African Vegetable Dishes

Chakalaka is a spicy South African vegetable stew consisting of tomatoes, beans, and onions as its key ingredients, although some cooks might add various other ingredients such as carrots, bell peppers, chilis, and ginger. Originally, chakalaka wa... READ MORE

Loubia is a traditional North African dish consisting of stewed white beans. This dish is very popular in Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian, and Libyan homes, where the beans that have been simmered in a zesty tomato-based sauce are typically scooped u... READ MORE

Maharagwe is a popular African dish made by stewing red beans with various other ingredients. The dish can be prepared in both sweet and savory versions. The beans are typically boiled with coconut milk, cardamom, cinnamon, onions, tomatoes, garli... READ MORE

Kafteji is a traditional dish made with fried vegetables. Typical veggies used in the dish include eggplants, bell peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchinis, and pumpkins. The vegetables are fried, chopped, then combined with (often fried) eggs and s... READ MORE

Though its origins presumably lie in Morocco, matbucha is also a favorite in Israel, where it was brought by Jewish immigrants. The dish consists of roasted bell peppers and tomatoes seasoned with garlic and ground paprika. In Morocco, it is typic... READ MORE

Moin moin is a Nigerian dish consisting of ground beans or black-eyed peas, onions, oil, and freshly ground peppers such as chili, bell pepper, and Scotch bonnet. The dish is usually served as an accompaniment to jollof rice, fried plantains, and ... READ MORE

Although it originated in northern parts of Ghana, the rice-and-bean-based dish known as waakye is today consumed on a national level. Whether it's eaten for breakfast or lunch, this dish can be made as rich and as filling as one likes by adding a... READ MORE

This slow-cooked corn (hominy) and bean stew is made with vegetables (plantains, sweet potatoes, squash, and yams), meat (marinated pork, chorizo sausages, or tuna), and spices (bay leaves, garlic, and pimento). It is the perfect “poor man&r... READ MORE

Ful medames is an ancient, pre-Ottoman and pre-Islamic national dish of Egypt, a traditional breakfast food consisting of slowly simmered fava beans seasoned with a squeeze of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and selected spices. Some remnants of t... READ MORE

Mchicha is the most popular Tanzanian dish. This thick and creamy vegetarian meal is usually prepared with leafy vegetables such as amaranth or spinach with added grated coconut, coconut milk, peanut butter, tomatoes, and onions. It is recommended... READ MORE

Bissara is a comforting Egyptian and Moroccan dish made with puréed beans – either split peas or dried fava beans. It can be prepared in the form of a soup or porridge, while the thicker versions are commonly used as a dip. The pur&ea... READ MORE

Kik alicha is an Ethiopian dish consisting of a purée made from yellow split peas. The taste is mild and savory, and the dish can be additionally flavored with garlic, turmeric, or ginger. It is recommended to serve kik alicha with rice or ... READ MORE

Red red is a popular Ghanaian stew consisting of beans, red palm oil, tomato paste, and flavorings such as garlic, ginger, chili, and onions. Some cooks like to add meat or fish broth into the stew, but it is completely optional. The stew is tradi... READ MORE

Adalu is a hearty Nigerian and Cameroonian (commonly known there as corn chaff) stew utilizing corn and beans as the key ingredients. Corn and beans are slowly simmered with ingredients such as onions, palm oil, tomatoes, various spices, and beef,... READ MORE

Simple, healthy, and inexpensive, daraba is a Chadian stew made with chopped okra, mixed vegetables, tomatoes, stock cubes, and smooth peanut butter, giving the dish a unique flavor. It is usually served with rice, boiled cassava, or boiled planta... READ MORE

Ndiwo is a simple Zambian dish that is typically prepared with various leafy green vegetables, onions, and optionally tomatoes. The choice of greens may include anything from cassava leaves, collard greens, pumpkin leaves, pea leaves, bean leaves,... READ MORE

Misir wat or tsebhi birse nis a traditional and Eritrean dish and a type of wat (Ethiopian and Eritrean stew). In order to prepare it, onions are sautéed in niter kibbeh clarified butter, followed by garlic, ginger, tomato paste, berbere sp... READ MORE

Githeri is a Kenyan staple food consisting of beans and maize that are stewed with onions, tomatoes, and sometimes potatoes or meat chunks. The stew is often flavored with cumin, turmeric, or chili powder. It is traditionally served on its own, al... READ MORE

Irio is a hearty Kenyan dish with origins from the Kikuyu people. Although it has many variations, it usually consists of potatoes, peas, and corn that are boiled and mashed together. Simple, healthy, and comforting, irio is often served as a side... READ MORE

Isombe is a typical Rwandan stew made from mashed cassava leaves and other ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, coriander, garlic, Maggi seasoning, and peanut butter. The dish often has a meaty flavor although it contains no meat due to ... READ MORE

In Zambia, the term delele denotes okra, but also a simple dish that incorporates this traditional vegetable. The dish is predominately prepared with fresh okra that is cooked in water, alongside sliced tomatoes. Bicarbonate of soda is considered ... READ MORE

Atakilt wat is a traditional dish and a type of wat (Ethiopian stew). It's made with a combination of onions, vegan niter kibbeh, garlic, berbere spices, ginger, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage. The onion and garlic are sautéed in vegan nitt... READ MORE

Fossolia is a traditional dish made with green beans as the primary ingredient. Apart from the green beans, the dish also contains onions, garlic, ginger, carrots, and tomatoes. Fossolia is cooked for a long time until the liquids evaporate and th... READ MORE

Couscous bil-bosla is a traditional dish made with a combination of couscous, chickpeas, potatoes, tomatoes, and lamb. Other ingredients used in the dish include onions, butter, chili peppers, and various spices. When served, couscous is arranged ... READ MORE

Dovi is a traditional peanut stew from Zimbabwe made with crushed peanuts, garlic, onions, okra, vegetables such as carrots or potatoes, and stock or other liquids. The dish can be made with or without meat, typically chicken, goat, or lamb. It is... READ MORE

This simple, inexpensive Ugandan dish combines pieces of torn chapatti and beans. The optional addition includes avocado, while variations employ stews, chicken, or gravy. It is believed that the dish initially appeared as a popular breakfast or l... READ MORE

Mukimo is a popular Kenyan one-pot dish consisting of potatoes, corn, beans, peas, and greens that are cooked in water with some salt, then mashed into a purée. The name of the dish is derived from the word kima, meaning to mas... READ MORE

Babenda is a popular one-pot dish from Burkina Faso based on bitter greens such as spinach, kale, mustard greens, or swiss chard. What makes this dish quite interesting is the addition of fermented locust beans, called sumbala (or ir&... READ MORE

This traditional Malawian dish is prepared with a choice of pumpkin, sweet potato, cassava, or plantains. Preferred vegetables are cooked in salted water and are then mashed and combined with peanut flour. Futali is a common breakfast staple that ... READ MORE

Traditional Angolan dish kizaca, sometimes spelled quizaca or kisaca, is one of the most popular vegetarian dishes in the country. It is made with boiled cassava leaves mixed with ground peanuts. Cassava and peanuts are stewed un... READ MORE

In order to make zucchini and squash stew, cubed zucchini and onions are fried with spices, then combined with water to make a broth. When the zucchini becomes tender, salt, sugar, and coarsely chopped peanuts are added for extra flavor. This hear... READ MORE

This flavorful Liberian dish is healthy and nutritious, using collards and cabbage which are full of vitamins, calcium, manganese, and dietary fiber. The dish consists of chopped collard greens and cabbage, onions, red pepper, black pepper, and pi... READ MORE

Ekuru is a traditional African dish hailing from Nigeria. This Yoruba specialty is made with a combination of beans, onions, palm oil, Maggi seasoning, smoked fish, and pepper. The beans are soaked and peeled, then blended with water. The combinat... READ MORE

Gbegiri is a traditional bean soup consisting of honey beans (also called brown beans), smoked or fresh fish, ground crayfish, palm oil, stock, irú (locust beans), salt, and pepper. The beans are soaked, peeled, and mashed to a smo... READ MORE

Mchemsho is a traditional dish from Northern Tanzania consisting of numerous ingredients such as potatoes, green beans, carrots, bananas, tomatoes, cabbage, eggplant, sweet peppers, and a variety of spices. The name of the dish can be translated a... READ MORE

Wali na maharage is a Tanzanian dish made with red beans and rice. The rice is usually cooked with coconut milk or oil, while the beans are cooked until mushy. The dish is seasoned with a variety of spices such as pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove... READ MORE

Kalembula is a traditional ndiwo dish prepared with sweet potato leaves, tomatoes, onions, and pounded groundnuts. The combination of these ingredients is cooked in water until the dish develops a thick consistency. Just like other ndiwo ... READ MORE

Ifisashi is a traditional dish made with peanuts, tomatoes, onions, and greens such as pumpkin leaves, sweet potato leaves, spinach, and collard greens. The ingredients are cooked until the peanut sauce achieves a desired, thick consistency. The d... READ MORE

Gomen be siga is a traditional dish that consists of sautéed collard greens (gomen) and chunks of beef (siga) as the key ingredients, made with addition of fresh ingredients like clarified spiced butter, and lots of onions... READ MORE

Mchuzi wa biringani is a Tanzanian eggplant curry that is traditionally prepared with the addition of onions, curry powder, garlic, ginger, chili peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and either coconut milk or yogurt. The curry is simmered until the sauce... READ MORE

Sangah is a Cameroonian specialty, a simple dish that is made with cassava leaves, palm oil, and maize. Cassava leaves are pounded and mashed so the final dish looks like a cross between a stew and porridge. The dish can be served with rice or boi... READ MORE

Kpwem is a vegetarian dish from Cameroon made with young and tender manioc leaves as the key ingredient. The leaves are pounded and mashed with a mortar and pestle, combined with ginger, salt, onions, garlic, then boiled with peanut butter in wate... READ MORE