Top 4 Gabonese Foods

Muamba de galinha or chicken muamba is a Central African dish made with chicken, red palm oil sauce called muamba de dendem, garlic, okra and hot chile pepper. Palm oil gives the dish a specific flavor, while lycopene provides the red color. Studies have shown its various health benefits – it is rich in antioxidants, helpful in preventing heart disease, and regulates cholesterol. Since that part of Africa was a Portuguese colony for ages, Portuguese gastronomy had a great influence on the local cuisine, so as a result, many dishes are based on meat and palm oil. It can be made in spicy or mild versions, depending on personal preferences. The dish is traditionally accompanied by fungee (a starchy food prepared by boiling and stirring corn or cassava into a porridge) and tender cooked beans seasoned with palm oil and salt.Expand

Baked bananas are a typical African dessert that is especially popular in Gabon. There are numerous variations of the dish, but it is usually prepared by dipping sliced banana pieces in a combination of eggs and orange juice, then rolling them in breadcrumbs. The banana pieces are then fried in hot oil until they develop a golden color of the exterior. The dish can be served as a dessert or as an accompaniment to main dishes. When served as a dessert, it is traditionally sprinkled with brown sugar and served with a dollop of sour cream.Expand

Chakery is a sweet West African dessert with a creamy texture. It consists of couscous, milk, yogurt, and sour cream. Chakery is usually served at the end of an African meal, and it is recommended to add pineapple chunks in it for extra sweetness, then garnish the dish with some cinnamon on top.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