing dessert made from millet grains and yogurt (or fermented milk). Flavored with sugar and sometimes vanilla, it’s served cold and widely loved across the country. You’ll find it at street food stalls and local markets any time.
6. Samsa
Samsa has a special place among Burkina Faso traditional foods. Beyond this, it’s a popular street snack across the country. This is a deep-fried pastry filled with spiced meat or vegetables. Crispy on the outside and savory on the inside, samsa is a go-to for a quick bite or appetizer.
7. Poulet Bicyclette (Grilled Chicken)
Poulet bicyclette is grilled chicken marinated in a special Burkinabe sauce. Photo/Discover Burkina Faso
Poulet Bicyclette is grilled chicken over a charcoal stove. The chicken is marinated with spices before being grilled. Rice, fried plantains and a spicy sauce are common accompaniments for ‘bicycle chicken.’ Its smoky taste represents the real Burkina Faso traditional foods.
8. Gombo (Okra Sauce)
Gombo is a nutritious dipping sauce prepared with Okra, meat, fish and local spices. Many rural families enjoy this meal known for its thick texture and a hearty taste.
9. Yam Stew
Yams, onions, tomatoes and palm oil give a delicious yam stew. Yams are cooked in a thick tomato-onion paste. You will find it in the city and rural villages. Burkinabes love it because it is very satisfying.
What Food is Grown in Burkina Faso?
Maize, millet and sorghum are the most popular crops grown in Burkina Faso. Millet is the most consumed when looking at popular traditional Burkina Faso foods. Its popularity is largely because it’s drought-resistant. Dolo, Burkina Faso’s popular traditional beer, is prepared from fermented millet.
Tô, Burkina Faso’s version of fufu is also a millet product feeding millions of families in the country. It suffices to say that it’s a staple dish in Burkina Faso.
Popular traditional dishes in Burkina Faso have cultural significance. Food lovers view these dishes as an important medium connecting people to their roots. You can grab some of them – samsa and poulet bicyclette – in the streets.
