[Updated 26 May 2021]
Though exotic meals are delicious and exciting, these dishes can get tiring and make you feel homesick. There are certain foods Nigerians miss the most when living abroad. These dishes may not necessarily be our favourite Nigerian food but they remind us of home and its amazing memories.
Here are a few foods Nigerians miss most while living abroad:
1. Ewa Agoyin
(Pinterest)
Ewa Agoyin is just beans and a burned pepper sauce but it’s a special Nigerian food. People say they can make this at home but can they really? Getting the sauce burned to the point where it’s still edible is an art only Nigerian streetfood sellers can create.
2. Asun
(Bellanaija)
Asun is a popular Nigerian food made of goat meat cooked in pepper sauce. It usually serves as an appetizer or hors d’oeuvre, if you want to be fancy, or even as a side dish with rice. When Nigerians abroad crave asun, they remember family gatherings or parties back home.
3. Abacha
(Dobbyssignature.com)
Abacha, also known as African salad, is a popular Nigerian food from eastern Nigeria usually sold on the street. You definitely won’t find this meal on the streets of Canada or London.
4. Akara and Pap
(mydiasporakitchen.com)
You know it’s Saturday morning when you wake up to the sweet aroma of akara with freshly made pap. This Nigerian food is deliciously made of fried ground beans and boiled ground corn or millet.
5. Gala
(Youtube.com)
Is it the best sausage roll in the world? Probably not, but this brand of sausage roll is known nationwide as your go-to snack when you’re stuck in traffic or you just need a quick bite and it’s usually best paired with a bottle of Coke or Lacasera. A Nigerian food list is incomplete without Gala.
6. Garri and Groundnut
(mydiasporakitchen.com)
Nothing is as soothing as taking garri and groundnuts with cold water. If you want to be fancy or a little controversial, you can add some milk for that extra kick. This Nigerian food combination gives a kind of fulfilment that only a true Nigerian can understand.
7. Indomie
(globaltake.com)
Indomie noodles have become a household name in Nigeria, so much so, that other noodle brands get called Indomie too. Every Nigerian has their way of cooking noodles. Even though there are other brands of noodles abroad, Indomie has a unique taste and is now known as a Nigerian food.
8. Plantain
(eatperu.com)
There are different species of plantain but the Nigerian version is special. Whether fried, boiled or roasted, plantain is definitely a Nigerian food missed by most locals abroad.
9. Suya
(nigerianlazychef.com)
Suya has been called so many names like barbecued meat, kebab and many others. Forget what you’ve seen on TikTok- if it’s not wrapped in newspaper and dipped in that special pepper then it’s not our beloved Nigerian food, suya.
9. Agege Bread
(youtube.com)
You can’t make a list of Nigerian food and not mention Agege bread. Sure you can get better types of bread, like brioche, abroad but will it ever be like Agege bread? Absolutely not!
What most-loved Nigerian food do you miss most while abroad? Let us know in the comment box below.
Be the first to know about our latest travel guides, flight deals and hotel stays when you sign up for our newsletter.
All information on this blog page was correct at the time of publishing and may change at any time without prior notice. Travelstart will not be held liable for loss or inconvenience resulting from the use of outdated or incorrectly noted information.
Hahaha. Absolutely spot on.
Glad you laid the emphasis right; no jollof like PARTY Jollof!
!.!.!
I agree with you. I love party jollof rice. one of the reasons why I attend owanbe parties on most Saturdays. Mehn! I love Nigeria!
The rice is normally prepared with firewood that’s why it has that unique taste
MY MOUTH DEY WATEEER OO
hehe! Glad to know!
This is soo true I miss all every dish posted here
Hmmmm, true talk here. Every food mentioned here is just it. Most times when I make any of these meals, I take a picture of it and send to my friends living abroad and they start wishing they were with me.
Plantian pepper soup
Your list is incoplete what of afang soup, ukazi soup with achara and melon cake, ugba with okporoko and palm wine, he- goat pepper soup, kpomo, periwinkle, snail and shrimps with vegetable soup, liver, shaki and roundabout pepper soup, ofe nsala, ofe olugbu with smelly fufu, ofe akwu with white rice. infact the list is endless. My delicious naija oriental dishes. You only promoted those oily, pepperish and tasteless yoruba dishes. Whats my business with sandy ijebu garri when there are other better quality garri from other parts of naija. Research well next time.
Thanks Nwanna. However, the list is based on our fans and customers’ suggestions. You can join our Facebook page so that you can contribute to the list some other time.
There is no way that this list is complete without Afang soup. Not to even mention Edikang ikong soup, White Soup, Fisherman Soup which I believe most Southern Nigerians love. I am sorry to say this, your list is meant to be for Yoruba Nigerians. Of all the ones you mentioned, maybe Asun and Nkwobi would be in my list.
Haba, I’m from the east too, though I have lived in the south -south, west and north at different times. Now I’m in the US and I miss more than half the food on this page. The list is representative of the country’s most loved dishes. Of course there will always be that special dish that is not listed (who else can understand smelly fufu if not an Igbo person? or have you tried boli and fish from portharcourt? chai!) No ones’s traditional meal is ‘better’ than the other, that’s the beauty of diversity. Jisike (welldone) to every Naija person, home and abroad!
Common Nwanna, this was a perfect list; it looks like you expected her to put up a list of all Nigerian dishes. As you said, “the list is endless”,thus she made a list of the TOP 22.
Nice job ‘Kemi!
Ifeoma says:
April 13, 2014 at 12:40 pm
Haba, I’m from the east too, though I have lived in the south -south, west and north at different times….”
Ifeoma… “Attention seeker!” lol now you know
Shut your trap nwanna, or whatever you call yourself, don’t bring your typical ibo disrespect here,look at you listing all the horrible ibo foods including smelly fufu,if you don’t like the list, simply create your own of hug the nearest transformer, and by the way,you must be silly comparing ijebu garri to that tasteless and insipid yellow garri that comes from your zone, anuofia!
You r so pathetic..every culture as diversified as they are have an appreciate their cusines…so please stop hating n if u have nothing reasonable to write..please kindly “shut up”(politely)..:-)
Why will u insult people for talking,d article said ‘Add any food u miss’ why then re u saying ijebu garri is sandy? Must u be tribalistic in everything? #GUSH#
Nwanna, can you please show pictures of this delicacies you mentioned and their recipes
Mouthwatering! But what a shame, no MASA on the list!
NOT FAIR!
u missed out on masa, the north nigerian dish. i still miss it.
I can relate.
Hmmm if u make the locust beans dry by frying it in a sauce pan it wont smell so much and you can pour it in a plastic bottle no one will know..its funny how iv been eating all this since the 1st of April lucky me
I love all this foods but you miss out masa.. the best northerns food…
These are great but they are not only found in Nigeria. Especially suya and killichi, which is founnd everywhere the hausa man is; that is all over west africa and some east african countries. Great list, im already hungry.
Nice to see adalu and boli up there 😉
my dear, which one is boli and groundnut? you havent’ lived until you try boli and roasted fish with spicy sauce the way the true rivers state people make it. PH for life. Spot on about the suya tho… when i get pregnant, i am pretty sure thats the one thing i wld crave and if my oyibo hubby cannot provide, i go vex die! and proceed t be a bitch abt it. i miss naija mehn… jst for the food and the people and the energy tho… hehehe
hummm missing the ewa aganyin,plus the garri ijebu im from ijebu,and sure it has not come to my mind to try the garri and nuts thanks for bring it to lime light im trying out tonight only can get the real hausa nuts here,cheers from france
This post is too wicked sha…lol.people are hungry out here and looking at this especially the ofada picture just makes me hungry
hahaha! I can imagine!
madam,i appreciate the love of our food abroad and am at home and i so much desired to try satisfy my people over there by giving this foods to them from Nigeria.
Missed my Nkwobi, suya and Akara & pap.
Nice list but in the future do more research or a different caption…cuz most of the food listed are yoruba native foods nd I only got 2 knw dem cuz of d yoruba friends I met in the UK… Try to represent the rest of naija more in ur next list.
i only need a reliable source and trust worthy to do business with as i am only young man and i really want to do something for my life and others and i see this as a opportunity.
Really nice list and great images, gift my tummy growling. Am I the only one who can’t believe Edikang Ikong didn’t make the list. I haven’t had that in almost 15 years and boy do I miss it.
You forgot ‘Man Power’. Pop corn and peanuts.
OMG!!! I can’t believed how long I have been without a taste of these mouth-watering dishes…especially Amala and Ewedu soup chai! somebody help 🙁
Mennnnn i miss the banga soup and oha soup. i remember those days of driving 3 hrs from work to home on oshodi and mile2 traffic. gala n lacasera or fan yogurt was my saviour 😉
@ifeoma,my sis I understand how yu feel jawe.all dis list are pure yoruba dishes xcept oha,nkwobi nd abacha.anyway kemi tried sha
I miss pounded yam and afang soup..
lovely composition on point! but no pepper soup
Hololololo! My mouth is already salivating…..
I really love this! In fact as I type I’m salivating…Truth is even those of us who manage to smuggle food abroad never get to cook it the right way….one ingredient is always missing. Oh what I would do to smell or taste ‘party ‘ jollof rice and/or nkwobi….Love love it..thanks Kemi Ojo!
I miss shawarma
Hi, Please can any one help me with the English name of (AFON) a Yoruba food…..the fruit is round in shape like ball and very big it as seeds inside of it and the seeds look like beans but very small like rice…….they cook the seed inside the big round fruit just like beans and it’s very delicious. please Pals i need the English name. (AFON) is the Yoruba name.
Men na all d food bam pass all make brain die naja food rocks any where any time + we don forget 2 add boys kola that’s is kuli kuli chaiiiii na coRrect b that self and this one too wanke chaiiii I love wanke lol
Oh! My God ofe owerri and akpu am missin d@
GOOD POST,, IF U LIVE ABROAD AND INTERESTED IN BUYING OGNOLOR, MELON, OKRO ETC CONTACT ME thank You.
I was wondering,i never saw Agidi and Akara in this list even pounded yam and nsala soup/onugwu soup like-wise rice and ofe akwu stew even yam pourage or Akara and bread,yam with local sauce
We are makers of the popular MAMA”S CORN PAP a.k.a OGI. it is hyenically prepared for your delight. The variants are Regular. Ginger flavoured. yellow, white and brown types.
Such a wonderful blog, nice information on Manpower in Dubai.
Hey guys, I need a partner in d USA to do business with. Pls contact me as soon as possible.
# sam# …..dont worry, jst close ur eyes nd sleep a while, trust me ull eat dem in ur dream….lol…..cherr up bro.
Well put together
Why nah?:(
Do people order kilishi from Nigeria to different part of the world?. Wld really like to know. Thanks
Nigeria foods are very delicious and enjoyable , which can not do without .
How do people abroad buy nigerian food?
just got me on the spot, i missed everything and even wanted gala and lacasera brought to me at the airport. i really love nijer food.
Nice job kemi,portharcourt bole,roasted fish and pepper sauce is the bomb.
Some when i remember what i misses while am abroad i feel like A********SH
that is why they said ***** NO ABROAD IS LIKE HOME that is in Ede Abi ni bi that is different from Ability (Ajoo o le da bi ile) Hmmm O ni agbara gun ni oooo
We eat all here in canada if u have ur money u eat what ever u like in nigeria food
I don’t know where you got your information from, but all these that you just showed us now. We don’t miss any of them, because we cook them here in USA.
This list is just delicious as it is and it’s making my mouth water. Even though I’m not abroad, I still miss most of them as I haven’t had them in a long time. Thank God I have a party to attend this saturday, but before then… I’m heading out now to sample some, life is just too short. God bless you Kemi, your list is “wicked”.
I can’t relate… All i miss is the Nigerian Noodles
LolZzzz,I can’t jes stop laffing here. Dat boli nd groundnut is a sure thing thing. So happy u made mention of dat. #thumbsup
Wow what a great list. God I am so hungry right now.Wished I could get hold of any of the above listed food. I really missed Naija. Naija for life.
Set the records right please. It is biased when you say “although the yoruba tribe is fond of pounded yam while some other tribes also like this delicacy” the truth remains that the Yoruba tribe eats pounded yam only on special occasions , whereas it is a daily serving for the Tiv man of Benue state. Therefore , to include the original owners of pounded yam and the producer/exporyer of over 70% of the yams exported to all of the country from Benue as “some tribes also like it” is very limiting. Yoruba can claim amala but definitely not pounnded yam. Benue is called food basket of the nation chiefly because of its yams.
My mouth is taking the glimpse not my EyEs.
Me, I so miss roasted plantain, corm, yam, cocoyam and potatoes with d pepper sauce and kpomo/fish/ugba u eat it with
I really miss abacha and ugba.
I also ve missed banga soup made with palm kernel and starch.
I miss my native soup…made with palm kernel and grounded leaf (black soup) edo soup.
I miss agidi and ekor
I miss bobozi…sliced cassava and coconut.
Fresh oha leaves, bitterleaf,uziza,scent leaf, etc
i miss 9,12,19& 20.
Yam pepper soup with cooked with goat meat
Bole mixed with roasted fish and yam
Chai….. There is God-oooooo ….. Check out the pictoral presentations alone… They are rich and mouth watering… excellent job and more grease to your elbow my sister. Well-done.
I fully agree with you. You are absolutely spot on.My favourite is boli and groundnut. Nice work.
Nasty american is better
Y comment then….only 4 Nigerians who have taste buds
Y comment then….only 4 Nigerians who have taste buds @redsox
oh yes, this looks like barf
I wish to leave this country one day like you all, to experience other people’s culture and traditions
I miss the delicious ofada rice , asun, suya, agege bread. In fact I miss that I can’t mention
Having schooled in both Nigeria and Europe, Having visited several cities across the world in different international airlines, I found my native Nigeria foods as the best for both my physical and psychological well being, i vividly recall an instance where I was traveling aboard an inter continental airline from a country in Asia to Europe, and I was served a native delicacy of the Asian country in the Aircraft, when I did not enjoy it, or eat in the tradition of the country of origin of that food, I found a particular passenger laughing and discussing me with her daughter. I therefore asked my colleague who is from that country, and seated by me in the aircraft. I found his anwer offending and annoying when he told me that the woman told her daughter that Africans dont eat normal food, because they always don”t have access to normal food as a result of war fare and poverty. i tried to know more about her only to confirm that she has never visited Africa, and she is an ex factory worker in Asia who now trade her products between Asia and Europe. I was consoled by realizing that her exposure and understanding is limited to her native home. To worsen the situation, Nigerian embassies and high commissions in countries outside Africa are not doing enough to encourage the promotion of Nigeria restaurants, thus making the making some Nigeria occasional visitors to Asia and Polar countries always returning home lean and hungry. Some times they even fall sick as a result of absence of Amala and pounded yam with semo and Akpu, and blame it on weather. All airlines operating Nigeria route should be encourage to serve Nigeria native foods prepared by reputable hotels. That is where to start the advocacy. Thanks for reading, and dont feel intimidated that you cannot eat Asian or European foods, because they cannot eat your ogbonor or ewedu in good style.
I love discuss website
And everything is true,if i don’t take garri in 1 month dat means I’m not feeling fine
This is awesome, mouth watering things.
Please leave your comment…oh boy emm…d saliva 4 my mouth jus dey flow not stop, abeg i dey hung
Omo no be small thing ooo, i feel like seeing those foods right now now now now
You tried sha. But I think this list should have been food Yoruba’s abroad miss.
I think you should have done more intensive research before publishing a post like this because you won’t expect an Igbo, Hausa or ijaw man to miss Amala and ewedu or efo riro?
And pls what is poundo-coco yam ?
Oh boy. Wow, my mouth was just watering for each item (apart from gala n lacasera, just not for me)
what a great food for great nigerian. eat wishly
what a great food for great Nigerian eat wishly
This website represents my country Nigeria well. Long live my home Nigeria!!!!!
There is no place in this world that you can see these types of food .That is why Nigerians are strong, healthy, beautiful, handsome .God really blessed Nigerian people with wisdom on how to make nice food .Nigerians cook healthy food
fufu and eba!!! lols.
seriously, anytime my parents take me and my siblings to an African restaurant here in Calgary ,i just feel home again . i am not big fan of Nigerian swallow but i miss my Nigerian party rice and the ofada rice .The jollof rice and all here just makes me feel more Canadian when my mom cooks it . I miss my country “Nigeria”
You are absolutely right especially on the airlines not operating Nigeria routes not serving our native food.
Who knows some of these Asian and European might get to eat it in the plane to once they see the way it’s even served.
Nice delicacies,as truly, there is nothing like home.You can also get these delicacies through the amazon website,through this book. Best In Town Nigerian Food.
…its very obvious that a lot of foreigners have long refused to go back to their various countries due to their love for Nigerian native foods,especially Asians and Middle Eastern countries.
‘Niger no Good’… but No One wants to leave.
ENJOY NIGERIAN DISHES WHILE THE OFFER LASTS!!
I miss all
I miss AKPU AND OGBOLO SOUP
With BUSH MEAT
Ah, Jollof rice with chicken and garri are DA BEST!!!!!!
An impressive share! I have just forwarded this onto a coworker who was
conducting a little research on this. And he in fact bought
me breakfast because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this….
I pay a visit every day some blogs and blogs to read articles or reviews, except this
blog provides feature based writing.
Great – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your site. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related info ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Reasonably unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, website theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task.
We are always on the look out for new crockpot recipes, especially at this time of year. The holidays are so busy — without our slow cooker, we’d have to eat sandwiches or fast food at least 3 night a week!
Honestly I don’t think I could live without having both gray days and sunny ones! California has had a long, rainy winter so I am definitely looking forward to sunshine. However, once we start hitting 90 degrees in the summer months, I will be looking forward to that rain again! Things I am also looking forward to this –> making this frittata!
i love your trends because they are amazing. reading your articles makes me feel like i have never seen an article like yours before.
keep on your good works and i will continue viewing and sharing to my friends.
Nigeria food is the best in the world, I love this post.
This was yummy! I’ve never made spaghetti squash before and I’m not sure if it’s supposed to me soft or not when it’s done. My squash was on the larger side so maybe I should have cooked it longer. Sounds wonderful!! I’ll have to try this on weight watchers :). I love spaghetti squash so I usually poke a hole in it and cook it in the microwave about ten minutes. That gets it half way done. Then I finish by roasting it cut side down in the oven because it has better flavor!!
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
I used to enjoy Agege bread and beans those days in lagos.
this is really yummy i love it
Egwusi is the hype for many Southern Nigerians.
Ooh, I’ll have to try this! I love fried chicken but with a toddler we have to watch what we serve at meals! Now I can have fried chicken again!
“Excellent site you have here but I was curious if you knew of any forums
that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get suggestions from other experienced individuals that share
the same interest. “
this is really amazing thank you admin for such a lovely content more grease to your elbows
Nice information. I love this blog
But if you de abroad you are really missing a lot … Can’t do with these Nigerian meals