Nigerian Recipes
Nigerian cooking spans centuries of regional tradition, vibrant spice blends, and weeknight-friendly techniques. Below are our tested Nigerian recipes — each with calories, per-serving cost, and step-by-step instructions designed to actually fit a busy kitchen.
veganNigerian Jollof Rice
Smoky, deeply flavored one-pot rice with tomato, scotch bonnet, and bay. the dish that starts arguments in every African household, here in its simplest weeknight form.
- Time
- 55 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.45/serving
gluten freeNigerian Egusi Soup
Rich melon-seed stew with leafy greens, smoked fish, and palm oil. the Sunday afternoon soup that anchors a Nigerian table. Serve with pounded yam or fufu.
- Time
- 1 hr 10 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $4.20/serving
gluten freeSuya (Nigerian Spicy Beef Skewers)
West Africa's street-grill classic. thinly sliced beef coated in yaji peanut spice mix, charred over fire. Serve with sliced onion, tomato, and lime.
- Time
- 37 min
- Servings
- 4 servings
- Calories
- 410 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $5.10/serving
vegetarianPuff Puff (Sweet Nigerian Doughnuts)
Pillowy, golden-fried sweet dough balls. the snack at every Nigerian party. Dust with sugar, eat warm.
- Time
- 1 hr 45 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 280 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.60/serving
vegetarianMoin Moin (Steamed Bean Pudding)
Savory steamed pudding from blended black-eyed peas, peppers, and onions. a Nigerian breakfast staple high in plant protein and full of flavor.
- Time
- 1 hr 30 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 290 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.20/serving
veganAkara (Nigerian Bean Fritters)
Crispy outside, fluffy inside. Lagos street-corner breakfast made from peeled black-eyed peas, peppers, and onions, fried golden. Eat with hot pap or bread.
- Time
- 45 min
- Servings
- 6 servings
- Calories
- 240 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.90/serving
vegetarianFried Plantain & Spicy Eggs
Sweet caramelized ripe plantain alongside scrambled eggs with peppers and onions. the breakfast you'll wish you grew up eating.
- Time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Calories
- 480 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $2.10/serving
veganChapman (Nigerian Cocktail)
Lagos's favorite mocktail. bittersweet, citrusy, deeply red. Blackcurrant cordial, Fanta, Sprite, lime, bitters. Refreshing as a Saturday afternoon in Ikoyi.
- Time
- 5 min
- Servings
- 1 servings
- Calories
- 180 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.40/serving
veganZobo (Nigerian Hibiscus Drink)
Tart, ruby-red drink steeped from dried hibiscus petals with ginger, pineapple, and clove. vitamin C–rich, vegan, refreshing, and uniquely West African.
- Time
- 35 min
- Servings
- 8 servings
- Calories
- 80 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $0.40/serving
Nigerian Meat Pie
Flaky golden pastry stuffed with peppery seasoned beef, potato, and carrot. the street-side hand pie that defines Nigerian small chops.
- Time
- 1 hr
- Servings
- 10 servings
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- Cost per serving
- $1.05/serving