Yoruba cuisine: Difference between revisions

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Some Yoruba dishes:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walubengo |first=Peris |date=2022-09-21 |title=Top 10 Yoruba foods, their names, pictures, and ingredients |url=https://www.legit.ng/ask-legit/top/1144103-top-yoruba-foods-names/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Legit.ng – Nigeria news. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-13 |title=YORUBA FOOD COLLECTION – Sumptuous Meals of the Yoruba Culture you must try! – Discover Yoruba |url=https://discoveryoruba.com/yoruba-food-collection-sumptuous-meals-of-the-yoruba-culture-you-must-try/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=10 Yoruba Most Famous Foods – OneTouch.ng |url=https://onetouch.ng/1703/yoruba-most-famous-foods/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=onetouch.ng}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ThingsToKnow |date=2023-10-01 |title=Yoruba Foods: 10 Yoruba Foods and Their Ingredients |url=https://thingstoknow.com.ng/yoruba-foods/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Things To Know |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219124130/https://thingstoknow.com.ng/yoruba-foods/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[Egusi sauce|Egusi]] : An obe (stewed or soup dish) made from egusi seeds, vegetables and other ingredients

* [[Egusi sauce|Egusi]]: An obe (stewed or soup dish) made from egusi seeds, vegetables and other ingredients

* [[Akara]]: A fried bean cake

* Akara elepo, Akara kengbe, Akara osu, Akara koko : Palm oil style Akara

* Akara elepo, Akara kengbe, Akara osu, Akara koko: Palm oil style Akara

* [[Moin moin|Moimoi]] / [[Moin moin|Olele]] : A steamed bean pudding

* [[Moin moin|Moimoi]] / [[Moin moin|Olele]]: A steamed bean pudding

* Moinmoin elepo: Palm oil moi moi

* Moi Moi Elemi Meji : Type of moi moi

* Moi Moi Elemi Meji: Type of moi moi

* [[Ogi (food)|Ogi]] (also known as Eko mimu): A custard like dish made from corn, millet or sorghum

* Ogi baba : brown ogi made from millet or sorghum or oka baba

* Ogi baba: brown ogi made from millet or sorghum or oka baba

* [[Boli (plantain)|Boli]] : Grilled or roasted plantians

* [[Boli (plantain)|Boli]]: Grilled or roasted plantians

* [[Ogi (food)|Eko]] (also known as Àgìdí): A solid Jello like pudding made from corn, millet or sorghum

* [[Ekuru]] / [[Ekuru|Ofuloju]] : A corn based dish

* [[Ekuru]] / [[Ekuru|Ofuloju]]: A corn based dish

* [[Gizdodo]] : Dodo (fried plantains) and gizzard meal

* [[Gizdodo]]: Dodo (fried plantains) and gizzard meal

* Ikokore/Ifokore : A water yam pottage

* Ikokore/Ifokore: A water yam pottage

* [[Adalu (food)|Adalu]] : A beans and corn pottage

* [[Adalu (food)|Adalu]]: A beans and corn pottage

* [[Ofada rice|Ofada]] : Made from local rice blend eaten with ayamase or red lafenwa sauce

* [[Ofada rice|Ofada]]: Made from local rice blend eaten with ayamase or red lafenwa sauce

* Isu ati eyin : Yam and egg (usually fried egg or scrambled with peppers, tomatoes and spices)

* Isu ati eyin: Yam and egg (usually fried egg or scrambled with peppers, tomatoes and spices)

* Isu ati obe dindin : Boiled yam and stew

* Isu ati obe dindin: Boiled yam and stew

* Iresi Eyin : Palm oil one pot rice

* Iresi Eyin: Palm oil one pot rice

* Iresi ati obe ata dindin : White rice and tomato-pepper based stew

* Iresi ati obe ata dindin: White rice and tomato-pepper based stew

* [[Ayamase]] : Special stew that can be eaten with ofada rice

* [[Ayamase]]: Special stew that can be eaten with ofada rice

* [[Ewa aganyin|Ewagoyin]] : beans and spicy agoyin sauce that can be eaten with yam, bread or plaintain

* [[Ewa aganyin|Ewagoyin]]: beans and spicy agoyin sauce that can be eaten with yam, bread or plaintain

* [[Ewedu soup|Ewedu]]: A vegetable soup

* Shoko : A vegetable dish

* Shoko: A vegetable dish

* [[Okele]] ([[Pounded yam|Iyan]], [[Eba]], Lafun, [[Amala (food)|Amala]]/Oka, [[Fufu]], [[Pupuru]] etc.) : Category of morsel foods called swallows im pidgin

* [[Okele]] ([[Pounded yam|Iyan]], [[Eba]], Lafun, [[Amala (food)|Amala]]/Oka, [[Fufu]], [[Pupuru]] etc.): Category of morsel foods called swallows im pidgin

* [[Ila Alasepo|Ila alasepo]] : A mixed seafood okro

* [[Ila Alasepo|Ila alasepo]]: A mixed seafood okro

* [[Dodo ikire|Dodoikire]] : A candied dish made from ripe plantain, palm oil and pepper

* [[Dodo ikire|Dodoikire]]: A candied dish made from ripe plantain, palm oil and pepper

* [[Egbo (food)|Egbo]] ati Ewa

* Gbure oloboro

* [[Kokoro (snack food)|Kokoro]] : Fried snack made from corn and has two types

* [[Kokoro (snack food)|Kokoro]]: Fried snack made from corn and has two types

* Guguru ati epa

* [[Aadun|Adun]] : A corn snack

* [[Aadun|Adun]]: A corn snack

* [[Plantain mosa|Mosa]] (Plantain Mosa and [[Corn Mosa]]) : Fried snacks similar to puff puff but with plantain, corn or other ingredients

* [[Plantain mosa|Mosa]] (Plantain Mosa and [[Corn Mosa]]): Fried snacks similar to puff puff but with plantain, corn or other ingredients

* [[Jollof rice|Jollof]] : One pot spiced rice dish

* [[Jollof rice|Jollof]]: One pot spiced rice dish

* [[Asun]] : Goat meat barbecue dish

* [[Asun]]: Goat meat barbecue dish

* [[Ipekere]] : Plaintain chips

* [[Ipekere]]: Plaintain chips

* Dun Dun Oniyeri : Yam coated in an egg batter and deep fried

* Dun Dun Oniyeri: Yam coated in an egg batter and deep fried

* [[Warankasi|Warakasi]] : Milk curds or cheese

* [[Warankasi|Warakasi]]: Milk curds or cheese

* [[Sisi Pelebe|Sisi pelebe]] : Peanut snack

* [[Sisi Pelebe|Sisi pelebe]]: Peanut snack

* Fried rice (Iresi dindin)

* [[Baba dudu]]: Coconut candy

* Obe iru : Iru flavored stew, obe ata variants

* Obe iru: Iruflavored stew, obe ata variants

* [[Fried plantain|Dodo]]

* Ekusu/Sapala

* [[Abula (soup)|Abula]] : Amala with Gbegiri and ewedu and obe ata

* [[Abula (soup)|Abula]]: Amala with Gbegiri and ewedu and obe ata

* [[Ogbono soup|Apon]] : A melon seed soup made from oro also known as ogbono/ogbolo

* [[Ogbono soup|Apon]]: A melonseed soup made from oro also known as ogbono/ogbolo

* Egusi ijebu : A plain style of egusi made with no vegetables

* Egusi ijebu: A plain style of egusi made with no vegetables

* Akara Egusi : Fried Egusi dough ball

* Akara Egusi: Fried Egusi dough ball

* Gurundi : A candied snack

* Gurundi: A candied snack

* [[Agege bread]]

* Iresi agbon : Coconut rice

* Iresi agbon: Coconut rice

* Gure : Vegetable stew

* Gure: Vegetable stew

* Obe eja dindin : Fried fish stew

* Obe eja dindin: Fried fish stew

* Marugbo ati pupuru

* Ebiropo

* [[Dundun (food)|Dundun]] : Fried yam dish

* [[Dundun (food)|Dundun]]: Fried yam dish

* [[Obe ata|Buka stew]] : An obe ata variant

* [[Obe ata|Buka stew]]: An obe ata variant

* Jollof spag : ~~One~~ pot spaghetti dish

* Jollof spag: pot spaghetti dish

* Agbado sisun: Roasted corn

* Igbin dindin : Fried snail

* Igbin dindin: Fried snail

* Peppered snail

* [[Zobo drink|Zobo]] : An roselle drink

* [[Zobo drink|Zobo]]: roselle drink

* Gbegiri : bean soup

* Gbegiri: bean soup

* Robo: peanut or melon seed cake snack, usually ball-shaped

* Robo: peanut or melonseed cake snack, usually ball-shaped

* Emu : Palm wine

* Emu: Palm wine

* Ila ati obe dindin : Okro and fried stew (~~seperate~~ from the one pot style ila alasepo)

* Ila ati obe dindin: Okro and fried stew ( from the onepotstyle ila alasepo)

* Garri : Cassava granules

* Garri: Cassava granules

* Egg sauce

* [[Chapman (drink)|Chapman]] : A non alcoholic drink, sold as a mix as well as different brands

* [[Chapman (drink)|Chapman]]: A nonalcoholic drink, sold as a mix as well as different brands

* Buns : Deep fried dry dough ball

* Buns: Deepfried dry dough ball

* Agbado ati agbon : Corn and coconut dish

* Agbado ati agbon: Corn and coconut dish

* Eyin Awo

* Isun sisun

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* [[Asun]]: A spiced Yoruba grilled/smoked meat.

* [[Plantain mosa|Mosa]] (plantain and corn mosa)

* Small chops (small regional trays contains varying items ; includes puff puff, buns, mosa, samosa, spring rolls, fish rolls, sausage rolls)

* Small chops (small regional trays contains varying items; includes puff puff, buns, mosa, samosa, spring rolls, fish rolls, sausage rolls)

* Gurundi: Baked Coconut snack.

* Shukshuk: Coconut candy.

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* Coconut Clusters: Sugary Coconut candy.

* [[Ipekere]]: Plantain Chips.

* Pekere : Corn snack

* Pekere: Corn snack

* [[Beske]]: Fried Soymilk curds.

* [[Warankasi|Wara-kasi]]: Milk curds.

Foods of the Yorùbá people

Yoruba cuisine is the numerous and diverse foods of the Yoruba people of Yorubaland (Yoruba native regions of West Africa).^[1] Some notable Yoruba food includes Ọ̀fadà, Àsáró, Mọ́í Mọ́í, Ẹ̀gúsí soup, Àbùlà, Àkàrà, Ilá Alásèpọ̀, Boli, Ogi and Ẹ̀fọ́ rírò with Òkèlè. Yoruba cuisine has gained global acclaim outside of africa with restaurant chains selling Yoruba food like Enish. Also on the global front is the fine dining Yoruba inspired Michelin star restaurants like Akoko, Chisuru and Ikoyi in London who also serve Yoruba dishes.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]Yoruba food have also ranked among top best african food on taste atlas, including dishes like Eforiro, Eba, Moi moi, Jollof rice, Egusi, Asun, amongst others.^[7]

Yoruba food general list

[edit]

Some Yoruba dishes:^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]

Egusi: An obe (stewed or soup dish) made from egusi seeds, vegetables and other ingredients
Akara: A fried bean cake
Akara elepo, Akara kengbe, Akara osu, Akara koko: Palm oil style Akara
Moimoi / Olele: A steamed bean pudding
Moinmoin elepo: Palm oil moi moi
Moi Moi Elemi Meji: Type of moi moi
Ogi (also known as Eko mimu): A custard like dish made from corn, millet or sorghum
Ogi baba: brown ogi made from millet or sorghum or oka baba
Boli: Grilled or roasted plantians
Eko (also known as Àgìdí): A solid Jello like pudding made from corn, millet or sorghum
Ekuru / Ofuloju: A corn based dish
Gizdodo: Dodo (fried plantains) and gizzard meal
Ikokore/Ifokore: A water yam pottage
Adalu: A beans and corn pottage
Ofada: Made from local rice blend eaten with ayamase or red lafenwa sauce
Isu ati eyin: Yam and egg (usually fried egg or scrambled with peppers, tomatoes and spices)
Isu ati obe dindin: Boiled yam and stew
Iresi Eyin: Palm oil one pot rice
Iresi ati obe ata dindin: White rice and tomato-pepper based stew
Ayamase: Special stew that can be eaten with ofada rice
Ewagoyin: beans and spicy agoyin sauce that can be eaten with yam, bread or plaintain
Ewedu: A vegetable soup
Shoko: A vegetable dish
Okele (Iyan, Eba, Lafun, Amala/Oka, Fufu, Pupuru, etc.): Category of morsel foods called swallows im pidgin
Ila alasepo: A mixed seafood okro
Dodoikire: A candied dish made from ripe plantain, palm oil and pepper
Egbo ati Ewa
Gbure oloboro
Kokoro: Fried snack made from corn and has two types
Guguru ati epa
Adun: A corn snack
Mosa (Plantain Mosa and Corn Mosa): Fried snacks similar to puff puff but with plantain, corn or other ingredients
Jollof: One pot spiced rice dish
Asun: Goat meat barbecue dish
Ipekere: Plaintain chips
Dun Dun Oniyeri: Yam coated in an egg batter and deep fried
Warakasi: Milk curds or cheese
Sisi pelebe: Peanut snack
Fried rice (Iresi dindin)
Baba dudu: Coconut candy
Obe iru: Iru-flavored stew, obe ata variants
Dodo
Ekusu/Sapala
Abula: Amala with Gbegiri and ewedu and obe ata
Apon: A melon-seed soup made from oro also known as ogbono/ogbolo
Egusi ijebu: A plain style of egusi made with no vegetables
Akara Egusi: Fried Egusi dough ball
Gurundi: A candied snack
Agege bread
Iresi agbon: Coconut rice
Gure: Vegetable stew
Obe eja dindin: Fried fish stew
Marugbo ati pupuru
Ebiropo
Dundun: Fried yam dish
Buka stew: An obe ata variant
Jollof spag: Single-pot spaghetti dish
Agbado sisun: Roasted corn
Igbin dindin: Fried snail
Peppered snail
Zobo: A roselle drink
Gbegiri: bean soup
Robo: peanut or melon-seed cake snack, usually ball-shaped
Emu: Palm wine
Ila ati obe dindin: Okro and fried stew (distinct from the one-pot-style ila alasepo)
Garri: Cassava granules
Egg sauce
Chapman: A non-alcoholic drink, sold as a mix as well as different brands
Buns: Deep-fried dry dough ball
Agbado ati agbon: Corn and coconut dish
Eyin Awo
Isun sisun
Tinko
Esunsun
Eekana gowon
Ewedu Elegusi
Ewa Pakure
Efo Elegusi
Balewa
Bugan
Alapa / Jogi
Ishapa
Kundi
Ojojo
Ponmo alata
Beske
Abari
Isu ati epo pupa
Pafun
Pekere
Ila ati Obe ata
Puff Puff
Igbin Pelu Obe ata
Anama / Odukun
Ofada sauce
Obe adiye
Ilasa
Esuru
Eko Ada
Jaloke/jaaloke
Lapata / ipakere
Obe ila funfun
Luru
Orunla
Imoyo
Efo ( Soko, gbagba, Ebolo, Yanrin, Odu, Worowo, Tete, Gure, Ajefawo, Iyanaipaja)
Yoyo : Deep fried small white fish
Obe Eyin : Palm oil stew

Food with Foreign roots now also made with distinct Yoruba style in Yorubaland. This is different from foreign food found in Yoruba regions, made as it is as it would in its native homelands.

Yoruba style:

Small chops (Yoruba style samosas and spring rolls).
Meat pie / Mince pie.
Egg roll.
Samosa.
Doughnuts.
Sausage rolls.
Fish roll.
Fish pie.
Spring roll.
Chicken pie.
Shawarma.
Scotch egg.
Different pastries and cakes.
Salads and coleslaws.
Stir fried noodles.
Stir fried spaghetti.

Yoruba breakfast consists of a myriad of choice. Some food are more common for breakfast, lunch and dinner but it is also flexible to eat those meals at other times of the day as well if preferred. Typically breakfast can be different types of rice dishes, or Soups (obe) with “swallow” (Okele). Foods like Akara and Moi Moi can also be had. Some common Yoruba breakfasts include:

Akara and Bugan (bread) with tea: Akara is a fried bean cake, it can be eaten alongside bread with tea sometimes included in the meal.
Ogi with Moi Moi: Ogi is a custard like dish, Moi Moi is a steamed bean pudding that.
Ofada: A rice dish made with native spotted rice eaten with either Ayamase sauce or Ofada sauce with meat or fish and/or egg. Dodo (fried plantains) can be added.
Iresi ati Obe ata: Rice and a type of tomato-pepper spiced stew eaten alongside meat (beef, goat meat, chicken, turkey), egg or fish.
Ila-alasepo ati Eba: An okro soup dish with Eba (a cassava garri based Okele).
Isu ati Eyin din din: Yam and egg sauce.

Lunch has a diverse range of dishes just like breakfast. Some popular lunch dishes include:

Obe Egusi and Iyan: Egusi soup and pounded yam with assorted meat (Eran) or fish.
Ewagoyin and agege bread: A spiced mashed beans with agoyin sauce with agege bread.
Jollof: Jollof rice with meat, fish, egg and salad or coleslaw with moi moi and dodo (fried plantains).
Fried rice: A local style fried rice with the same side options as the above.
Asaro: Yam porridge.

Like the above previous meals of the day, dinner is filled with variety of choices. Some examples of popular dinner meals include:

Abula (Ewedu, Gbegiri, obe ata and Amala with meat and or fish): A mixed soup dish with different sauces and Amala.
Efo riro with Iyan, Eba or Fufu: A spiced vegetable soup with proteins and Okele of choice.
Obe Apon and Fufu: A nutty draw soup with Fufu (or any okele of choice).
Iresi Eyin: A spiced palm oil rice.

Some Yoruba snacks and side dishes include:

Kokoro: A fried crunchy snack made from corn meal.
Dodo ikire: A “candied” oiled and spiced mashed dodo snack.
Asun: A spiced Yoruba grilled/smoked meat.
Mosa (plantain and corn mosa)
Small chops (small regional trays contains varying items; includes puff puff, buns, mosa, samosa, spring rolls, fish rolls, sausage rolls)
Gurundi: Baked Coconut snack.
Shukshuk: Coconut candy.
Sisi Pelebe: Candied pounded groundnut candy.
Tanfiri
Robo
Baba dudu
Coconut candy, pan fried.
Coconut flakes.
Coconut Clusters: Sugary Coconut candy.
Ipekere: Plantain Chips.
Pekere: Corn snack
Beske: Fried Soymilk curds.
Wara-kasi: Milk curds.
Chin Chin flakes: fried or baked snack made with flour, sugar, egg, flavoring and so on.
Candied peanuts, pan cooked.
Balewa: A hard candy sweet.
Eekana Gowon: A candy.
Aadun.
Dundun: Fried yams.
Dundun oniyeri / Yamarita: An egg batter coated deep fried yam.
Eja yoyo – Small white battered fish
Eja din din – Battered Fried fish
Meat Pies.
Rolls.

Okele are starchy balls eaten in Yorubaland. They are also referred to as swallows. They don’t have to be swallowed however or chewed as it is a preference. Okele include Fufu, Eba, Amala, Iyan, Lafun, and Semo.

Soups are a staple of Yoruba culture. Some of these soups are what will be considered stews in the English language due to texture but are categorised as soups due to it being eaten with okele. Soups are eaten with okele. Soups are called Obe. Some soups include Egusi, Eforiro, Efo, Ewedu, Gbegiri, Marugbo, Apon, Ila, Ila- alasepo, Ilasa.

Yoruba cuisine offers a rich variety of stews, eaten mainly with rice dishes but sometimes with yam, potatoes, bread or bean dishes. These stews are usually made with a tomato-pepper variants and onion base with spices including garlic, ginger, bay leaf, iru and so on, in a unique frying technique in groundnut oil/peanut oil (òróró) or palm oil (Epo /Epo pupa). Stew in Yoruba is generally called Obe-ata, but its also specifically a kind of common white rice stew. Some stews include: Ọbẹ̀ ata, Ọbẹ̀ ata díndín, Buka stew, Ọ̀fadà sauce, Ayamaṣe, Àgànyìn sauce, Ọbẹ̀ irú, Ọbẹ̀ Adìyẹ, Ọbẹ̀ Ẹja tútù, Ọbẹ̀ Ìmóyò.

Popular drinks in Yorubaland are Zobo (an hibiscus drink), Kunu, Ògùrọ̀ and Ẹmu (Palm wine). Tea, chocolate beverage, coffee and malt drinks are also enjoyed. Chapman is a drink invented in Yorubaland that is also a common softdrink. Global beverages are also consumed alongside local variants as well.

^ Walubengo, Peris (2022-09-21). “Top 10 Yoruba foods, their names, pictures, and ingredients”. Legit.ng – Nigeria news. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
^ Kennedy, Adrienne Katz (2024-02-29). “Exclusive: Adajoké Bakare’s Michelin-Starred Restaurant Is Defining West African Cuisine In London”. Tasting Table. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
^ “Akoko’s Aji Akokomi on Leading the Way for West African Cooking in London”. MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
^ “Akoko, London – Nigerian food giving 10/10 Michelin style”. Garman vs Food. 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
^ “Adejoke Bakare Becomes First Black Female Michelin-Starred Chef in the UK! – EiE Nigeria”. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
^ eatinbrixton (2020-11-07). “Chishuru”. EATINBRIXTON. Retrieved 2026-01-11.
^ “Eat Local in Africa”. www.tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
^ Walubengo, Peris (2022-09-21). “Top 10 Yoruba foods, their names, pictures, and ingredients”. Legit.ng – Nigeria news. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
^ “YORUBA FOOD COLLECTION – Sumptuous Meals of the Yoruba Culture you must try! – Discover Yoruba”. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
^ “10 Yoruba Most Famous Foods – OneTouch.ng”. onetouch.ng. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
^ ThingsToKnow (2023-10-01). “Yoruba Foods: 10 Yoruba Foods and Their Ingredients”. Things To Know. Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.

Yoruba food general list

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