Easy African Recipes

Flavor, color, and culture abound in African cuisine 🌍🍲. Many dishes are actually quite simple to make at home with basic ingredients. Here’s a list of easy African recipes you can try:

1. Jollof Rice (West Africa)

• What it is: A one-pot rice dish cooked in a rich tomato and pepper sauce.
• Key Ingredients:
  • Rice
  • Tomatoes
  • Bell peppers
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Oil
  • Chicken (optional)
  • Spices (paprika, thyme, curry powder)
• Why it’s easy: Everything cooks in one pot, making cleanup simple.

2. Ugali (Kenya, Tanzania, East Africa)

• What it is: A stiff maize (cornmeal) porridge served with stews or vegetables.
• Key ingredients: cornmeal, water, and salt.
• Why it’s easy: Only three ingredients! Like making polenta.

3. South African chakalaka

• What it is: A spicy vegetable relish often served with bread, rice, or meat.
• Key Ingredients: Carrots, beans, cabbage, bell peppers, onions, curry powder, and tomatoes.
• Why it’s easy: chop veggies, sauté, and simmer.

4. Moroccan Couscous

• What it is: Fluffy couscous with vegetables and spices.
• Key Ingredients: Couscous, carrots, zucchini, chickpeas, onion, cumin, cinnamon, and olive oil.
• Couscous cooks in minutes, and the vegetables have a mild spice.

5. Nigerian Puff-Puff (street snack)

• What it is: Sweet fried dough balls.
• Key Ingredients: flour, sugar, yeast, nutmeg, water, oil.
• Why it’s easy: Mix dough, let it rise, and fry until golden.

6. Ethiopian Misir Wot (Red Lentil Stew)

• What it is: A spicy lentil stew flavored with berbere spices.
• Key Ingredients:
  • Red lentils
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Ginger
  • Tomato paste
  • Berbere spice (or paprika + chili powder)
• Why it’s easy: Lentils cook fast; it’s a healthy one-pot dish.

7. South African Bunny Chow

• What it is: A hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry.
• Key Ingredients: Bread loaf, chicken or beef curry (onion, garlic, curry powder, tomatoes).
• Why it’s easy: You make a basic curry and serve it in bread.

8. West African Groundnut Stew (Peanut Stew)

• What it is: A creamy peanut butter-based stew with chicken or vegetables.
• Key Ingredients: Peanut butter, tomatoes, onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, chicken (optional).
• Why it’s easy: It uses pantry staples and simmers into a thick, flavorful stew.

✨ Tip: Many African dishes go well with rice, flatbreads, or plantains. Once you master a base, you can mix and match the flavors!

Would you like me to create a 1-week African meal plan with easy recipes so you can try different dishes every day?