Do you love African food? Whether you grew up enjoying these traditional meals and ingredients with your family or you’re still in the process of exploring the cuisine—there’s a lot to learn!
In this article, we’ll share some surprising facts about your favorite African menu items—some of which are guaranteed to shock you, even if you’ve been eating these dishes for decades.
Sound interesting? Awesome! Stick around for all the details—you’ll be happy you did.
1. Naturally Gluten-Free
If you’re living with Celiac or gluten sensitivity, it is absolutely essential to avoid the ingredients that make you sick. And, many of today’s pre-packaged gluten-free products are highly unhealthy, made mostly from processed, high-calorie ingredients. Yuck!
Luckily, many African foods are naturally gluten-free – including flours and cereals used for baking! Give some of these a try in place of traditional flours, even if you aren’t making African food.
2. Keto Approved
Many of these specialty foods aren’t just gluten-free – they’re also approved for the keto diet! This is great news if you’re hoping to lose weight or just improve your health overall.
In fact, ingredients like cassava flour are becoming increasingly popular for those maintaining these special eating plans, allowing them to create delicious flour-based treats without eating unhealthily. And, what’s better than looking and feeling great while enjoying the foods that you love?
3. Spices for Life
Have you noticed that many of the top African foods are spicy? Dishes loaded with hot peppers can help cool your body down when it’s hot – hence their popularity in scorching climates. And that’s not the only potential benefit.
Hot chillies are also an excellent source of antioxidants and believed to improve the body’s metabolism, aid digestion, and boost overall health.
4. Easy Vegetarian Options
While you might notice tons of meat on the menu in African restaurants, much of the traditional cuisine is actually vegetarian!
Cereals and grains, fruits and vegetables, and seeds and nuts actually make up the bulk of a traditional African diet. So, vegetarians will find plenty of delicious options that don’t go against their preferences.
5. Loaded Lunches
In Africa, workdays are long and challenging. So, unlike in many Western countries, lunch is the largest and most filling meal of the day.
A traditional African lunch will typically feature filling starches like rice, cereal grains and breads, and a balanced blend of fruits, vegetables, and meats. And, like every meal in Africa, a thick and spicy sauce or gravy to top it all of – yum!
6. Eat With Your Hands
Traditional African dishes are most often eaten using your hands and perhaps a large spoon for serving. And, we promise this part is just as much fun as it sounds like!
Depending on where you’re eating, rules at the table will vary slightly. But, the most important of them are fairly universal. Start with clean, dry hands, don’t use the left, avoid finger-licking until the end of your meal, and don’t forget to compliment the cook!
7. Healthy Oils
When you first start eating African food, some of the sauces will appear a bit greasy. But, not to worry! These oils naturally separate from the beans and seeds in your meal, and in most cases, don’t come from added grease.
The oils used in African cuisine are different from traditional Western ingredients, and in many cases, come from healthier sources. It’s also essential to remember that these oils provide vital nutrients to get traditional African families through their challenging workdays.
8. Layers of Flavor
Africa has long lied at the heart of the global spice trade, making its cuisine among the planet’s most diverse. Of course, each dish will include exotic and aromatic spices – that’s what African food is famous for!
But, it may come as a surprise to you that some harder to detect foreign ingredients help to flavor some of Africa’s most famous dishes. Canned and dried cod, for example, add extra depth to soups, stews, and sauces.
9. The Origin of Many Famous Dishes
Believe it or not, some of the planet’s most famous meals originate in Africa – and probably not the ones that you’re expecting!
Well-known national dishes such as flan, sofrito, and jollof rice all come from Africa – no matter where in the world they’re most commonly served today. This is unsurprising, as spice traders and culinary influencers have been passing through these regions for centuries – taking away and leaving behind ingredients and inspiration along the way.
10. Incredible Diversity
No matter what comes to mind when you imagine African food, you are only thinking about a tiny portion of the cuisine. This is a massive continent, home to countless ethnic groups. And, each of them has its own delicious and unique cuisine!
If you’re ready to start learning more about African cuisine, try a few restaurant meals to get started – that will help you identify the different regional tastes and textures. Then, you’ll be ready to try your hand at a few of these famous dishes at home.
Your Online Source for African Food
Now that you know a bit more about African food, you’re probably excited to try a few new and different dishes – or prepare them for your friends and family.
Every delicious African dish begins with pantry staples that can be hard to find in your average American grocery store. But, not to worry – we’ve got you covered.
Jeb Foods is happy to help with your online shopping needs, offering you high-quality authentic African ingredients at a fair price. And, thanks to our powerful social missions, you’re guaranteed to feel good about your purchase – knowing that it was ethically sourced and produced. Each purchase also supports our nonprofit SAAK, aimed at helping African kids in need.
