Christmas in Nigeria is a family event, a time when lots of family members come together to celebrate and have fun. The period before, during and after Christmas Day is marked by conviviality, merriment, wining and dining. The dominant activities during the festivity in Nigeria include eating traditional cuisine, sharing of gifts and cards as well as visiting friends, family, and places of interest. Many families, that live in cities, travel to the villages where their grandparents and older relatives live. Many different languages are spoken in Nigeria, so the greeting for Happy/Merry Christmas varies. For example, in Hausa it is 'barka dà Kirsìmatì' and in Yoruba it is 'E ku odun, e ku iye'dun'.
End-of-the-year festive season in Nigeria reflects the joy and excitement of the holiday. Nigerians typically decorate their homes and streets for Christmas with various items such as tinsel, baubles, fairy lights, and garlands. They also put up artificial Christmas trees in their homes and send Christmas cards to their friends and family members. Some public places like shopping malls, museums, and churches display holiday symbols such as Santa, angels, and gift boxes. Children also enjoy playing with firecrackers and fireworks during the festive season.
There are many delicious and festive dishes that Nigerians make during the festive period ranging from chicken to turkey, to various stews and soups, local, national and international dishes, different types of swallows, local snacks and drinks with different types of barbecued proteins (ram, goat, fish, pork etc,) Here are some brief instructions for ten special Nigerian festive dishes:
-
Basmati seafood rice:
This is a rice dish cooked with shrimp, fish, and vegetables in a flavorful broth. You will need basmati rice, olive oil, onion, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, mirin, sake, chicken or vegetable broth, shrimp, fish fillets, frozen peas, carrots, green beans, corn, and scallions. To make it, you will need to rinse and soak the rice, toast it with olive oil, add the broth and seasonings, and simmer until the rice is cooked. Then, you will need to stir-fry the shrimp and fish in a separate pan, and add them to the rice along with the vegetables. Fluff the rice and serve with some condiments if you like. You can check here for how to make delicious nigerian seafood rice. Wonder where to get all your ingredients for making nigerian seafood rice in the US and Canada? Don’t worry, just click here and let My Sasun African Market serve you.
-
Fish barbecue:
This is a grilled dish made with fish and spices. You can use any type of firm white fish, such as catfish, halibut, or tuna. Even your Nigerian Titus fish can be used. Do you wonder where you can get fresh fish in the US and Canada? Worry no more! At My Sasun African Market, all your African groceries needs are met! To make the barbeque, you will need to oil the fish and season it with salt, pepper, and other herbs of your choice. Then, you will grill it over high heat for a few minutes on each side, until it is cooked through and has a crispy skin. You can also marinate the fish in a sauce before grilling, such as lemon juice, garlic, and ginger. You can check the detailed recipes here and here.
-
Fisherman soup:
This is a simple soup made with fish and other seafood, such as snails, prawns, periwinkles, and ngolo. It is flavored with palm oil, crayfish, uziza seeds, scotch bonnet peppers, and uziza leaves. You will need to boil the fish and seafood in water with seasonings, then add the palm oil and pounded yam to thicken the soup. You can also add some okro for extra texture. Here are some links to detailed recipes: [Nigerian Fisherman Soup]; [Fishermen's Soup]
-
Pounded yam with White Soup (Afia efere):
Pounded yam is a smooth and stretchy dough made from boiled yams. You will need to peel, cut, and boil the yams until they are tender, then pound them or blend them into a dough-like consistency. You can use a mortar and pestle, a food processor, or a yam-pounding machine. White Soup (Afia efere) is a light soup made with goat meat, stockfish, uziza seeds, utazi leaves, and cocoyam as a thickener. You will need to cook the meat and stockfish in water with seasonings, then add the cocoyam paste and bring to a boil. You will then add the uziza seeds and utazi leaves and simmer for a few minutes.
-
Grilled Yaji Chicken:
This is a chicken dish marinated with herbs and yaji seasoning, a spicy blend of ground peanuts, ginger, garlic, and peppers. You will need chicken pieces, onion, garlic, ginger, yaji seasoning, oil, salt, and pepper. To make it, you will need to marinate the chicken with the onion, garlic, ginger, yaji seasoning, oil, salt, and pepper for at least an hour. Then, you will need to grill the chicken on a hot grill, basting with the marinade, until the chicken is cooked through and glazed. Serve with some rice or salad.
-
Veggie Chicken Gravy Sauce:
This is a sauce made with chicken stock, vegetables, and cornstarch or flour as a thickener. You will need chicken pieces, mixed vegetables (such as carrots, green beans, red and green peppers, and cabbage), onion, garlic, cornstarch or flour, oil, chicken seasoning, curry powder, thyme, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. To make it, you will need to boil the chicken with onion, garlic, and seasonings until tender, and reserve the stock. Then, you will need to sauté the vegetables with oil, garlic, and seasonings in a frying pan, and set aside. Next, you will need to mix the cornstarch or flour with some water, and add it to the chicken stock, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened. Finally, you will need to add the chicken and vegetables to the sauce, and simmer for a few minutes. Serve with boiled rice or spaghetti.
-
Coleslaw:
To make coleslaw, you will need cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and salt. You can also add other ingredients like onions, mustard, or lemon juice for extra flavor. Here are some steps to follow:
-
Shred the cabbage and carrots using a knife, grater, or food processor.
-
In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and salt. You can adjust the amounts according to your taste and preference.
-
In a large bowl, toss the shredded cabbage and carrots with the dressing until well coated.
-
Refrigerate the coleslaw for at least an hour before serving.
You can find more detailed instructions and tips on how to make coleslaw [here]
-
Grilled chicken with oven-roasted sweet potatoes or plantains
To make grilled chicken with oven-roasted sweet potatoes or plantains, you will need chicken breasts, sweet potatoes or plantains, olive oil, salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs and spices. Here are some steps to follow:
-
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Cut the sweet potatoes or plantains into bite-sized pieces and toss them with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and your favorite seasonings. Spread them on one side of the prepared baking sheet.
-
Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and your favorite herbs and spices. Place them on the other side of the baking sheet.
-
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the sweet potatoes or plantains are tender.
-
Enjoy your grilled chicken and oven-roasted sweet potatoes or plantains with some salad or sauce of your choice.
You can find more detailed instructions and tips on how to make grilled chicken and oven-roasted sweet potatoes or plantains here:
-
Yaji chicken pops:
This is a crispy and spicy snack made with bite-sized chicken pieces coated with flour and yaji seasoning, which is a blend of spices such as ginger, garlic, chili, and peanuts. To make yaji chicken pops, you will need boneless chicken, eggs, flour, yaji seasoning, lime juice, garlic powder, turmeric powder, chili powder, salt, oil, and ketchup. You can find the detailed instructions on how to make the best yaji chicken pops [here].
-
Pineapple and watermelon mocktail:
This is a refreshing and fruity drink made with pineapple juice, watermelon, sparkling water, and lime slices. To make pineapple and watermelon mocktail, you will need pineapple juice, watermelon, sparkling water, lime slices, and optionally apple cider vinegar for some tanginess. You can find the detailed instructions on how to make the best watermelon and pineapple mocktail [here].