20 Delicious Ghanaian Dishes You Would Love

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Have you ever been to Ghana and asked yourself these questions “What can I eat here?” “I’ve never tasted this, I don’t know if I would like it” or have you ever wanted to make something new in your kitchen? You don’t need to ask too many questions or think too much anymore, you are in the right place.

It’s time to spice up your life and your kitchen with these Ghanaian dishes you have to try. Africa, in general is known for its creativity and its various traditions. Each of these traditions also has its various dishes.

Isn’t this amazing? Think of all the food you can have, think of the colors and flavors in your mouth, does it not sound irresistible?

Ghana and Food

Let’s talk about Ghana and its creativity with food. It is an exciting experience learning about different countries and their various traditional food. This only does not expand your knowledge about food, but it also helps you to be creative with your food in the kitchen and to be able to express yourself with several dishes, this would help with your daily supply of nutrients to your body, hence having you smiling with good health and flavor-filled meals.

Ghanaian dishes mainly consists of tropical crops like plantain, cassava, rice, beans, yam, millets, and so many more. These foodstuffs are incorporated in their day-to-day meals, for their nourishments and their general enjoyment.

There are a lot of amazing Ghanaian dishes, but these are a few Ghanaian dishes you just have to try.

The first on the list of Ghanaian dishes to try is;

Waakye Rice

Something is enchanting about waakye rice, it’s inexplicable, it is hard to tell if it is because of the rice or the beans, or even the mix of both the rice and the beans, whatever it is about this meal that has you hooked is something you just have to give a try.

You have not eaten Ghanaian food if you have not had a plate of waakye rice, this meal consists of mainly rice and beans, but there is a secret tip to this amazing dish that would be revealed later.

Waakye rice is evidence of the amazing creativity of Ghanaians, in creating amazing dishes and this is just one of many. You are not subjected to having just rice and beans, you have the freedom to mix things up a bit in your kitchen, you can have this dish with any side of your choice goes great with anything! Plantain, avocados, eggs, tomato sauce, fish, turkey, sausages, shrimps, and many others. Don’t forget to enjoy your meal with a cold bottle of water or a drink, it’s all your choice.

This dish is not so difficult to prepare, and only a few ingredients are required for your recipe;

• Rice
• Beans (any kind of beans, this is according to your preference)
• Onions
• Salt
• Water
• Sorghum leaves

The secret Ingredient Of Waakye Rice

This is the secret ingredient for your waakye rice recipe is sorghum. Sorghum leaves puts the ‘Waakye’ in waakye rice.

The dried leaves of Sorghum bicolor are used as colorants in waakye rice, this gives it its special and very unique color.

Sorghum leaves don’t just add color to waakye rice, it also adds to the nutrients and taste of the rice. This dish is too good not to try.

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What are the health benefits of Waakye rice?

Waakye rice is very rich in nutrients that will help you in your day-to-day activities and your general health, because what’s a meal without great benefits to your health?

According to sciafmag.com

• Great source of antioxidants
• Protection against several diseases
• Good source of fatty acids
• Source of proteins
• Rich in fiber

The next time you are in Ghana or you see yourself trying to experiment in the kitchen, try waakye rice and give yourself another good reason to smile.

The second on this list of Ghanaian dishes is;

Fufu and Goat Light Soup

Mostly found in Ashanti and Eastern regions of Ghana, goat light soup, paired with fufu is known to do the trick for your satisfaction. It can also be found in the Northern regions of Ghana, the only difference in the recipe is the use of yam in the north.

This is made by pounding plantains and boiled cassava to a soft paste, and you have your fufu! The enjoyment does not stop here, the pounded mix is then paired up with a delicious and spicy tomato soup. The pounding of Fufu the traditional way can be a bit of a workout, but during the pounding process, someone sprinkles water and turns the Fufu, while someone else pounds it.

Fufu is not only restricted to goat light soup for your enjoyment, you can enjoy your meal with other different types of soup like palm nut soup, groundnut soup, Kontomire (taro leaves), Ayoyo soup, okra soup, and many others.

Here’s a list of ingredients for the preparation of this dish;

• Yam
• Cassava
• Plantain
• Ginger and garlic
• Bay leaves
• Onions
• Sekoni
• Seasoning
• Chili pepper

The third on this list of Ghanaian dishes

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Kelewele

This list would be incomplete without this dish that has everyone completely hooked! After your first try, this meal would automatically become your favorite food, from the flavor to the color, to the smell, down to the overall health benefits, are you not hooked already?

Are you in love with plantains? Well, this is the meal for you. Think of soft plantains filled in hot sauce, if this isn’t the perfect meal, it is hard to know what is.

Kelewele is a Ghanaian dish, usually made by frying soft plantains that have been previously soaked in a mix of spicy ingredients like; peppers, ginger, garlic, salt, spice (to taste). Don’t you already love the sound of this?

These are a few ingredients needed for the preparation of the sauce to have your plantain soaked in;

• Onions
• Nutmeg
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic
• Spices
• Cardamom pod
• Salt
• Cloves
• Cinnamon
• Anise
• Ginger

You can also add some other ingredients to suit your taste, feel free to make your meal how you love it.

Image from: cheflolaskitchen.com

These ingredients are usually blended into a paste, the paste is the spicy and delicious Kelewele sauce, where the plantain would then be soaked to give it the juice and spicy flavor.

Enjoy your spicy plantain and sauce with anything you love, you can enjoy this dish with Waakye rice, white rice and sauce, beans, yam, eggs, and many more. Remember, it’s your food, be creative and free with it.

The fourth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Tuo Zaafi

The fifth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Popularly known in the Northern regions of Ghana, this dish has major constituents of other three separate dishes, namely;

• Ayoyo sauce

• Tuo Zaafi

• The meat stew

All these three, make up the entire dish, who wouldn’t love to try this amazing Ghanaian dish.

Tuo Zaafi can be served as a whole meal, so you would have this dish and be fully satisfied.

These are a few ingredients you would need for the preparation of Tuo Zaafi

• Ayoyo leaves
• Salt
• Spices
• Corn flour
• Cassava flour

Feel free to enjoy this dish with whatever you like, meat, fish, goat meat, chicken, and many more.

The sixth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Omo Tuo (Rice Balls)

This is a rice dish, that is very commonly found in the Northern parts of Ghana, but due to its popularity and amazing taste, it is found and eaten, across the country.

Omo Tuo is prepared by first cooking very soft rice, to get the rice rolls into sticky balls, pounding is done, or rolling of the rice, this gives it the pasty form. This can be eaten with any type of soup of your choice, peanut soup, okra soup, or even Miyan Kuka (in the Northern parts of Nigeria).

Here’s a list of soups you can enjoy Omo Tuo with;

• Palm-nut soup
• Okra soup
• Vegetable soup
• Kontomire
• Groundnut soup
• Pepper soup
• Miyan Kuka

Omo Tuo would leave you fully nourished and satisfied. Remember to try this meal when you are in Ghana and come back to give your testimony.

You would need a few ingredients for the preparation of this Ghanaian dish, so here’s a list of ingredients to make your recipe for Omo Tuo;

• White rice
• Salt
• Water

The seventh in this list of Ghanaian dishes;

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Boiled Plantain or Yam With Kontomire Stew

If you have not noticed by now, Ghana is a very creative country when it comes to its use of spices, vegetables, and even local herbs, there are different flavors and tastes that can be found in several Ghanaian dishes, yam and Kontomire stew.

Kontomire stew is made from cocoyam leaves, that have been boiled, after being spiced to taste with several ingredients, you have yourself a delicious stew to enjoy with plantain, yam or even avocados.

This dish would not only have you asking for more, but it would also leave you satisfied and has great health benefits.

You don’t have to enjoy Kontomire stew with just boiled yam or plantain, you can also have this stew with boiled rice, beans, waakye rice, and so many others.

To prepare the delicious Kontomire stew, you would need a few ingredients like;

• Tomatoes
• Pepper
• Salt
• Palm Oil
• Melon seeds (optional)
• Onions
• Kontomire leaves
• Cocoyam leaves

Enjoy your Kontomire stew with these health benefits;

• Rich in vitamin C
• A good amount of antioxidants
• Prevents diseases (heart diseases, cancer)

The ninth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Abunuabunu

Abunuabunu is a soup that is very popular in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, also made from cocoyam leaves, like the Kontomire stew, this can be served with Banku, fufu, or anything according to your preference.

This dish is often prepared with some local ingredients to add give it a rich and tasty flavor.

These ingredients are;

• Cocoyam leaves
• Tomatoes
• Snails
• Kwansesaawa
• Salt
• Pepper
• Onions
• Spices
• Dried fish
• Dawawa
• Smoked fish

The tenth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Koobi (Salted Dry Fish)

Koobi is a salted dried fish, or tilapia very common in Ghana, you can get a very good amount of this and stock it up in your store. Koobi can be used to prepare several dishes, and also various traditional Ghanaian dishes.

This salted tilapia is not just great for the health but also gives your meal a very indigenous and local flavor. So feel free to get yourself Koobi for extra flavor in your food today.

Koobi does not just add flavor to your meal, it also gives your body adequate nutrients that it needs for example;

• Very good for bone health
• Good for teeth health
• Prevents heart diseases
• A high content of omega 3 benefits

The eleventh on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

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Garden Egg Stew

This being one of the most popular stews in Ghana, it is made from the African eggplant, also known as Garden eggs (in Ghana, known as Nyadua, in the Twi language).

Garden egg is the main ingredient in this dish as it provides the stew with a very nice smell and great taste, don’t forget the health benefits you will get from this stew alone.

Garden egg stew can be enjoyed with anything of your choice, and guess what? It is also very easy to prepare, but you will need a few ingredients for your garden egg stew recipe;

• Garden eggs
• Koobi
• Fish
• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Onions
• Palm oil
• Kpakpo shito
• Eggs (optional)

Here are a few ways eggplant stew can affect your health;

• Good source of antioxidants
• Consists of vitamins C and A
• Very high in polyphenols
• Helps in sugar processing for diabetic patients

The twelfth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Palaver Sauce/Stew

This is a sauce that is often regarded by the addition of all the ingredients all at once in the pot, this sauce is eaten across various countries in West Africa, like Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone.

To give your palaver sauce a bit of spice and flavor, you can add chicken, beef, turkey, and fish. This dish is also prepared with the addition of vegetables, which is the main ingredient.

These are a few ingredients you would need for your Palaver sauce recipe;

• Çrayfish
• Egusi
• Collard greens
• Smoked fish
• Turkey
• Cocoyam leaf/spinach
• Palm oil
• Canola oil (optional)
• Tomatoes
• Garlic
• Ginger

These are some of the nutritional benefits of Palaver sauce

• High in vitamin E contents
• Helps in the reduction of cholesterol
• Very good for weight loss
• Improves blood circulation
• Good source of antioxidants
• Lowered blood pressure

The thirteenth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

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Banku

Banku is prepared by the cooking of a mixture of cassava dough and fermented corn, immersed in hot water, allowing the mix to turn to a whitish paste. It is impossible not to commend Ghana for its ability to create several amazing dishes from countless crops, if this isn’t creativity, then it is impossible to know what is.

Banku is very popular among Ghanaians, if not the most popular dish in Accra, it is enjoyed by almost all the regions in Ghana, although it is very commonly associated with the people of Ewe in Ghana.

Banku can be enjoyed with any soup of your choice, feel free to enjoy Banku with your favorite food.

These are the main ingredients for your Banku recipe;

• Water
• Salt
• Corn
• Cassava dough

You don’t have to think too far for soups you can enjoy Banku with, these are a few soups you can have Banku with;

• Light (Tomato) soup
• Kontomire soup
• Okra soup
• Ayoyo soup
• Palm-nut soup

The fourteenth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Shito

If you are a fan of pepper and hot foods, this is a gift to you. Also known as the word for ‘Pepper’ in Ghana, Shito is a very popular sauce in Accra.

This sauce is very easy to prepare, very delicious, flavor-filled, and considered to be very hot. Imagine forgetting Shito in your list of Ghanaian dishes to try.

This blend of ingredients and pepper as the main ingredient, are all required to give shito its unique and peppery taste.

You don’t need so much for your Shito recipe all you need are;

• Onions
• Seasoning
• Peppers
• Tomato puree
• Vegetable oil
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Salt
• Water
• Fish

Did you think you would have to eat Shito alone? Sorry to disappoint you. Shito can be paired up with absolutely anything of your choice, think of anything, Shito can be used to eat it. You can check out other dishes you would love to enjoy Shito with at the African food network.

Health benefits

• The ingredients used in the preparation of shito has good effects on weight management
• Positive effects on cardiovascular health
• Good source of antioxidants
• Presence of antibacterial properties

The fifteenth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Kenkey

Are you a fan of corn-based meals? Yes? Then you have found the meal for you, get ready to love Kenkey, this is another one of many Ghanaian dishes, that is corn-infused.

Kenkey is a pretty simple and straightforward recipe, it is prepared by molding fermented corn dough into smaller balls, after then wrapping the balls around dried corn leaves, after which you boil them.

You are free to enjoy this meal with any sauce of your choice, but it is best served with pepper sauce, or you can even enjoy this with Shito. This also depends on your preference.

Here are a few things you can pair kenkey and your sauce with;

• Fish
• Chicken
• Fried crabs

Can’t you just taste it now? It’s okay to dream, but just wait and see till you find out the nutritional benefits of this amazing Ghanaian dish, and they are;

• Very rich in vitamins A, E, K, B, and C
• Low protein
• A good amount of fiber
• Protection of the body against several diseases like, heart diseases, cancer, etc
• Protection against diabetes
• Kenkey reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases
• Lowers blood pressure
• Protects the body against oxidative stress

The sixteenth on this list of Ghanaian dishes;

Ghana Jollof Rice

Did you think the King of jollof rice would be forgotten on this list of Ghanaian dishes? Think again because this is Jollof rice, there is no list if there is no Jollof rice.

Jollof rice is a very popular food across various countries in West Africa, this dish is also considered a food mostly served on special occasions, while in some countries it is served as a daily meal.

Jollof rice consists of a mixture of rice, tomatoes, onions, and spices to give it an amazing taste and color. Ghana is not exempted from this Jollof party.

Ghana is known for its Jollof rice and its constant competition with the Nigerian Jollof rice. They are both great in taste, looks, and color. Though the recipe is different across countries, Jollof rice is still known for its spectacular taste.

You would need a few ingredients for your Ghana Jollof recipe like;

• Tomatoes
• Vegetables (optional)
• Onions
• Pepper
• Spices
• Water
• Salt
• Crayfish (optional)
• Chicken
• Beef
• Vegetable oil
• Goat meat
• Rice

Ghana Jollof’s recipe is a bit different from the recipes of other countries Jollof rice, so feel free to try and explore the different Jollof recipes you can find. You can also find a few here at the African food network.

Ghana Jollof rice can be eaten with any side of your choice like;

• Salad
• Banana
• Vegetable sauce
• Shito
• Kelewele
• Eggs
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Kontomire
• Collard greens
• Shrimp

A few others you should try

The list goes on and on, but here are a few other Ghanaian dishes you should try;

• Kokonte
• Groundnut soup
• Okra soup
• Red red
• Egusi sauce

There are a lot of Ghanaian dishes you have to try, could be when you are in Ghana and whenever you feel like trying something new in your kitchen. You don’t have to wait till you travel to Ghana before you can try these amazing Ghanaian dishes, don’t be stuck in your loop of regular and boring food, be spectacular and experiment in your kitchen, with your spices and vegetables, prepare different dishes from different countries, explore the world of food from your kitchen.

It is going to be difficult trying these dishes at home, because you might not be perfect, but guess what? Practice makes perfection, so keep trying to explore the world of Ghanaian dishes and give yourself varieties to love.

As they say, variety is the spice of life, well we like to say, variety in your kitchen is the spice to a healthy and happy life.

Don’t forget to enjoy your food in moderation, to prevent your body from reacting differently to these foods. Now that you have put your moderation into consideration, feel free to try these amazing Ghanaian dishes at home and enjoy a healthy, happy, and most of all creative life.