When most people think of Nigerian food, they think of large, elaborate dishes that are time-consuming and difficult to make. However, there is a whole other world of street foods in Nigeria that’s worth trying. From spicy snacks to delicious desserts, here are some street foods you should try while in Nigeria.
1. Plantain chips (Kpekere): These crispy, salty chips are made from unripe plantains that are deep-fried until golden brown. Popularly hawked on highways, parks or sold in cans or nylons at stores. They make a great snack on their own.
2. Suya: This is a kebab-like dish made with beef, chicken or ram that has been marinated in a peanut sauce and grilled over an open flame. Suya is typically served on a bed of onions and peppers and can be found all over Nigeria.
3. Akara: These are fried bean cakes that are popular for breakfast or as a snack. Akara is usually made with beans like brown beans or white beans can also be used. The batter is usually simple, consisting of just onions, salt and pepper and fried in oil. This is usually served paired with bread (soft) or pap(akamu).
4. Agege bread: This soft, fluffy bread is named after the Agege district in Lagos where it originates from. It’s often served with stew or beans (Ewa Agoyin) and makes for a filling meal.
5. Abacha (African Salad): This meal is is one of those meals that are prepared with lots of ingredients. Cassava is the major ingredient before other ingredients such as potash, crayfish, palm oil etc. are added. Check here on how it’s made.
6. Puff Puff: These are fried dough balls that are popular in West Africa, Nigeria especially. The dough is made with flour, yeast, sugar and salt and then deep-fried until golden brown. Puff puff can be served plain or dusted with sugar.
7. Boli and Epa/sauce: This is a popular street food snack consisting of roasted plantain (boli) and groundnut (epa) eaten together or served with a spicy pepper sauce and fish. It’s a filling meal that will definitely leave you wanting more.
8. Roasted or Boiled corn: Corn on the cob is a popular street food in Nigeria that can be found being sold at markets or hawked by roadside vendors. It is a seasonal food. The corn is either roasted over an open flame or boiled and then served with either coconut or Ube (Pear).
9. Gala: Gala is a type of sausage roll that consists of ground beef and spices wrapped in dough and deep-fried. It’s a popular snack food in Nigeria and can be found at most roadside vendors and even in stores. Most people prefer to pair it with a cold bottle of Lacasera or any drink available. You may be wondering what this looks like, see it here.
10. Garden egg and roasted groundnut: Garden egg is a type of eggplant that is popular in Nigeria. It’s often sold together with roasted groundnut. This combination makes for a delicious and healthy snack.
11. Bread and Egg (Meshayi): This is a popular street food in Nigeria popularly called Hausa street food. It consists of bread and egg fried together and served with tea or eaten alone. It’s usually taken as breakfast or dinner. Here’s how it is made: Meshayi
12. Fura da Nono: This is a traditional Nigerian drink made from cow’s milk, nono (a fermented milk product similar to yoghurt) and fura (made from milet). It’s a refreshing drink that can be found being sold from calabash converted with mat using scopes made from calabash.
Nigeria is a street food lover’s paradise. If you’re looking for an authentic Nigerian culinary experience, be sure to try the street foods listed above! Have you tried any of these street foods? What was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Some of our restaurants like ÍDÓMÓ serves some of these street foods and you can enjoy this meal at a 10% discount offer. To make your reservations now and enjoy this discount offer, click here.
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