What food do they eat in Ghana?

Ghanaian meals are built around a starch paired with a soup, stew, or sauce. Common staples include rice dishes such as jollof rice and waakye; pounded or stirred swallows like fufu, banku, and kenkey; and sides of yam, plantain, and cassava. These are eaten with soups (light soup, groundnut soup, palm nut soup) and stews like kontomire and red red (bean stew). Popular snacks and street foods include kelewele (spiced fried plantain), bofrot, and koose.

What is Ghana's national dish?

Ghana does not have a single official national dish, but jollof rice and fufu with soup are the most iconic and widely cited. Jollof in particular is a source of friendly rivalry across West Africa. Waakye (rice and beans) is another strong contender, especially as an everyday favourite.

Is Ghanaian food spicy?

Many Ghanaian dishes are seasoned with chillies such as scotch bonnet and kpakpo shito, and condiments like shito (black pepper sauce) add extra heat. That said, the heat level is easy to control — most dishes can be made mild by reducing the amount of fresh pepper, and the chilli is usually added separately at the table.

What is the difference between banku and fufu?

Banku is made from fermented corn dough (often blended with cassava dough), cooked and stirred until smooth, with a slightly tangy, sour taste. Fufu is made by pounding boiled cassava and plantain (or yam) into a soft, stretchy, mild dough. Both are 'swallows' eaten with soups and stews, but banku is tangy and fufu is mild and elastic.

Recipes

Ghanaian Recipes

Browse our full collection of authentic Ghanaian recipes, organised by category. Each recipe includes the full ingredient list and step-by-step instructions.

Rice & Grains

Angwamo (Ghanaian Oil Rice) with Omelette, Sardines & Shito — A fast, deeply comforting Ghanaian one-pot rice cooked with browned onions and oil, then served with omelet...
Acheke (Attiéké / Cassava Couscous) — Light, fluffy fermented cassava couscous with a gentle tang, served the West African way with crispy fried ...
Ghanaian Fried Rice — A colorful, aromatic stir-fried rice loaded with mixed vegetables, soy sauce, and your choice of protein. G...
Tuo Zaafi (TZ - Northern Ghana Staple) — A thick, smooth porridge-like staple made from corn or millet flour, served with a rich ayoyo (jute leaf) s...
Omo Tuo (Rice Balls) — Soft, smooth balls of cooked rice formed by pounding or stirring overcooked rice until sticky and moldable....

Street Food

Achomo (Ghana Chips) — Crispy Festive Snack — Crunchy, lightly sweet Ghanaian dough bites flavoured with nutmeg, rolled and cut into small pieces, then f...
Ghanaian Spring Rolls & Samosas (Crispy Party Snacks) — Two favourites from Ghana's party small-chops table: crisp vegetable spring rolls and triangular beef samos...
Kuli-Kuli (Ghanaian Groundnut Snack) — A crisp, savoury northern Ghanaian snack made from roasted groundnuts after their oil has been pressed out....
Chinchinga (Ghanaian Kebabs / Suya) — Smoky, spicy grilled meat skewers marinated in a peanut-spice rub and charcoal-grilled to perfection. Chinc...
Fried Yam Chips (Yam Fries) — Thick-cut yam pieces deep-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Served with a...
Koose (Bean Fritters / Akara) — Crispy, golden bean fritters made from ground black-eyed peas seasoned with onion, ginger, and pepper. A be...
Kelewele (Spicy Fried Plantains) — Ghana's most popular street snack - ripe plantains cubed and marinated in a fragrant blend of ginger, cayen...

Traditional

Tubaani (Tubani) — Steamed Black-Eyed Pea Pudding — A soft, savoury steamed black-eyed-pea pudding from northern Ghana, also spelled tubani. The bean batter is...
Mpotompoto (Yam Pottage) — A thick, comforting one-pot dish of yam chunks cooked in a spiced tomato and palm oil sauce until tender an...
Kenkey (Ga/Fante Style) with Fried Fish — Fermented corn dough dumplings steamed in corn husks or banana leaves, served with fried fish and pepper sa...
Eto (Ghanaian Mashed Yam with Palm Oil) — Eto is a beloved Ghanaian dish of mashed ripe plantains or yam enriched with red palm oil, garnished with b...
Fufu (Cassava and Plantain) — The quintessential Ghanaian staple - smooth, stretchy, and slightly elastic dough made by pounding boiled c...
Waakye (Rice and Beans) — Ghana's beloved breakfast and lunch dish - rice and black-eyed peas cooked together with dried sorghum (mil...
Banku and Grilled Tilapia with Shito — A quintessential Ghanaian meal featuring smooth, slightly sour fermented corn dough paired with crispy char...
Ghanaian Jollof Rice — Ghana's beloved one-pot rice dish, famous for its smoky flavor and perfectly seasoned tomato-based sauce. J...

Vegetarian

Gari Fortor (Cassava Granule Stir-Fry) — A quick, flavorful stir-fry of gari (toasted cassava granules) with eggs, tomatoes, onions, and palm oil. G...
Ampesi (Boiled Yam & Plantain with Kontomire) — A simple, wholesome Ghanaian meal of boiled yam and green plantain served with a rich kontomire (cocoyam le...
Kontomire Stew (Palava Sauce) — A nutritious, flavorful stew made with cocoyam leaves (or spinach), palm oil, and smoked fish. Also known a...
Red Red (Black-Eyed Pea Stew) — A hearty, protein-rich stew of black-eyed peas cooked in red palm oil with tomatoes and spices. The name co...

Beverages

Lamugin (Ghanaian Ginger Beer) — A powerfully spicy, refreshing ginger drink with a serious kick. Ghanaian lamugin is far more intense than ...
Asaana (Fermented Corn Drink) — A mildly sweet, slightly tangy fermented corn beverage served ice-cold. Asaana is one of Ghana's oldest tra...
Sobolo (Hibiscus Drink / Bissap) — A vibrant, ruby-red drink made from dried hibiscus flowers, spiced with ginger and cloves, and sweetened to...

Desserts & Sweets

Kaklo (Sweet Fried Plantain Balls) — Sweet, dense, and golden-fried plantain dumplings made from very ripe plantains mixed with a touch of flour...
Nkate Cake (Ghanaian Peanut Brittle) — A crunchy, caramelized peanut candy made with just roasted groundnuts and sugar. Nkate cake is Ghana's favo...
Bofrot (Ghanaian Doughnuts / Puff Puff) — Light, fluffy, golden-fried dough balls with a hint of nutmeg and sweetness. Bofrot (also called puff puff ...

Breakfast & Porridge

Rice Water Porridge (Omo Nsia) — A silky-smooth, lightly sweetened rice porridge made by cooking rice until it breaks down completely into a...
Tom Brown (Roasted Corn Porridge) — A nutritious, toasty porridge made from roasted corn flour blended with groundnuts and soy. Tom Brown has a...
Hausa Koko (Spiced Millet Porridge) — A warm, spiced millet porridge that is Ghana's most popular breakfast. Flavored with ginger, cloves, and pe...

Sauces & Condiments

Chalé Sauce (Tomato & Onion Salsa) — A fresh, vibrant raw salsa of diced tomatoes, onions, and Scotch bonnet peppers dressed with oil and season...
Ghanaian Pepper Sauce (Fresh Chili Sauce) — A fiery, fresh tomato-and-pepper sauce that accompanies nearly every Ghanaian meal. Unlike the oil-based sh...
Shito (Black Pepper Sauce) — Ghana's iconic condiment - a dark, oil-based hot pepper sauce packed with umami from dried shrimp and smoke...

Soups & Stews

Garden Egg Stew — A creamy, mildly flavored stew made from African garden eggs (small white eggplants) cooked with tomatoes, ...
Okra Soup (Nkruma Froe) — A thick, hearty, and slightly viscous soup made with fresh okra, tomatoes, and palm oil, enriched with smok...
Palm Nut Soup (Abenkwan) — A rich, velvety soup made from the cream of palm fruit, loaded with meat and fish. Abenkwan is one of Ghana...
Light Soup (Nkrakra) — A thin, intensely flavorful tomato-based soup seasoned with traditional spices and loaded with tender chick...
Groundnut Soup (Nkate Nkwan) — A rich, creamy, deeply savory soup made from roasted groundnuts (peanuts), tomatoes, and your choice of mea...