Snacks are the simplest alternative to quench your hunger when you’re not in the mood for a traditional meal because they require no preparation and can be consumed on-the-go.
In Nigeria, we frequently eat snacks as a means of satisfying our hunger or just as a means of refueling.
Nigerian snacks are occasionally offered at Nigerian events and parties, snacks are occasionally offered in place of meals. Some of the snacks are processed, whilst others are simply whole foods that require little to no processing.
Are you a fan of Nigerian meals? Here are 10 healthy popular Nigerian snacks you’d love
- Puff-Puff
- Plantain chips
- Boli
- Kuli Kuli
- Dankwa
- Akara
- Kokoro
- Roasted Corn/Boiled Corn
- Egg roll
- Meat pie
1. Puff puff
As one of the most popular Nigerian snacks, puff-puff fits perfectly with the little chops used in Nigerian events when it is smaller in size.
To make this, mix flour, a pinch of salt, sugar, nutmeg and yeast together thoroughly. After mixing, cover your batter in a warm place for about 40 minutes, doing this makes the batter double the size as a result of the yeast added.
When the batter has been doubled, you can deep fry it making sure it is in a circular shape. Nowadays, the snack is prepared with a bit more finesse, giving us treats like the puff-puff suzette.
This food is also seen in certain other countries of Africa, but with minor changes. For instance, in Ghana it is called Bofrot, plus, there is also a similar recipe in East and South Africa called Mandazi (fried dough). In French, Beignet, and in Italy, Zeppole just to mention a few.
Related post: 10 Traditional Madagascar Food You Should Try Having Next
2. Plantain chips
Plantain chips is another most consumed Nigerian snack. Locally, it is known as kpekere.
Usually made from unripe or semi-ripe plantain, cut and fried to create crispy, flavorful, and crunchy plantain chips. It’s a really simple snack to make at home and is also highly nourishing.
3. Boli
Also made from plantain but this time, it is roasted and not fried. The Nigerian riverine region is where this roasted plantain snack originated from.
It is usually paired with roasted fish and pepper sauce or groundnuts. When eating this for the first time, then you will understand why this meal is one of the most popular snacks in Nigeria.
4. Kuli Kuli
This is yet another crispy snack from the Nigeria’s north. Both dankwa and kuli-kuli are produced from groundnuts, and they are often sold in the same shop or stand.
Although kuli-kuli can be created in any shape, it most times has long stripes. To improve the flavor, the groundnuts are then made into a paste and combined with spices.
The oil is extracted from the paste and applied elsewhere. Hot oil is used to fry the paste. Because the paste will continue to produce oil during frying, only a small amount of oil is needed to fry kuli-kuli. After cooling, it is then consumed.
5. Dankwa
Dankwa is a common Hausa snack from northern Nigeria that is created from finely ground groundnuts and maize meal that has been seasoned with chili peppers. After mixing the ingredients with a little water and oil, the dankwa is ready to eat once the mold has formed.
By consuming dankwa, you can benefit from the groundnut, millet, and corn mixture’s fat, carbohydrate, and fiber content. It is indeed a rich Nigerian snack.
6. Akara
Although most people eat akara as a nutritious Nigerian breakfast or dinner, this snack is suitable for consumption at any time of day and wherever.
The ingredient for akara is bean paste, which is then fried in heated oil. To make the paste taste better, onions and other spices are added. You can eat it by itself or with bread or pap.
You would always appreciate the excellent taste of akara, regardless of how you choose to consume it.
Because beans are its main component, akara has a high protein content. This is definitely one of the most popular Nigerian snacks worth having.
7. Kokoro
Kokoro, a snack made from crunchy cornmeal, is a traditional food in western Nigeria. It is created using a specially formed dough made of cornmeal, sugar, and water (boiling hot water), which is then shaped, rolled, and deep-fried. It might or might not be spicy.
8. Roasted Corn/Boiled Corn
Most Nigerians enjoy eating corn whether roasted or boiled. Everywhere in the country, people of all ages enjoy this food due to its popularity.
Corn is roasted till it turns a deep brown color and for boiled corn, it is cooked in salted water until it is soft.
It can be consumed either alone or with pear, locally known as ‘ube’. Dietary fiber helps with digestion and bowel movements, and corn is a major source of it. Along with other necessary nutrients, it also includes potassium, carbs, and others.
9. Egg roll
The egg roll has long been a favorite dessert and snack in Nigeria. It is created from flour and rolled into an exact oval shape with a boiled egg inside.
10. Meat pie
Aside Nigeria, in several other intercontinental places, meat pies are a common snack. The spicy beef and vegetable stuffing inside of this snack is what makes it such an intriguing savory nibble.
Whenever you are in the mood to prepare a Nigerian delicacy, we hope you’d try any of these Nigerian snacks.
