Top 3 Central African Foods

Egusi is a flavorful soup or sauce that is popular throughout West and Central Africa (most noteably Nigeria and Central African Republic) consisting of onions, tomatoes, hot chili peppers, and oil. It is traditionally thickened with flour that is made from seeds of gourds, pumpkins, melons, and squashes. The egusi is typically seasoned with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. When the soup or sauce develops a smooth consistency, it is then usually served with boiled vegetables, rice, or a variety of grilled fish and meat dishes.Expand

Maboké is a traditional fish dish originating from the Central African Republic. The dish is usually made with a combination of onions, garlic, tomatoes, hot peppers, parsley, salt, banana leaves, and fish such as Nile perch, tilapia, grouper, or catfish. The fish is filleted and steamed in banana leaves over a bed of garlic, onions, tomatoes, parsley, and hot peppers. Once steamed, the fish should be succulent and light. The dish is traditionally served with fried plantains and steamed rice on the side.Expand

Classified as both a soup and a sauce, dongo-dongo is a flavorful African dish that uses okra as the key ingredient. The dish is prepared by sautéeing onions, garlic, Maggi bouillon cubes, okra, and hot peppers. Water is added to the pot, along with dried, salted, or smoked fish, and either baking soda or tomato paste. The dish is simmered until the fish and okra are tender, and dongo-dongo is then typically served accompanied by starchy foods such as rice, fufu, or chikwangue. It is believed that dongo-dongo is a distant cousin of the popular Cajun-Creole gumbo.Expand