Simple African Meals

Ghana Sugar Bread

Making Ghana Sugar Bread or any kind of bread reminds me of a woman who sold bread in the neighborhood I grew up in Accra, Ghana.

Almost every other day we’ll pick up Ghana Sugar Bread fresh out of the oven. And I soon as I got home I would cut a couple of slices and butter them up.

Nothing like warm bread with melting butter over it.
Sugar bread gets its name because it’s made with sugar, duh :).

We don’t buy sugar anymore but we use organic honey as a substitute. We purchased a jar from the local farmer’s market. I don’t feel as bad using honey because it has medicinal value.

If you’re hungry and you want a quick snack, try this world-famous bread with a chilled Sobolo drink.

If you’re a bread fanatic like me you’ll have some bread ready for a quick snack or surprise your guests with this amazing recipe.

Make this recipe a little simpler by purchasing a Bread Maker from Amazon.

Wow your guests with this beginner-friendly meat pie recipe from Ghana!

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I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link.

5 from 7 votes

Ghana Sugar Bread

`This is one of the more popular breads to make in Ghana, West Africa. Made with flour, sugar / honey, nutmeg, eggs, milk, etc

Course Breakfast

Cuisine West African

Keyword Ghana Sugar Bread

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 4 People

Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients

2.5 Cups Unbleached Flour
1 Cup Sugar Its usually made with sugar
1 Cup Butter
1 Large Egg
1/4 Cup Whole Milk
1 Tsp Salt
1 Tsp Nutmeg
1 Tbsp Yeast
1 Cup Lukewarm Water

Instructions

Boil one cup of water for a few minutes or until lukewarm and add the salt and a tbsp of honey then add the yeast. Let it sit between 5-10 minutes or until it reacts, it should grow in volume and become foamy.
Pour the the flour in a big bowl and add the nutmeg
Add the butter, milk, egg, water and mix well. Knead for about 10 minutes until its smooth and elastic.
Shape into a loaf and place it in a greased baking dish, cover it up and let it sit for about an hour so it rises.
Place in a 350 degree Fahrenheit pre-heated oven and bake for about 45-60 minutes until its golden brown

Lime-Ginger Summer Cooler

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Lime-Ginger Summer Cooler is a tropical beverage with freshly squeezed lime and some fresh ginger root.

Nothing like a chilled, sweet and spicy beverage for the summer.

Last week I went to a store up our road that sell farm products and there was a mega deal they had which 20 Limes for a $1, it was too good to pass.

Immediately I thought I can make some Limeade, which I made last Friday, but didn’t last till Sunday.

I still had some Lime left and I thought I’ll create a drink similar to drinks I had growing up.

This is a common street drink that is sold in different parts of the city of Accra.

Accra can get as hot as 95 degrees Fahrenheit and there will be nothing more welcoming than a chilled delicious ginger drink.

The good thing about a Lime Ginger drink is really healthy for you just like other tropical beverages.

I also have a post on a peculiar drink called Sobolo is a prime example of healthy tropical drinks.

There was a great ginger pineapple drink I used to get when I lived in Philadelphia which was made in the Caribbean.

5 from 9 votes

Lime-Ginger Summer Cooler

This is a tropical beverage with freshly squeezed lime and some fresh ginger root. Nothing like a chilled, sweet and spicy beverage for the summer.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Tropical

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 6 People

Ingredients

2 Limes
1 Pound Ginger
1 Cup Brown Sugar
5 Cups Water

Instructions

Start by squeezing your lime with a squeezer after pour it into a pitcher and set aside.
Peel the ginger and chop to little pieces and blend with a cup of water for 3 minutes.
With a strainer, strain the ginger and add it to the squeezed lime.
Add water
Finally, add your sugar and refrigerate your cooler for a couple of hours

Boflot

Its a popular West-African street food similar to donuts in other parts of the world. It's called Boflot in Ghana, Puff-Puff in Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine West African

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 5 People

Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients

4 CUPS Unbleached Flour
2 Tbsp Dry Yeast
2 Cups Lukewarm Water
1 Cup Honey / Sugar I use honey
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tsp Nutmeg

Instructions

Boil two cups of water for a few minutes or until lukewarm and add the salt and a tbsp of honey then add the yeast. Let it sit between 5-10 minutes or until it reacts, it should grow in volume and become foamy.
Pour the the flour in a big bowl and add the nutmeg.
Mix the flour and the yeast mix together and let it rise for about 45 minutes.
Scoop them up with an ice cream scoop or roll them into a ball shape.
Deep fry them about 5-10 minutes. Time to enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Earlier this year I learned how to make one of my favorite snacks growing up in Ghana called Boflot. I remember I used to have it for breakfast with some Koko (Corn porridge). or with a glass of hot chocolate preferably Milo. You can get them when you're downtown Accra and you need a quick snack to stave off your hunger. They can also be eaten as an appetizer before your main course at an African restaurant.

Its also made in Nigeria and Sierra Leone where its called Puff-puff. Its a little similar to donuts and actually there are a few British I know who call it donuts.

Jollof Rice

Jollof Rice

Jollof Rice is a very popular West African dish that has sometimes sparked friendly arguments as to who makes the best.

And that friendly discussion is between Ghanaians and Nigerians, it’s all fun and games because we love each other.

Jollof rice originated from the Wolof, an ethnic group in parts of Senegal, the Gambia, and Mauritania all on the West coast of Africa.

Sometime last week a popular food website posted a very diluted version of Jollof Rice which they claimed was Ghanaian; which really angered a lot of Ghanaians and other West Africans.

But my wife and I agreed that getting angry wasn’t the solution to combat such an atrocity 🙂 but rather we needed to create a video showing a better version of this great West African delicacy.

In my household, I or my wife make it once a week served with some Kelewele.

I’m yet to meet an individual who’s not from the West African region who doesn’t love Jollof.

There might be a complaint about the heat or spiciness in it but that can be controlled. And if you don’t enjoy it I have to question the cook.

You can get all the ingredients at your local grocery store or order it online at Amazon.

So here you are and have a great week!

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I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link.

5 from 8 votes

Jollof Rice

Jollof Rice is a highly popular West African rice dish that is made out of rice, tomatoes/ tomato sauce, spices/herbs.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine West African

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes

Servings 4 People

Calories 280 kcal

Ingredients

3/4 Cup Cup Canola Oil
4 Habanero Peppers You can use fewer or more depending on your tolerance level
2 Cloves Garlic
1.5 Cups Cups Tomato Paste You can also use fresh tomatoes or tomato sauce
2 Cups Water
1 Cube Cube Bouillon
1 Tbsp Seaoned Salt
5 Cups Basmati Rice
5 Cups Chicken Stock / Broth You can add more if you like your rice softer or stickier
1/4 Pound Ginger Blended
1 Bulb Onion

Instructions

First of all, warm up your oil in a saucepan for five minutes
Add the onions and let it cook for about 5 minutes
Add the blended garlic and ginger
Add the tomato paste and 2 cups of water. Stir for a few minutes until the sauce is nice and smooth and let it simmer for about 15- 20 minutes.
You can now include the Basmati Rice and let it cook for another 30 minutes. Cover the rice mix with a foil wrap with the saucepan lid over it. The foil traps the steam and allows it to cook a well and faster. Stir the mix every 5 - 10 minutes until cooked. Your world famous Jollof rice is ready!

Recipe Notes

5 from 8 votes

Jollof Rice

Jollof Rice is a highly popular West African rice dish that is made out of rice, tomatoes/ tomato sauce, spices/herbs.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine West African

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 275 kcal

Author fnonterah2018

Kaklo (ripe plantain spicy cakes)

Kaklo (ripe plantain spicy cakes)

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Kaklo, this week’s recipe is so dear to my heart because it has always been one of my favorite meals.

This is different from fried plantains aka Kelewele.

The difference is that Kaklo is made cornflour and Kelewele is not.

I always looked forward to lunch on Fridays as a kid. Because I knew I was going to be eating either fried plantains or Kaklo with beans stew.

The day you try this recipe you’ll feel cheated because it took you so long to find out about this wonderful recipe.

Also, don’t keep this recipe to yourself share it with your guests, spices can found on Amazon.

5 from 5 votes

Kaklo (ripe plantain spicy cakes)

Extremely ripe plantains mashed and deep fried into spicy cakes.

Course Appetizer

Cuisine West African

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 4 People

Author fnonterah2018

Ingredients

5 Ripe Plantains
2 Cups Canola Oil (For deep fry)
1/2 Cup Corn Flour
1 Tbsp Salt
1 Tsp Black Pepper
1 Clove Garlic
1 Bulb Onion
1/2 Pound Ginger Root
1/2 Cup Water

Instructions

Cut up the ripe plantains into little pieces
Put in a blender together with all the other ingredients and blend until its a smooth puree
With an ice cream scoop, fill up the scoop with the mix; you can also make the balls with your palm
Deep fry them for about 10 minutes or until its like the above shown picture. And your Kaklo is ready to be devoured!

Fried Rice

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5 from 5 votes

Fried Rice

Cooked Basmati rice fried with onions, and other veggies.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese, West African

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

3 Cups Basmati Rice
1 Bulb Onion
1 Sweet Red Pepper
1 Habanero Pepper
3 Tbsp Home Made Chicken Broth
2 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 Tsp Seasoned Salt
1 Tsp Brown Sugar
2 Medium Sized Carrots Shredded
3 Cups Water
2 Tbsp Canola Oil

Instructions

Start by cooking your 3 cups of rice with the 3 the cups of water with a pinch of salt
While the rice is cooking cut up your vegetables.
Heat your oil in a skillet or a wok and pour your onions in a let it cook for 5 minutes
Pour in your rice and stir for a few minutes and add in other other veggies
Add seasoned salt and Oyster sauce and stir, your fried rice should be ready in about another 5-10 minutes. Serve with a salad and some chicken!

Fried rice is one of our favorite meals at home not only because its quick to make but also because its so delicious.

I remember sometime 2 years ago was when I noticed my son will come up with a dance whenever I made it.

The picture above was my lunch for today, I ate it with chicken and Kaklo .

If you want to eat it the West African way serve it with some shitto , you can thank me later :).

Most of the ingredients can found on Amazon.

ORANGE MARMALADE

Orange Marmalade

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Today’s recipe Orange Marmalade was my favorite spread on bread with a nice, warm cup of hot chocolate :).

My older sister used to make, bottle, and distribute different flavors back in Ghana when we were growing up.

Although there was an abundance of it, I never got tired of eating my favorite marmalade mixed with butter on warm soft bread.

I could have it for breakfast every day of the week.

However, I can’t do that at this point in my life, I have to watch what I eat.

My favorite bread to use this great spread on is the West African famous Ghana Sugar Bread.

Once you try it let me know how it goes.

The best marmalades can be found at your local Farmer’s Markets or on Amazon.

5 from 7 votes

Orange Marmalade

Orange Marmalade is a delicious spread used on bread crackers, scones, etc.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine ENGLISH

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 6 People

Calories 60 kcal

Ingredients

4 ORANGES
2 Cups SUGAR
1/2 Cup Lemon
2 Cups Water

Instructions

Remove the rind from the orange and set aside
Put the orange fruit in a food processor and blend until its nice and smooth.
Cut the orange rinds into fine small pieces and set aside.
Separate the half lemon and chop up the rind into small fine pieces, chop up the other part of the lemon as well.
Pour the sugar, water, rinds, orange and lemon in a cooking pan and boil at medium heat for about 25 minutes and lower for the last 20 minutes.

Shitto (Ghana Hot Sauce)

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I know, the name Shitto (Ghana Hot Sauce) is quite close to a certain bad word we all know, and actually, a British TV network ran a story on it in a hilarious fashion.

However, those who’ve tasted it know what the deal is, no other hot sauce in the world comes close.

Growing up, Shitto was a delicacy and we had it a few times a year. But now we have it at least once a month.

But when I shipped off to boarding while in High School Shitto was a go-to sauce that we ate with everything!

We would eat it with rice, Waakye, Kenkey, Banku; and can also be used as a dip for fries, spring rolls, dumplings, etc.

Serve this world-famous Shitto with Fried rice you bought from the corner store or made at home.

Most of the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store, except maybe the shrimp powder.

5 from 6 votes

Shitto

A hot and spicy hot sauce made in Ghana, and other part of West Africa.

Cuisine West African

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings 4 People

Ingredients

1 Pound Powdered Shrimp
1 Pound Powdered Bony Fish Or Anchovies
1 Tbsp Powdered Cayenne Pepper
1 Bulb Onions Blended
1/4 Pound Ginger root Blended
1 Cube Maggie
1 Cup Canola Oil
Pinch of Salt
1 14 oz Tomato Paste
3 Habanero Pepper

Instructions

Start by frying the blended onions for 5 minutes.
Add your blended ginger and let it cook for another 5 minutes.
Add bony fish and shrimp powder and stir in the Maggie cube.
Lower the stove and let it simmer for another 20-30 minutes and add your can of tomato paste.
After about 7 minutes your world famous shitto is ready.

Sobolo (Jamaica De Agua)

Sobolo (Jamaica De Agua)

5 from 6 votes

SOBOLO (JAMAICA DRINK)

Or Jamaica is a tropical drink made out of dried Hibiscus flowers.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Tropical

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Servings 5 People

Calories 100 kcal

Author fnonterah2018

Ingredients

2 Cups Dried hibiscus/Jamaica
2 Lemons
10 Cups Water
1-2 Cups Sugar Depends on how sweet you want it
1/2 Pound Ginger

Instructions

Slightly Rinse the dried Hibiscus
Boil the hibiscus dried leaves, lemon, water, and ginger in a pan for about 15 minutes
Let it cool off for about 3-4 hours
Strain the mixture into a pitcher, add sugar and 5 more cups of water and refrigerate for about 6 hours or overnight

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I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link.

Sobolo (Jamaica De Agua), Hibiscus Tea, Bissap is a highly popular beverage in Ghana and other West African countries.

It is slightly different from the Hibiscus tea/drink drunk in different parts of the world.

It has been around for a while but it really got popular in Ghana between 2004 and 2006.

Now you can find it in almost any restaurant in Ghana or Nigeria.

You can switch things up by serving your guests with Sobolo they’ll be so grateful! Serve this refreshing drink with Jollof or fried rice.

Sobolo also has a lot of health benefits: Lowers blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol; it’s also rich in anti-oxidants.

Find it on amazon.

West African-Style Bongo Chicken

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5 from 22 votes

West African-Style Bongo Chicken

Bongo Chicken is a West African-Inspired recipe that I crested with a collection of different spices.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine West African

Keyword West African-Style Bongo Chicken

Prep Time 1 hour

Cook Time 2 hours

Total Time 3 hours

Servings 5

Calories 1200 kcal

Ingredients

1 Bulb Onion
2 Habanero Peppers
1 Clove Garlic
1/8 Pound Ginger
1 Tbsp Paprika
1 Tbsp Chili Powder
2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Creole Seasoning You can use seasoned salt or Adobo Seasoning as a substitute.
1 Tsp Salt
2 Cups Water
3 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Whole Chicken (Medium)

West African-Style Bongo Chicken is very dear to my heart because I created it myself.

I got the name from an African drum set called Bongo drums or Congas.

Back when I was in college at Philadelphia, I would make Bongo Chicken and my friends loved it!

I used to think to myself I need to give this recipe a name. So since I loved the congas I figured I’ll come up with my own name. So that’s the story behind this great recipe.

Serve the freshly West African-Style Bongo Chicken recipe with a bowl of rice, potatoes, pasta, or your favorite side dish.

The ingredients can be found at your local supermarket or by using this Amazon link.

Amazon has been a blessing during this self-isolation period because you can purchase almost anything from there.