Ghana Foods and Drinks-Some delectable meals for your palate

Every Ghanaian has his own favourite meal. Though continental meals are served in restaurants, Ghanaians enjoy their local dishes. Now, let’s look at favorite foods of the various ethnic groups in Ghana and how some are prepared.

Kenkey and fried fish in the South

In the South (Accra and its environs) kenkey is the chief food.Kenkey is prepared from corn flour. The flour is mixed with water and stirred until the mixture gets even. Then they are made into balls and covered with corn leaves and put into a pot half-filled with water to boil until it is well cooked. It is served with shito (grounded black pepper) and fried fish. Some people top it up with pineapple juice (drink). Here, we call it sweet after meals. Kpoikpoi   is another food but it is often eaten during the Homowo festival (from June to August)

Mouthwatering Fufu with soup is popular among the Akans

Fufu is common among the Akan speaking areas(Kumasi,Koforidua,Sunyani) of Ghana. Peeled cassava is boiled and pounded in a mortar to form a paste and served with aponkye nkrakra ( goat meat soup), light soup, groundnut soup or palm nut soup. Other foods popular among the Akans include boiled yam with Kontomire (green spinach leaves) stew. In ancient times, a locally brewed Ghanaian drink called pito(from the palm tree) was served after one had  eaten fufu or ampesi(boiled yam). If you are on a tour to Ghana, why not give these Ghanaians foods a try-especially the delicious eto(mashed plantain and  boiled egg).

Tuo Zaafi is eaten by people of the North

Up north, tuo zaafi is eaten by t he natives of Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa.Tuo Zaafi is made from corn flour and served with green soup.

Voltarians prefer Akpele

In the Volta region, akpele and okra soup with keta school boys (dried fingerlings) is the favorite food meal.Akpele is prepared from corn flour. To do this, you put water on fire to boil.Then pour the corn flour into the boiling water and stir for a while. After being paddled for sometime, it gets well cooked and it is served with okra soup.Banku is another delicious staple. Its preparation is similar to Akpele,but unlike Akpele,corn flour paste  is mixed with cassava flour and paddled until it forms a sticky paste. It tastes best with okra soup.

Fanti  Dokono is commonly eaten in the Central Region

In the Central and Western regions, kenkey is served. The kenkey prepared here is a bit different from the Ga kenkey mentioned at the outset of this article. Here plantain leaves are used to cover the corn paste instead of corn leaves.Akyeke is another Ghanaian delicacy that’s well patronized in this part of Ghana.Akyeke is made from cassava and eaten with fried fish. You could finish it with water-melon juice or coconut juice(drink)

Today, these Ghanaian foods is not confined to their origins; but eaten by almost every Ghanaian.For example, it is common to find someone from the Akan speaking community indulging in banku  or  Tuo Zaafi.An  ewe(someone from the Volta Region) too may decide to eat fufu. All this has been made possible because of inter-marriage.

These days, Ghanaians enjoy a wide variety of meals. This is shown by the numerous Chinese and European restaurants dotted across the country. So when you are on vacation, let your palette taste these delicious Ghanaian meals and drinks. You would be glad you did!

Hope you see these Ghana travel tips and planning checklist

Want to stay at this ‘hotel’ so you savor some of these delicious Ghanaian foods?

Then stay with this host family in Ghana and you will enjoy them.Tht’s not all, you will also learn how Ghanaians live and you will know much about our traditions and culture. What’s more,you will be taken to  various tourist sites you never knew existed…plus much much more.But that can happen if you write to jeandan40@gmail.com  to express your desire to join us or use the comment box to let us know you are coming(Do include your number and name so we can get in touch).Please act fast because we receive lots of visitors and the rooms be occupied soon.