One thing the Portuguese brought back to Africa from South America was peanuts. Often referred to as groundnuts, this nutritious plant based source of protein was transplanted in West Africa and it became such an important food that the food culture was yet again transported across the Atlantic during the slave trade. Today the importance of peanuts in African cuisine from the West, Central, Southern and to the East of Africa is unrivalled as it is such an affordable source of protein.
This famous and much loved Ghanaian soup can be made with as little or as much peanut butter as you like. It is known in the local Twi language as nkatenkwan and can be made with meat or chicken.
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We all know about creamed spinach, but have you ever tried what I would like to call cream of peanut butter spinach? This is a Zimbabwean favourite often served alongside sadza, a thinck cornmeal mush which is a national staple.
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If you have not had enough of West African peanut stews, you will have to have a go at this Senegalese peanut stew.
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Nigerian Suya Spice
Suya spice is what makes those amazing West African kebabs absolutely delicious. The main ingredient is, yes, I have given it away, peanut powder.Continue to 5 of 10 below.
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Binyebwa is the national dish of Uganda, often served alongside matoke, a green and starchy boiled banana. The traditional sauce is made from red groundnuts and can be eaten on it's own with a little onion and salt, or with added vegetables and salty fish.
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A much loved street food which is sold on almost every street corner is nkate cake, a sweet snack very much like peanut brittle.
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Cornmeal porridge is the go to breakfast in most African countries and is made in a variety of ways. It can be fermented prior to cooking, other grains such as sorghum or millet can be used, it can also be cooked in milk, or if plain, sugar and peanut butter can be added. This is a common practise in Zimbabwe.
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Ndole is the national dish of Cameroon and is made traditionally by using an African green leaf known as bitter leaf. Where this is not available, spiach can be used as an acceptable substitute.Continue to 9 of 10 below.
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Mutakura is a highly nutritious dish from Zimbabwe made with peanuts and bambara beans, otherwise known as round nuts. There are many variants of this dish across Southern and Central Africa. Yet the common streak is that it is a popular dish in many boarding schools across Sub Saharan Africa.