Ghana is a country located in West Africa. There is a lot that one can learn about Ghanaian culture by what they eat. To enjoy most of what Ghana has to offer, stop by a chop bar (restaurants in Ghana that only serve local food) to sample some of the following meals
1. Red-Red (Beans with plantain)
Red-red is a wholesome traditional dish that consists of boiled cowpea beans cooked in red palm oil and chunks of fish, served with soft, fried plantain. Even though it goes with fried plantain, one can also use rice or garri (roasted cassava flakes) as an accompaniment. One can make it vegetarian by removing the chunks of fish without compromising the dish whatsoever.
2. Ghana Jollof Rice
Jollof rice is initially from Senegal, but Ghanaians have adopted it and made it their own. It is a pot dish of rice made with tomatoes/ tomato sauce and red peppers. The rice absorbs the juicy flavors and turns orange when cooked. The tomatoes add to the richness to the taste while the peppers add to its spiciness, meshing together to form a unique, delicious flavor. It goes with any meat or vegetables for vegetarians. One can also try it with different sauces because it goes with everything. It is a very spicy dish which is important to note before ordering the meal. Since it is a national dish, it common in almost all restaurants and street vendors at a low price.
3. Waakye
Ghanaians are very creative in the way they prepare their rice and Waakye is one recipe that does that. It was initially a northern dish, but it can be found everywhere in Accra. Waakye (pronounced as wa-chayy), is a street-side dish that is a combination of rice and beans. It can be eaten anytime especially for breakfast and brunch. It is a spicy dish accompanied by fried plantain, garri (grated cassava), spaghetti, fried fish, eggs, avocado, shito (Ghanaian pepper sauce/salsa) or vegetables.
4. Banku and fish stew
Banku is a southern dish favorite in the Ghanian coast made from a combination of fermented corn and cassava dough. The mixture is then added to boiling water and stirred until a white starchy paste with a thick consistency form. The cook rolls the dough-like mixture into irregular shapes of different sizes. It goes with soups such as okra soup/stew, groundnut soup, palm nut soup, tomato stew and egg stew or hot pepper sauces with tomatoes, onions and green peppers. Tilapia is the main fish that is customarily spiced then grilled as an accompaniment to Banku.
5. Fufu and goat light soup
Fufu is a famous African dish that varies from place to place in its preparation processes and techniques. It is a typical dish in West African countries such as Nigeria, Benin, Ivory Coast and Togo. Fufu is a pounded mixture of boiled plantain and cassava that is ponded using a pestle and mortar to achieve a light paste. The sauces and soups that accompanies and makes it rich in flavor may also be different in many of these regions. Substitutes to the Ghanaian light soup could be groundnut soup and palm nut soup.
Conclusion
Ghana is fantastic country rich in culture and traditional cuisines. There are plenty of other recipes that you can try when you visit the place. Since Ghana is also known for its cocoa trees, the chocolate is excellent, with no additives at all. Ghana has plenty of delicacies that you can choose from even if you have dietary restrictions or preferences.