Popular African Street Foods You Can Make at Home

African street food is a vibrant and essential part of the continent's wide variety of delicacies. These foods are often enjoyed in bustling markets or during festive gatherings. The good news is, you don't have to travel to Africa or even go to the streets to enjoy these delicious treats. In this blog post, we'll explore some of the most popular African street foods that you can easily make at home.

 

What is African Street Food?

African street food reflects the vast cultures and food traditions across the continent. These foods are typically quick, flavorful, and easy to prepare. Due to these facts, they are perfect for home cooks looking to add some excitement to their kitchens.

 

Popular African Street Foods

1. Suya (Nigeria)

Suya is a spicy meat skewer that's a favorite in Nigeria and beyond. Made from beef, chicken, or lamb, suya is marinated in a mixture of ground peanuts, pepper, and spices, then grilled to perfection.

 

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Beef, chicken, or lamb, ground peanuts, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, vegetable oil.
• Instructions: Mix ground peanuts with spices and oil to form a paste. Marinate the meat in this mixture for at least an hour. Skewer the meat and grill until cooked through. Serve with sliced onions and tomatoes.

 

2. Puff-Puff (West Africa)

Puff-puff is a delicious fried dough ball that's popular across West Africa. It's slightly sweet, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Flour, sugar, yeast, water, nutmeg, oil for frying.
• Instructions: Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix flour, sugar, and nutmeg in a bowl. Add yeast mixture and water to form a batter. Let it rise for about an hour. Heat oil in a deep fryer or pan, and drop spoonfuls of the batter into the oil. Fry until golden brown. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

 

3. Bunny Chow (South Africa)

Bunny chow is a South African street food that originated in Durban. It consists of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with spicy curry.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: White bread loaves, chicken or lamb curry (made with meat, onions, tomatoes, curry powder, garlic, ginger, and spices).
• Instructions: Prepare your favorite curry. Cut a loaf of bread in half and hollow out the middle. Fill the bread with the curry. Serve hot.

 

4. Kelewele (Ghana)

Kelewele is a spicy fried plantain dish from Ghana, often enjoyed as a snack or side dish.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Ripe plantains, ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, salt, oil for frying.
• Instructions: Peel and cut plantains into bite-sized pieces. Blend ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper, and salt to form a paste. Toss the plantains in the spice mixture. Heat oil and fry plantains until golden and crispy.

 

5. Samosas (East Africa)

East African samosas are a popular snack, especially in countries like Kenya and Tanzania. They are savory pastries filled with spiced meat or vegetables.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Ground meat (beef, chicken, or lamb), onions, garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, chili powder, pastry dough, oil for frying.
• Instructions: Cook meat with spices until fully cooked. Allow to cool. Fill pastry dough with the meat mixture, fold into triangles, and seal the edges. Fry in hot oil until golden brown.

 

6. Boerewors Rolls (South Africa)

Boerewors rolls are a South African favorite, similar to a hot dog but with a twist. Boerewors is a type of sausage made with beef, lamb, and spices.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Boerewors sausage, bread rolls, onions, ketchup, mustard.
• Instructions: Grill the boerewors until cooked through. Serve in a bread roll with grilled onions, ketchup, and mustard.

 

7. Chapati (East Africa)

Chapati is a flatbread popular in East Africa, often served with stews, beans, or as a wrap.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Flour, water, salt, oil.
• Instructions: Mix flour, water, and salt to form a dough. Let it rest. Roll out the dough into thin rounds. Cook on a hot griddle with a little oil until both sides are golden brown.

 

8. Biltong (South Africa)

Biltong is a type of dried, cured meat from South Africa, similar to beef jerky but thicker and more flavorful.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Beef, salt, coriander seeds, black pepper, vinegar, brown sugar.
• Instructions: Marinate strips of beef in vinegar and spices. Dry the meat in a cool, ventilated area until it reaches your desired level of dryness.

 

9. Grilled Corn (Ghana)

Grilled corn is a popular street food in Ghana, often enjoyed with coconut or groundnuts.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Fresh corn on the cob, coconut pieces or groundnuts.
• Instructions: Grill corn over an open flame until charred and cooked through. Serve with pieces of coconut or groundnuts on the side.

 

10. Chinchinga (Ghana)

Chinchinga, also known as kebab, is a popular Ghanaian street food made from skewered and grilled meat.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Chicken or beef, onions, bell peppers, kebab spices, oil.
• Instructions: Marinate meat in spices and oil. Skewer with onions and bell peppers. Grill until cooked through.

 

11. Mandazi (East Africa)

Mandazi is a sweet, fried bread that’s popular in East Africa, often enjoyed with tea or coffee.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Flour, sugar, coconut milk, yeast, cardamom, oil for frying.
• Instructions: Mix flour, sugar, yeast, and cardamom. Add coconut milk to form a dough. Let it rise. Roll out the dough and cut into triangles. Fry in hot oil until golden brown.

 

12. Moi Moi (Nigeria)

Moi Moi is a steamed bean pudding made from peeled black-eyed peas, onions, and peppers. It's a protein-packed dish that's often enjoyed as a side or snack.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Black-eyed peas, onions, bell peppers, habanero peppers, oil, salt.
• Instructions: Blend soaked and peeled black-eyed peas with onions and peppers. Add oil and salt. Pour into greased molds or banana leaves. Steam until set.

 

13. Fat Cakes (South Africa)

Fat cakes, also known as vetkoek, are deep-fried dough balls often filled with savory or sweet fillings.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Flour, yeast, sugar, salt, water, oil for frying.
• Instructions: Mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add water to form a dough. Let it rise. Shape into balls and deep fry until golden brown. Fill with minced meat or jam.

 

14. Shakshuka (North Africa)

Shakshuka is a popular North African dish of poached eggs in a spicy tomato sauce, often served with bread.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, garlic, eggs, cumin, paprika, salt, oil.
• Instructions: Sauté onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Add tomatoes and spices, and simmer. Make wells in the sauce and crack eggs into them. Cover and cook until eggs are set. Serve with bread.

 

15. Ugali (East Africa)

Ugali is a staple in East Africa, made from maize flour and water. It’s often served with stews or vegetables.

Recipe:

• Ingredients: Maize flour, water, salt.
• Instructions: Boil water with salt. Gradually add maize flour, stirring continuously until it thickens to a dough-like consistency. Serve hot with stew or vegetables.

 

Conclusion

Bringing the flavors of African street food into your home kitchen is easier than you might think. These recipes are simple, delicious, and a wonderful way to experience the vibrant culinary traditions of Africa. Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, there’s an African street food recipe here for you to try.

 

FAQs

What makes suya so special?

Suya is known for its unique blend of spices and the smoky flavor from grilling. The marinade, made with ground peanuts and spices, gives it a distinctive taste.

Can I bake instead of fry puff-puff?

Yes, you can bake puff-puff for a healthier option, but they will have a different texture compared to the traditional fried version.

What bread is best for bunny chow?

Soft white loaves work best for bunny chow as they can absorb the curry without falling apart.

How do you store leftover kelewele?

Store leftover kelewele in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in an oven or air fryer to retain its crispiness.

Can samosas be frozen?

Yes, samosas can be frozen before frying. Just thaw them slightly before cooking.

What can I serve with boerewors rolls?

Boerewors rolls are great with grilled onions, tomato relish, or a side of potato salad.