Ghanaian cuisine: Difference between revisions

'''Ghanaian cuisinescuisine''' referrefers to the [[Meal|meals]] of the [[Ghanaian people]]. The main [[Dish (food)|dishes]] of Ghana are organizedcentered around starchy [[staple food|staple foods]], whichaccompanied goes withby either a [[sauce]] or [[soup]] accompaniedas withwell as a source of [[protein]]. The mainprimary ingredients for the vast majority of soups and stews are tomatoes, hot peppers, and onions. MostAs a result of these main ingredients, most Ghanaian soups and stews areappear red or orange in appearance as a result of the main ingredients used.

<ref>{{Cite journal |last=UNE Applied Nutrition Program |date=2019-07-01 |title=Food And Culture In Ghana |url=https://dune.une.edu/an_studedres/126 |journal=All Student-Created Educational Resources}}</ref>The typical [[staple food]]s in the southern part of [[Ghana]] include [[cassava]] and [[plantain (cooking)|plantain]]. In the northern partnorth, the main staple foods include [[millet]] and [[sorghum]]. [[Yam (vegetable)|Yam]], [[maize]] and [[beans]] are usedalso staples foods across Ghana as staple foods. [[Sweet potato]]es and [[Taro|cocoyam]] are also important in the Ghanaian [[Diet (nutrition)|diet]] and [[cuisine]]. With the advent of [[globalization]], cereals such as rice and wheat have been increasingly incorporated into Ghanaian cuisine notably in the form of bread.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://csirspace.foodresearchgh.site/handle/123456789/525 |title=Breadmaking in Ghana with special reference to composite flours |last=Andah |first=A. |date=1982 |publisher=Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR),Food Research Institute, Ghana |language=en}}</ref> The foods below represent Ghanaian dishes made out of these staple foods.

*''[[Banku (dish)|Akple]]'', a traditional meal of the [[Ewe people|Ewe]], is made with corn flour and can be eaten with pepper sauces, stews, or any soup. It is typically served with okra soup (''fetridetsi'') or herring stew (''abɔbitadi''). ''Akple'' is never prepared in the same way as ''[[Banku (dish)|banku]]''. An important distinguishing factor between the two products is that ''banku'' requires the use of a special preformulated watery material called Slightly Fermented Corn-Cassava Dough Mix, cooked to a soft, solid consistency of Corncorn-Cassavacassava Doughdough, AFLATAaflata, en route to a soft form of ''Bankubanku'' with further cooking, and the Slightly Fermented Corn-Cassava Dough Mix is never the signature material of any form of the ''Akple'' product. A variety of akple, known as dzekple, is cooked with oil and meat, crab or fish.

*''[[Kenkey]]''/''komi''/''[[dokonu]]'' is fermented corn dough, wrapped in corn, originating from the [[Ga-Adangbe people|Ga people of the Ga-Adangbe]], who call it ''komi'' or Ga ''kenkey''. Another variety originating from the [[Fanti people]] is ''Fante dokono,'' or ''Fanti kenkey,'' which is wrapped with [[Cooking banana|plantain]] leaves that give it a different texture, flavourflavor, and colour as compared to the Ga ''kenkey''. Both are boiled for long periods into consistent solid balls.

*''Tuo zaafi'' is a millet, sorghum or maize dish originating from Northern [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-04 |title=Ghanaian Foods made with maize - Ghfinder |url=https://ghfinder.com/ghanaian-foods-made-with-maize/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |language=en-US |archive-date=17 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817193634/https://ghfinder.com/ghanaian-foods-made-with-maize/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*''Fonfom'' is a maize dish popular in south-western [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-04 |title=Ghanaian Foods made with maize - Ghfinder |url=https://ghfinder.com/ghanaian-foods-made-with-maize/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |language=en-US |archive-date=17 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817193634/https://ghfinder.com/ghanaian-foods-made-with-maize/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Abolo-, which is prepared by steaming corn dough and sugar mixture is a delicacy among the Ewes. It is eaten with various soups or sauces.

* Yoroyoro is widely eaten across Dagbon and many parts of [[Northern Region (Ghana)|Northern Ghana]]. It is made by boiling maize tilluntil it is softened. The food is eaten with pepper and onions.

*''[[Waakye]]''—[[rice and beans|a dish of rice and beans]] with a purple-brown color. The color comes from the [[indigenous (ecology)|indigenous]] grass, ''[[Sorghum bicolor]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Bicolor_Sorghum_13168.php|title=Bicolor Sorghum|website=www.specialtyproduce.com|access-date=2018-03-22}}</ref> This side dish bears striking similarities to West Indian rice and peas. The rice is cooked and steamed with an indigenous leaf, coconut, and a pulse such as [[black-eyed peas]] or [[kidney beans]].

*[[Jollof rice]]—rice cooked in a stew consisting of stock, tomatoes, spices, and meat boiled together. This dish originated from the [[Jolof Empire|Djolof]] traders from [[Senegal]] who settled in the [[Zongo settlements|Zongos]] before the colonial period. Adapted for local Ghanaian tastes, it is typically eaten with goat, lamb, chicken, or beef that has been stewed, roasted or grilled.

*[[Braised rice|''Angwa moo'']]—also referred to as "oiled rice". This is unlike [[fried rice]], in which you cook the rice is cooked before frying. Oiled rice is cooked by first onion-frying the oil, then adding water after the onions have browned, giving the rice a different fragrance. The rice is then cooked in the water-oil mixture, to give the rice an oily feel when ready. It may be cooked with vegetables or minced meat, added to taste. It is mostly served with earthenware-ground pepper, with either tinned sardines or fried eggs complementing it.

*''[[Kokonte]]'' or ''abete—''from dried peeled cassava powderpowder—is usually served alongside groundnut soup, consisting of a variety of meat such as [[tripe]], lamb, or smoked served.

*''[[Fufu]]—''pounded cassava and plantain,plantains; pounded [[Yam (vegetable)|yam]] and plantain, or pounded [[Taro|cocoyam/taro]]. This side dish is always accompanied by one of the many varieties of Ghanaian soups.

*[[Garri|''Gari'']]—made is made from cassava. Often served with [[Redred red]], a fish and black-eyed pea stew, or ''[[shito]]'' and fish.

* Yakayake -, made from steamed grated cassava is a favourite among the Ewe people.It is eaten with various stews or soups.

A deviation tofrom the starch and stew combination are [[Red red]] and ''[[tubaani]],'' primarily based on vegetable protein (beans). Red red is a popular Ghanaian bean and fish stew served with fried ripe plantainplantains and often accompanied with ''gari'', fish, and pulses. It earns its name from the [[palm oil]] that tints the bean stew and the bright orange color of the fried, ripe plantainplantains. ''Tubaani'' is a boiled bean cake, called ''[[moin moin]]'' in [[Nigeria]].

*''Ampesie—''boiled yam. It may also be made with plantainplantains, cocoyamcocoyams, potatoes, yams or cassava. This side dish is traditionally eaten with fish stew containing tomatoes, oil, and spices.

*''Yam fufu—[[fufu]]'' made with yam instead of cassava, or plantainplantains, or cocoyam, this soft dough iscocoyam—is traditionally eaten with Ghanaian soup. It is popular in Northern and southeastern Ghana.

*Yam balls - This super sweet delicacy, yam balls, takes the form of scotch eggs, but in this case, it's gothas the fillings of meat pie, spring rolls, samosa, or shawarma.

*Fried Yam - Deep-fried yam can be served with a variety of stews and pepper sauces. The chips are fried such that the outside is crispy and the inside is wet, blissful, and yummy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/primenewsghana |date=2021-12-08 |title=Recipe Wednesday: 8 incredible dishes you can make with yam this Christmas |url=https://www.primenewsghana.com/lifestyle/recipe-wednesday-8-incredible-dishes-you-can-make-with-yam.html |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Prime News Ghana |language=en-us}}</ref>

*Roasted Yam -: This is one of the most popular street snacks. The white yam with brown bark is used to make this dish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=https://www.facebook.com/primenewsghana |date=2021-12-08 |title=Recipe Wednesday: 8 incredible dishes you can make with yam this Christmas |url=https://www.primenewsghana.com/lifestyle/recipe-wednesday-8-incredible-dishes-you-can-make-with-yam.html |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Prime News Ghana |language=en-us}}</ref>

Most Ghanaian side dishes are served with a [[stew]], soup, or ''mako'' (a spicy condiment made from raw red and green [[chili pepper|chilies]], onions, and tomatoes ([[pepper sauce]])). Ghanaian stews and soups are quite sophisticated, with a liberal and delicate use of exotic ingredients, and a wide variety of flavours, spices and textures.

Vegetables such as palm nuts, peanuts, [[Taro|cocoyam]] leaves, [[Corchorus|''ayoyo'']], [[spinach]], wild [[Edible mushroom|mushroom]], [[okra]], garden eggs ([[eggplant]]), tomatoes, and various types of pulses are the main ingredients in Ghanaian soups and stews and in the case of [[Pulse (legume)|pulses]], may double as the main protein ingredient.

Beef, pork, goat, lamb, chicken, smoked turkey, [[tripe]], dried [[snailSnails as food|snails]]s, and fried fish are common sources of protein in Ghanaian soups and stews, sometimes mixing different types of meat and occasionally fish into one soup. Soups are served as a main course rather than a starter. It is also common to find smoked meat, fish and seafood in Ghanaian soups and stews.

[[File:Koobi.jpeg|thumbnail|230px|right |{{center|Koobi is dried [[tilapia]] that has been [[Salting (food)|salted]]}}]] They include crabcrabs, [[Shrimp and prawn as food|shrimp]], [[Common periwinkle|periwinkles]], octopus, [[Snails as food|snails]], grubs, [[Duck (food)|duck]], [[offal]], and [[pig's trotters]]. Also [[oysters]].

Meat, mushrooms, and seafood may be [[smoked]], salted, or dried for flavour enhancement and preservation. [[Salted fish|Salt fish]] is widely used to flavour fish -based stews. Spices such as [[thyme]], garlic, onions, [[ginger]], [[Capiscum|peppers]], [[curry]], [[basil]], [[nutmeg]], [[dawadawa|sumbala]], [[prekese|''Tetrapleura tetraptera'']] (''[[prekese]]'') and [[bay leaf]] are delicately used to achieve the exotic and spicy flavours that characterize Ghanaian cuisine.

[[Palm oil]], coconut oil, [[shea butter]], [[palm kernel oil]], and [[peanut oil]] are important Ghanaian oils used for cooking or frying and may sometimes not be substituted for in certain Ghanaian dishes. For example, using palm oil in [[okro]] stew, ''eto'', ''fante fante'',<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20191215220509/http://betumiblog.blogspot.com/search?q=fante+fante BetumiBlog: Search results for fante fante<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ''red red'' or ''Gabeans'', ''egusi'' stew, and ''mpihu/mpotompoto'' (similar to [[Poi (food)|poi]]).<ref>[https://archive.today/20120723054350/http://betumiblog.blogspot.com/search?q=mpihu BetumiBlog: Search results for mpihu<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Coconut oil, palm kernel oil, and shea butter have lost their popularity for cooking in Ghana due to the introduction of refined oils and negative [[Media of Ghana|Ghanaian media]] advertsadvertisements targeted at those oils. They are now mostly used in a few [[Traditional architecture|traditional homes]], for soap making, and by commercial ([[street food]]) food vendors as a cheaper substitute to refined cooking oils.

Among the Ewes, some soups are prepared with gboma (solanumSolanum macrocarpa) and also yevugboma (European gboma). Water leaf) or [[Jute mallow|ademe (jute mallow)]]. These are eaten with the various varieties of akple or, abolo (steamed corn dough) or yakayake (steamed cassava dough).

Another popular breakfast is called [[hausa koko]] (northern porridge). It is usually prepared in Northern Ghana, is sweet, and often eaten with [[koose]] or bread with groundnuts.

In large Ghanaian cities, working-class people would often take fruit, tea, chocolate drinkdrinks, [[oat]]s, rice porridge/ or cereal (locally called rice water) or ''kooko'' (fermented maize porridge), and ''koose/[[akara]]'' or ''maasa'' (beans, ripe plantain and maize meal fritters).<ref name="kokoking1">[http://www.kokoking.com.gh/food.php Kokoking: Food and nutrition] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005172437/http://www.kokoking.com.gh/food.php |date=5 October 2016 }}. {{cite web |url=http://www.kokoking.com.gh |title=KOKO KING :: Purveyors of Fine Foods |access-date=11 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003042247/http://kokoking.com.gh/ |archive-date=3 October 2013 |df=dmy }}. Retrieved 11 October 2013.</ref> Other breakfast foods include grits, ''tombrown'' (roasted maize porridge), and millet [[porridge]].<ref name="kokoking1"/>

Bread is an important feature in Ghanaian breakfastbreakfasts and [[baking|baked]] foods. Ghanaian bread, which is known for its good quality, is baked with [[wheat flour]] and sometimes cassava flour is added for an improved texture. There are four major types of bread in Ghana. They are tea bread (similar to the [[baguette]]), sugar bread (which is a sweet bread), brown (whole wheat) bread, and butter bread. Rye bread, oat bread and malt bread are also quite common.<ref>[http://www.betumi.com/2007/03/ghanas-tea-bread-secrets-ive-probably.html BetumiBlog: Ghana's Tea Bread Secrets] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424065056/http://www.betumi.com/2007/03/ghanas-tea-bread-secrets-ive-probably.html |date=24 April 2016 }}. Betumi.com (5 March 2007). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref>

There are many sweet local foods whichthat have been marginalized due to their low demand and long preparation process. Ghanaian sweet foods (or confectionery) may be fried, [[barbecue]]d, [[boil]]ed, [[Roasting|roasted]], [[baking|baked]] or [[steame]]d.

Fried sweet foods include cubed and spiced ripe plantainplantains (''kelewele'') sometimes served with peanuts. ''[[Koose]]'' made from peeled beans (and its close twin ''[[acarajé]]'' or ''[[akara]]'' made from beans whichthat are not peeled), ''maasa'',<ref>[http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-masa Breads, Cakes and Pastries] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323011419/http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-masa |date=23 March 2012 }}. Celtnet.org.uk (9 September 2007). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-massa Snacks Maasa (Sweet Millet Fritters)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921104708/http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-massa |date=21 September 2012 }}. Celtnet.org.uk (9 September 2007). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref> ''pinkaaso'',<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131107145213/http://www.flickr.com/photos/42267524%40N00/3922141303/in/photostream/ selling pinkaso and kose | Flickr – Photo Sharing!]. Flickr (16 September 2009). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref> and ''bofrot''/[[Puff-puff]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvXOiWVAFm4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/qvXOiWVAFm4 |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Alternative Bofroat (Ghanaian Doughnuts) |website=YouTube |access-date=24 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (made from [[wheat flour]]); ''waakye''<ref>[http://www.betumi.com/2006/11/kuli-kuli-is-calling-me-to_116327607898827345.html BetumiBlog] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191931/http://www.betumi.com/2006/11/kuli-kuli-is-calling-me-to_116327607898827345.html |date=4 March 2016 }}. Betumi.com (11 November 2006). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref> ''dzowey'' and ''nkate'' cake (made from peanuts);<ref>[http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-make-ghanaian-peanut-brittle-0127968/ How To Make Ghanaian Peanut Brittle | Guide (4 Steps) "Wonder How To] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412084037/http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-make-ghanaian-peanut-brittle-0127968/ |date=12 April 2012 }}. Wonderhowto.com (9 June 2011). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref> ''kaklo'' and ''tatale''<ref>[http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-tatale Plantain Cakes (Tatale) Recipe from Ghana] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814135429/http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-tatale |date=14 August 2011 }}. Celtnet.org.uk (9 September 2007). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref> (ripe plantain [[fritter]]s); ''kube'' cake and ''kube'' toffee (made from coconut); ''bankye krakro'', ''gari'' biscuit,<ref>[http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-gari-biscuits Gari Biscuits Recipe from Ghana] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103014218/http://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch-recipe.php?rid=misc-gari-biscuits |date=3 January 2012}}. Celtnet.org.uk (9 September 2007). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Ghana.html Food in Ghana – Ghanaian Food, Ghanaian Cuisine] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027220306/http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Ghana.html |date=27 October 2016 }}. Foodbycountry.com. Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref> and ''krakye ayuosu'' (made from cassava); condensed milk, [[toffee]], plantain chips (or [[fried plantain]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NxJdDj5Vtc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/1NxJdDj5Vtc |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|title=How It's Made 02 Plantain Chips |website=YouTube |access-date=24 August 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and ''wagashi''<ref>[http://bsas.org.uk/downloads/mexico/117.pdf Ghana foods] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402092340/http://bsas.org.uk/downloads/mexico/117.pdf |date=2 April 2012 }}. ''bsas.org.uk''.</ref> (fried [[farmer's cheese]]) are fried Ghanaian savory foods (confectionery).

[[Kebab]]s are popular [[barbecue|barbecue food]]s and can be made from beef, goat, pork, [[soy flour]], [[sausage|sausages]]s, and [[guinea fowl]]. Other [[Roasting|roasted]] savoury foods include roasted plantainplantains, maize, yam and [[Taro|cocoyam]].

Steamed fresh maize, ''yakeyake'', ''kafa'', ''akyeke'', ''tubani, [[moin moin|moimoi]]'' (bean cake), ''emo dokonu'' ([[rice cake|rice]] cake), and ''esikyire dokonu'' (sweetened ''kenkey'') are all examples of steamed and boiled foods, whilstwhile sweet bread, (plantain cake), and meat pie similar to [[Jamaican patty|Jamaican patties]], and [[empanada]]s are baked savoury foods. ''[[Aprapransa]]'', ''eto'' (mashed yam), and ''atadwe'' milk ([[tiger nut]] juice) are other savory foods. [[Garri|''Gari'']] soakings isare a modern favorite. It is a blend of ''gari'' (dried, roasted cassava), sugar, groundnut (peanut) and milk.

In southern Ghana, Ghanaian drinks such as ''[[asaana]]'' (made from fermented maize) are common. Along [[Lake Volta]] and in southern Ghana, [[palm wine]] extracted from the [[palm tree]] can be found, but it ferments quickly, and then it is used to distill [[akpeteshie]] (a local gin). ''Akpeteshie'' can be distilled from molasses too. In addition, a beverage can be made from ''kenkey'' and [[refrigerate]]d into what is in Ghana known as [[ice kenkey]]. In northern Ghana, bisaabbisaap/[[sorrel]], ''toose,'' and ''lamujee'' (a spicy sweetened drink) are common non-alcoholic beverages whereas ''pitoo'' (a local beer made of fermented millet) is an alcoholic beverage.

In urban areas of Ghana, drinks may include fruit juice, [[Cocoa bean|cocoa]] drinks, fresh coconut water, [[yogurt]], [[ice cream]], [[carbonate]]d drinks, [[malt]] drinks, and [[soy milk]].<ref>[http://www.fanmilk-gh.net/ Fan Milk Limited |] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908193502/http://www.fanmilk-gh.net/ |date=8 September 2016 }}. Fanmilk-gh.net (30 June 2011). Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.dic.com.gh/div-prog/coca-cola.html THE DIVESTITURE IMPLEMENTATION OF GHANA : The Divestiture Program] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202235606/http://www.dic.com.gh/div-prog/coca-cola.html |date=2 February 2012 }}. Dic.com.gh. Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref> In addition, Ghanaian distilleries produce alcoholic beverages from cocoa, malt, [[sugar cane]], local medicinal herbs, and tree barks. They include [[bitters]], [[liqueur]], dry [[gin]]s, beer, and [[aperitif]]s.<ref>[http://www.kasaprekogh.com/cms/our-brands/brand-viewer.html Kasapreko Company Limited produces alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages – an Accra, Ghana manufacturing company] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903031159/http://www.kasaprekogh.com/cms/our-brands/brand-viewer.html |date=3 September 2011 }}. Kasaprekogh.com. Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://aami.org.gh/membership/members/-ghana-brewery-ltd Guinness Ghana Brewery Ltd. | Association of Alcohol Manufacturers and Importers]{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. AAMI. Retrieved 30 November 2011.</ref>

[[Street food]] is very popular in both rural and urban areas of Ghana. MostMany Ghanaian families eat at least three times a week frompatronize street food vendors, from whom all kinds of foods can be bought, including staple foods such as ''[[kenkey]]'', [[red red]] and ''[[waakye]]''. Other savoury foods, such as rawmeat steakkebabs, boiled corn cob, ''[[Puff-puff|boflot]]/bofrot'' (ballpuff-floatpuff), and roasted plantain are sold mainly by street food vendors.

There are a some cookbooks which concentrate on Ghanaian food, including the following: