Food is a major part of the Christmas festivities. After all, it’s always the social glue that brings people together. Across Africa, the culinary scene is diverse not just among countries but also among the tribes within every country. Each tribe has a special Christmas delicacy, so what are traditional African Christmas foods?
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West Africa
West Africa is known for its colorful dishes, strong aromas, and spicy food. One of the main dishes in this region is rice, which can be cooked in a variety of ways. However, because of its popularity, jollof rice stands out from the rest. It’s cooked with tomatoes, onions, and spices and served with fried chicken.
Pepper soup is another common West African dish during Christmas, made of fish, goat meat or chicken. A warm bowl of this soup leaves you buzzing. You can pair it with fried plantain and sweet bean pudding.
Apart from solid foods, West Africa is known for its drinks and desserts. Chin chin is a beloved dessert treat for children and adults. Additionally, traditional alcoholic beverages include palm wine and zobo.
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East Africa
What are traditional African Christmas foods in East Africa? Nyama choma, or roasted meat, is a popular celebratory meal in the region, usually accompanied by alcohol. The meat could be goat, beef, or chicken, slowly roasted over an open flame and served with kachumbari (onion, chilli, and tomato salad). It’s accompanied by ugali, the country’s staple meal.
Chapati is a favorite during this time of year. It’s eaten with stews, such as beans and lentils. For dessert, the region delights in mandazi, a dough-like bread. This is eaten with tea or dawa (a honey-ginger tea).
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Southern Africa
In Southern Africa, like East Africa, people delight in roasted meat, referred to as braai. Families come together around the grill to prepare it using different types of meat, such as boerewors, chicken, and lamb. During the cooking, the meat produces amazing aromas that inspire the Christmas spirit. In addition, they eat pap, served with chakalaka, a spicy vegetable. They also have salads or coleslaw with their meals.
When it comes to dessert, malva pudding, a soft, spongy cake made with apricot jam, is the most common, together with trifles and fruit salads.
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Central Africa
In Central Africa, fufu, made with cassava, corn, cocoyams and yams, is a common festive meal. It is served with peanut soup and, at times, with chicken and fish. Other dishes people enjoy include grilled or smoked fish, fried plantains, and green vegetables. For drinks, homemade fruit juices and palm wine are common.
Conclusion
What are traditional African Christmas foods? We hope the breakdown of the regions and their traditional meals gives you a clue of what you can expect if you visit the continent during this time of year. These are the common meals, so you might encounter others that add to the festive feeling. What meals do you always have during Christmas?
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