There are a lot of dishes available, so which ones should you choose from your catering service at your next event?
You have your traditional foods like Egusi Soup, Eba, Rice & Peanuts, Fufu and Okra Stew. Then there are other dishes unique to certain regions such as Yoruba food (the most popular type of Nigerian food) or Hausa food.
In addition, there are those dishes that are common across all parts of Nigeria but are prepared differently depending on where they come from.
So, if you’re throwing an event and want to surprise people with some Nigerian dishes, we have a list of 20 Nigerian catering foods ideas that are going to please every single one of your guests. Let’s go!
Egusi Soup is one of the most famous Nigerian dishes. This soup comes from the Igbo people who live in southeast Nigeria. The name means “to suck out” which is exactly what happens when you eat Egusi Soup.
Egusi is a West African term for the dried and pulverized seeds of plants like melons and squash which are used in many West African recipes. The reason why Nigerians make use of these seeds is that they are high in fat and protein.
If you want to grind up your own seeds – and spices and more – a small Coffee or Spice Grinder is a great kitchen toll to keep on hand. For more information and prices, click here.
Seeing how they constitute an important part of West African cuisine, you should have at least one dish like this soup on your menu.
The soup is usually served with rice, beans, and pounded yams. However, it also goes great with goat, steak, fish, or shellfish.
Eba is a West African staple meal that is popular in Nigeria and portions of Ghana. Garri, which is the main ingredient of this stew, is a type of cooked starchy vegetable made from dried grated cassava flour.
It is similar to the Italian polenta and works great as a side to meat and roasted vegetables. This means you can either serve it as a side or incorporate it into one of the meaty dishes.
You can’t have a list of Nigerian catering foods ideas and not mention fufu.
Fufu is a popular side across all West African nations, and you will usually see it accompany main dishes like soups, meat, or even efo riro (we’ll get to that later on).
You may also see it spelt foofoo or foufou, but the food will be the same: starchy ball-shaped bites made from cassava flour that is silky, thick, stretchy, and delicious.
Fufu has many aliases, one of which is ugali. This is a porridge which is made from maize flour and water. It’s a staple food in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Ogbono soup, or what international people might call Draw Soup, is a nutritious Nigerian soup. It’s cooked with pulverised African mango seeds, palm oil, and different meats like beef, chicken (but you can even cook it with fish), vegetables, and traditional seasonings.
You can pair your ogbono soup with all kinds of fufu such as pounded yam or eba.
Ogbono Soup and eba go really well together as ogbono has a very intense taste. In contrast, the mild flavour of fufu balances the stronger ogbono.
Speaking of yams, yam pottage is another dish Nigerian people love to make and eat, and one that you could easily add to your buffet.
Yam pottage is yams cooked in coconut milk. Luckily, they taste great both when hot or cold, so don’t worry if they stay out and their temperature falls.
Next up is Yamarita which is another beloved dish in Nigerian households. As its name hints, it is yams that are boiled and then coated in egg, flour, ginger, garlic, and salt before they’re fried.
It goes great with tomato stew, but you can also add simple sauces on the side like egg sauce and ketchup.
Fried fish stew is a delicious Nigerian dish that can be combined with lots of side dishes.
The Nigerian fish stew contains fish, peppers, and spices. While you can serve it with pasta, it’s best to keep it 100% Nigerian and pair it with ewedu or okra, rice, or plantain.
The Nigerian obe ata is a rich and fragrant red capsicum-and-tomato-based sauce that can be used in stews and braises or boiled down into a dipping sauce.
This recipes requires that you use a High Speed Blender. A Blender is a great piece of kitchen equipment as you can do so much with it – from making smoothies and milkshakes to getting the lumps out of soups. For more information and prices, click here.
The amazing thing with obe ata is how versatile it can be. Since its main ingredients are red bell peppers, chilli peppers, and tomatoes, it is very easy to add it to any of your dishes to give an extra flavour. Alternatively you can serve it as a dip for yams.
Efo is a leafy green delight, sautéed in palm oil and flavoured with spices, red onion, fish stock, and different meats.
It goes nicely with pounded yam, eba, and amala, among other starches. You can opt for efo riro, the efo version that has spinach and is simply mouthwatering!
This is an obvious choice for an article on Nigerian catering foods ideas.
Why? Because it’s West Africa’s most beloved dish, ideal for large gatherings. Spiced and simmered in a tasty tomato broth, it is long-grain rice seasoned with Nigerian-style curry powder and dried thyme.
Want to know one of our favourite kitchen appliances? a Rice Cooker. Honestly, these easy to use machines make cooking rice – and more – a breeze. For more information and prices, click here.
The best way to serve it is with plantains and some coleslaw on the side. Because Nigerians love their carbs!
Suya is one of the best Nigerian street foods you can try and one of the best options to add to your menu. It is a spicy meat kabab that reminds Nigerian people of their younger years and one that you just can’t say no to.
Full of flavour and spices, if you have Nigerian guests, they will really appreciate you bringing those childhood memories back to them.
Ask any Nigerian and they will tell you that sweet plantains are an upgrade to any dish. So, make sure to ask for some fried sweet plantains to take your stews and rice to the next level.
If you want to have plantains as the main ingredient on your menu, then go for an ewa riro with dodo, which translates as stewed beans with plantains.
Amala is a traditional Nigerian meal and a special one for the Yoruba people. It is made with homemade yam flour, and it is like polenta in texture, but with much more taste.
You can pair it with the fish stew, ogbono soup, or any other soup or stew you fancy.
As a popular Nigerian dish, it is another must-have for your event. Even if you serve it plain, your Nigerian guests will enjoy eating it.
Yam Fritters, or Ojojo, is a typical Nigerian snack or finger food prepared with grated water yam (Isu Ewura).
When served with hot pap, garri, or oatmeal, ojojo can easily count as a meal, as it is quite filling. Therefore, if you’re short on funds, you fill your guests up with a little extra ojojo.
Nigerian Chinchin is a famous deep-fried dough snack in Nigeria and just had to make our list of Nigerian catering foods ideas. Chinchin can also be baked, however, it is less popular than the fried variant.
Chinchin can be cooked hard, soft, or anywhere in-between. However, getting them soft on the inside and crunchy on the outside is always the best way to go.
Asun is traditionally cooked with smoked goat flesh, but that’s hard to come by in most areas, so your caterer will most probably suggest you have it with raw goat meat.
Originally, Asun is cooked with atarodos, aka scotch bonnet peppers. However, but you might want something milder for your event, like some sweet bell peppers.
But hey, if you and your guests are up for a challenge, go with the authentic recipe and see who can take the spiciness!
We hope this will inspire you to explore more about Nigerian food and bring some of these amazing dishes to your event.
If you really want to make an impression, you might want to bring some Nigerian drinks to the table too, but either way, these dishes are going to be the star of the night.
When it comes to great places to eat in Australia, the list really is endless. There are so many different restaurants, cafés, and chains to try that you really are spoiled for choice. From Italian food, to Japanese food, to a good ‘ole rump steak, the food options are endless.
This is why I decided to set up my blog, Eatability, to share the best food and drink spots in Australia with as many people as possible. Hi, my name is Dylan Cole, and I moved to Australia five years ago from England, UK.
Through this blog, I will be sharing and recommending some of my favorite places you need to visit, such as where to find the best pizza in Adelaide, and the best bakery in Brisbane. Whatever food you are fancying, I have got you covered!
