Top 6 African Deep-fried Dishes

Maakouda are traditional potato fritters that are popular throughout the Maghreb, especially in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The fritters are usually prepared plain, but they can also be stuffed with meat, tuna, or cheese, although not that often. They're made with potatoes, parsley, garlic, flour, salt, and pepper. The potatoes are boiled, mashed, and mixed with other ingredients into small disks which are then deep-fried in hot oil until golden brown. Maakouda is traditionally served as an appetizer, a side dish, or an ingredient in a long sandwich roll that's usually sold as street food and served with harissa, coriander, and lemon juice. The fritters are especially popular during the month of Ramadan.Expand

Vetkoek is an iconic South African street food item consisting of deep-fried yeast buns that are usually filled with cheese, curry, or fruit jams. It can be served as a small snack, for breakfast or lunch. The ball-shaped dough is made from salt, yeast, and flour. When served at a South African braai, vetkoek is often served with boerewors, a traditional sausage. You can also serve them as they are, or with a cup of tea on the side.Expand

Kuli-kuli is Benin's national dish, also popular in Nigeria and Ghana, providing nutrition, protein, and sustenance to the poor and often malnourished locals who have limited access to food. This simple meal consists of ground, smashed peanuts that are shaped into balls or biscuits which are deep-fried in their own oils. Prior to frying, the paste is mixed with salt, pepper, and some spices, if available. To put it simply, it is deep-fried peanut butter. The finished product doesn't look appetizing, but it tastes quite good, with golden brown fritters drained and served either hot or cold and eaten as a snack. Kuli-kuli can also be sprinkled over salads or accompanied by koko, fura, kamu, or with a blend of garri, sugar and water, called garri soakings.Expand

Muqmad or odkac is a traditional dish consisting of preserved meat, which keeps for up to a year. It's also a great source of protein and energy for the nomads. The meat is first cut into strips and dried in the sun. After a few days, the meat is cut into tiny cubes, deep-fried, then preserved in a wooden container. Muqmad is traditionally prepared for weddings, when it's placed in a specially designed container known as xeedho, which is often decorated with seashells and leather. It is recommended to eat muqmad with lahoh, a spongy flatbread, although the preserved meat can also be consumed on its own.Expand

This popular dish from Mozambique consists of deep-fried balls of rice filled with savory ingredients such as shrimp, garlic, and onions. Fofo balls are traditionally dipped in eggs and rolled in breadcrumbs, then fried in hot oil. The dish is served warm, and it is recommended to arrange the balls attractively on a heated platter.Expand

Hakien is a traditional Mauritian dish consisting of a batter-dipped, deep-fried flour dough wrapper filled with ingredients such as pork, prawns, vegetables, or chicken. Due to similarities with the famous Chinese spring rolls, it is safe to say that hakien was influenced by Chinese cuisine. It is commonly served as an appetizer, with a chili-garlic sauce or a chutney on the side, used for dipping.Expand