Home›Dishes›Cuisine›Nigerian CuisineCuisineNigerian CuisineSub-Saharan African CuisinesReference and ClassificationVerifiedNigerian cuisine originates from the hundreds of native African ethnic groups that make up Nigeria, a country of 371 recognized ethnic groups each contributing its own cooking methods, ingredients and ceremonial food practice. The cuisine is known for being savory and spicy, using spices and herbs together with palm oil or groundnut oil to build deeply flavored sauces and soups, and its feasts range from elaborate ceremonial meals to abundant roadside snacks prepared by barbecue or frying. Native crops including yam, African rice, black eyed peas, millet, sorghum, okra and egusi sit alongside cassava and maize introduced through trade, and indigenous fruits such as the African star apple, African mango and garden egg remain important. Meals typically pair a carbohydrate base, rice, yam or potato, with a protein such as beef, goat, fish or chicken, in dishes including jollof rice, egusi and banga soups, pounded yam and asaro, and cassava preparations such as fufu and eba, with watermelon, pineapple, coconut, banana, orange, papaya and mango among the fruits that round out the diet.FactsNigerian CuisineFAQsConnectionsIn the Other AtlasesSourcesTake a Related QuizComments (0)Reader Challenges (0)FactsSignature TechniqueWell-attestedSourced to the subject's own accountSpices and herbs are cooked with palm oil or groundnut oil to build deeply flavored sauces and soups, as in other West African cuisines. 1Origin RegionWell-attestedSourced to the subject's own accountNigeria, home to hundreds of native African ethnic groups across West Africa. 1Nigerian CuisineFilter Results31 entriesDish FamilyAllAfrican Salads (1)European Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Sub-Saharan African Grain Dishes (10)Sub-Saharan African Noodles and Dumplings (2)Sub-Saharan African Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (5)Sub-Saharan African Soups (9)Sub-Saharan African Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (3)Main IngredientAllBlack-Eyed Pea (3)Butter (1)Cassava (3)Catfish (1)Chicken (1)Chili Pepper (1)Crayfish (2)Egg (1)Fish (1)Flour (1)Maize (1)Meat (3)Millet (2)Onion (2)Palm Oil (6)Peanut (2)Periwinkle (1)Red Onion (1)Rice (1)Sorghum (1)Sugar (1)Tomato (1)Turkey (1)Vegetable (5)Vegetable Oil (2)Water (3)Yam (2)Yeast (1)Era (Origin Period)All800 (1)1852 (1)1920 (1)TraditionAllFermentation (1)Funeral and Memorial Foods (1)Halal (Islamic Dietary Law) (1)Salt Curing, Smoking and Drying (1)Street Food Culture (5)Wedding Feast Traditions (1)Format/TypeAllAfrican Salads (1)European Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (1)Sub-Saharan African Grain Dishes (10)Sub-Saharan African Noodles and Dumplings (2)Sub-Saharan African Roasted, Grilled and Fried Dishes (5)Sub-Saharan African Soups (9)Sub-Saharan African Stews, Braises and Sauced Dishes (3)CourseAllSide Dish (2)Snack or Street Food (5)Soup (10)Dietary SuitabilityAllContains Dairy or Egg (1)Contains Fish or Shellfish (1)Contains Meat or Poultry (2)Origin RegionAllAfrica (1)Benin (2)Cameroon (2)Europe (1)Ghana (1)Liberia (1)Nigeria (29)Sierra Leone (1)Togo (2)West Africa (1)Yorubaland (4)Show ResultsBrowseCompareSelect all 31Abacha (food)Nigerian CuisineAfang soupNigerian CuisineAkaraNigerian CuisineAmalaNigerian CuisineAsaroNigerian CuisineAtama soupNigerian CuisineDan WakeNigerian CuisineEbaNigerian CuisineEdikang ikongNigerian CuisineEfo RiroNigerian CuisineEkuruNigerian CuisineEkwangNigerian CuisineEwa AganyinNigerian CuisineGbegiriNigerian CuisineGizdodoNigerian CuisineIsi ewuNigerian CuisineKokoNigerian CuisineKuli-kuliNigerian CuisineNkwobiNigerian CuisineOfada riceNigerian CuisineOfe NsalaNigerian CuisineOgbono SoupNigerian CuisineOgi (food)Nigerian CuisinePalaver SauceNigerian CuisinePalm Nut SoupNigerian CuisinePottageNigerian CuisinePounded YamNigerian CuisinePuff-PuffNigerian CuisineSuyaNigerian CuisineTuwon shinkafaNigerian CuisineUkwaNigerian CuisineFAQsWhat oils give Nigerian sauces and soups their characteristic flavor?Palm oil or groundnut oil.Nigerian cooking builds its deeply flavored sauces and soups from spices and herbs cooked with palm oil or groundnut oil, a technique shared with other West African cuisines. Nigeria itself is home to hundreds of native African ethnic groups, each contributing its own cooking methods and ingredients.ConnectionsFeatures DishAbacha (food), Dishes Well-attested Source Abacha (food) (Wikipedia)Afang soup, Dishes Well-attested Source Afang soup (Wikipedia)Akara, Dishes Well-attested Source Akara (Wikipedia)tier 2Amala, Dishes Well-attested Source Amala (food) (Wikipedia)tier 2Asaro, Dishes Well-attested Source Asaro (Wikipedia)Atama soup, Dishes Well-attested Source Atama soup (Wikipedia)Dan Wake, Dishes Well-attested Source Dan wake (Wikipedia)Eba, Dishes Well-attested Source Eba (Wikipedia)Edikang ikong, Dishes Well-attested Source Edikang ikong (Wikipedia)Efo Riro, Dishes Well-attested Source Efo Riro (Wikipedia)tier 3Ekuru, Dishes Well-attested Source Ekuru (Wikipedia)Ekwang, Dishes Well-attested Source Ekwang - WikipediaEwa Aganyin, Dishes Well-attested Source Ewa aganyin (Wikipedia)Gbegiri, Dishes Well-attested Source Gbegiri (Wikipedia)Gizdodo, Dishes Well-attested Source Gizdodo (Wikipedia)Isi ewu, Dishes Well-attested Source Isi ewu (Wikipedia)Koko, Dishes Well-attested Source Koko (millet porridge) (Wikipedia)Kuli-kuli, Dishes Well-attested Source Kuli-kuli (Wikipedia)Nkwobi, Dishes Well-attested Source Nkwobi (Wikipedia)Ofada rice, Dishes Well-attested Source Ofada rice (Wikipedia)Ofe Nsala, Dishes Well-attested Source Ofe Nsala (Wikipedia)Ogbono Soup, Dishes Well-attested Source Ogbono soup - WikipediaOgi (food), Dishes Well-attested Source Ogi (food) (Wikipedia)Palaver Sauce, Dishes Well-attested Source Wikipedia: Palaver saucePalm Nut Soup, Dishes Well-attested Source Palm nut soup - WikipediaPottage, Dishes Well-attested Source Pottage - WikipediaPounded Yam, Dishes Well-attested Source Pounded yam (Wikipedia)Puff-Puff, Dishes Well-attested Source Puff-puff (Wikipedia)Suya, Dishes Well-attested Tuwon shinkafa, Dishes Well-attested Source Tuwon shinkafa (Wikipedia)Ukwa, Dishes Well-attested Source Ukwa (Wikipedia)Uses IngredientCassava, Ingredients Well-attested Source Larousse Gastronomiquetier 1Palm Oil, Ingredients Well-attested Source Larousse Gastronomiquetier 1In the Other AtlasesOriginated InNigeriaAlso in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.Source Nigerian Cuisine (Wikipedia)tier 3Sources1. Nigerian Cuisine (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaIntroductionQuote, IntroductionLike other West African cuisines, it uses spices and herbs with palm oil or groundnut oil to create deeply flavored sauces and soups.View the SourceAfang soup (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Afang soup, Wikipedia summary extract, opening sentenceView the SourceLarousse Gastronomiquetier 1Hamlyn, 2009Uses Ingredient: Cassava, entry: CassavaUses Ingredient: Palm Oil, entry: Palm OilAkara (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaFeatures Dish: Akara, Wikipedia category listView the SourcePuff-puff (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Puff-Puff, Wikipedia category listView the SourceWikipedia: Palaver sauceFeatures Dish: Palaver Sauce, Wikipedia category listView the SourceNkwobi (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Nkwobi, Wikipedia category listView the SourcePounded yam (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Pounded Yam, Wikipedia category listView the SourceGbegiri (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Gbegiri, Wikipedia category listView the SourceAsaro (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Asaro, Wikipedia category listView the SourceEkwang - WikipediaFeatures Dish: Ekwang, Wikipedia category listView the SourcePottage - WikipediaFeatures Dish: Pottage, Wikipedia category listView the SourceAtama soup (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Atama soup, Wikipedia category listView the SourceKuli-kuli (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Kuli-kuli, Wikipedia category listView the SourceAbacha (food) (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Abacha (food), Wikipedia category listView the SourceEba (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Eba, Wikipedia category listView the SourceTuwon shinkafa (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Tuwon shinkafa, infobox national_cuisine fieldQuote, Features Dish: Tuwon shinkafa, infobox national_cuisine fieldNigerian cuisineView the SourceEfo Riro (Wikipedia)tier 3WikipediaFeatures Dish: Efo Riro, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Efo Riro, lead paragraphEfo riro (Yoruba: ẹ̀fọ́ riro) is a vegetable soup and a native soup of the Yoruba people of South West Nigeria and other parts of Yorubaland.View the SourceOgbono soup - WikipediaFeatures Dish: Ogbono Soup, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Ogbono Soup, lead paragraphOgbono soup is a staple soup in Nigerian cuisine.View the SourceKoko (millet porridge) (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Koko, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Koko, lead paragraphIt is a popular Nigerian Ghanaian Togolese street food and commonly consumed as a breakfast meal.View the SourceOfe Nsala (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Ofe Nsala, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Ofe Nsala, lead paragraphOfe Nsala , also known as white soup, and called nsala soup, is a delicacy that originates from the eastern part (Ala Igbo) of Nigeria.View the SourceOgi (food) (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Ogi (food), lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Ogi (food), lead paragraphOgi, pap, eko, koko or akamu is a cereal pudding and street food in Nigeria, Benin and Togo., typically made from maize, sorghum, or millet.View the SourceOfada rice (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Ofada rice, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Ofada rice, lead paragraphOfada rice is a Yoruba Nigerian dish.View the SourceGizdodo (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Gizdodo, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Gizdodo, lead paragraphGizdodo is a Yoruba Nigerian delicacy made of gizzard and dodo (fried plantain); this is a side dish eaten at home, picnic or for special occasions.View the SourceEwa aganyin (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Ewa Aganyin, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Ewa Aganyin, lead paragraphEwa aganyin (Yoruba) (also spelled as Ewa agoyin) is a Yoruba dish commonly eaten in Yorubaland across Togo, Nigeria and Benin.View the SourceEkuru (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Ekuru, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Ekuru, lead paragraphEkuru is a cuisine native to the Yoruba people in Nigeria, Benin, Togo.View the SourceDan wake (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Dan Wake, lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Dan Wake, lead paragraphDanwake (dahn WAH-kay), also known as bean dumpling, is a dish of boiled cowpea flour dumplings from the northern part of Nigeria.View the SourceEdikang ikong (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Edikang ikong, Lead sectionQuote, Features Dish: Edikang ikong, Lead sectionoriginated among the Efik people of Cross River State and Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State in NigeriaView the SourcePalm nut soup - WikipediaFeatures Dish: Palm Nut Soup, Lead sectionQuote, Features Dish: Palm Nut Soup, Lead sectioncommon in Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo and Ivory CoastView the SourceIsi ewu (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Isi ewu, Infobox: countryQuote, Features Dish: Isi ewu, Infobox: countryNigeriaView the SourceAmala (food) (Wikipedia)tier 2WikipediaFeatures Dish: Amala, Lead sectionQuote, Features Dish: Amala, Lead sectionoriginating from and popularized by the Yoruba ethnic group of southwestern NigeriaView the SourceUkwa (Wikipedia)Features Dish: Ukwa, Lead paragraphQuote, Features Dish: Ukwa, Lead paragraphIt is a traditional and respected food particularly amongst the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria.The seeds can be eaten fresh or roasted, but are most commonly prepared as a porridge cooked with Potash (ankawu), palm oil, and seasonings.View the SourceTake a Related QuizSignature Techniques of World CuisinesIncludes a question about Nigerian Cuisine.Comments (0)No comments yet. 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