Ghanaian cuisine. Ghana, attractions, climate, traditions, cuisine and population of Ghana What you need to know

The basis of local cuisine - thick soups, which are boiled in meat broth with abundant addition of starch, vegetables, herbs and spices. And only here, in Ghana, you can see such exotic dishes as peanut soup "pepe", palm nut soup or "nkontomire" - soup from yam leaves, with bananas and "ampesi" sauce, which are considered hallmarks of local cuisine. Moreover, there are many options for these soups - you can find peanut soup with beef, lamb, fish and even crabs, but most often chicken broth is taken as the basis. Another ubiquitous element of the local cuisine is "fufu" - a kind of mashed yam, banana or cassava, which is sometimes rolled into balls and eaten with soups or other dishes, and sometimes flavored with meat or fish, turning into some kind of goulash. Ashanti even say "ate without fufu - did not eat at all." Also a characteristic feature of local cuisine is the widespread use of bread and fried bananas or cassava.

Ghana cuisine recipes. Dishes for the holidays. National New Year's recipes.

Main dishes:

• Yolof - like paella with meat and rice
• Rice with chicken
• Gary photo - crab or shrimp meat in dough
• Kenki and fante dorkunu - fish fried in dough or in banana leaves in pepper sauce
• Fante Fante fish fried in oil
• Balls with thuo zafari sauce
• Coconte cassava paste
• Omo-tuo rice puree
• Fried bean kousse balls
• Fula - mashed milk, ginger and sugar

Popular local meat dishes include "yolof" - a paella-like dish with meat and rice, "chofi" - fried turkey with meat, all kinds of kebabs and couscous, arcanti game with various side dishes, fried green-green snails, dozens of types of grilled poultry or salads with chicken meat, as well as all kinds of curries with rice and meat.

The Gulf of Guinea is the main source of protein for the local population, so do not be surprised at the abundance of fish and seafood in the local cuisine. You can often find such dishes on the menu as "gari-photo" - a kind of salad of eggs, onions, tomatoes, crab or shrimp meat in dough, ordinary meat and potatoes, "kenki" - fish fried in dough or in banana leaves in pepper sauce, "fante-dorkunu" - one of the variants of "kenki", fish "forove" stewed with tomatoes, small fish "fante-fante" stewed in palm oil, mackerel and salmon fish soup with tomato juice, black bean roast, fried onions, tomatoes and dried fish "aduafrol", as well as all kinds of seafood, fried on coals or served boiled with many simple vegetable dishes.

Commonly used as such simple dishes are boiled rice, tuo-zafari sauce balls (often called simply ti-zet and thrown into peanut soup), coconte cassava paste, omo-tuo rice puree (often also rolled into balls), stewed "yoko-gari" beans, fried banana "tatale", braised "tubaani" beans or fried balls of "Kuse" beans. All this is accompanied by various sauces such as curry, "agushi" (vegetable oil, tomato and onion sauce), "shito" (hot pepper sauce) or various ketchup-themed variations.

We just can't help but write in February, which is Global Voices Cooking Month, about ten amazing African dishes. Be sure to add them to your recipe collection!

Kamba (Prawns/shrimp) is loved in the coastal region . Shrimps taste better if cooked for just a few minutes on high heat. In the past I preferred fried shrimp only, but shrimp cooked with coconut milk is something that I would advise everyone to try. believe me; you may never want fried shrimp ever again if you try this recipe. This recipe is exotic.

Shrimps are very popular in the coastal region (East Africa). They turn out very tasty if you cook them over high heat for several minutes. I used to prefer exclusively fried shrimp, but shrimp in coconut milk is what I would advise everyone to try. Believe me, you will never want to eat fried shrimp again if you try this dish. This recipe is very unique.

Ingredients:

500 g shrimp (preferably king)
0.5 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
1 tbsp ginger
0.5 tsp black pepper
0.5 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp tomato paste (the more, the thicker the sauce)
1 cup chopped peeled tomatoes
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 bowl of sweet pepper mix (red, yellow, green)
0.75 cup real coconut milk (tui Zito)
0.5 tbsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil

Cooking

Marinate the shrimp with salt and pepper, if desired (optional), and refrigerate for an hour.
Heat oil in a pan, add onion and fry over medium heat until light brown. Add garlic and ginger, continue cooking until garlic turns brown.
Add the black pepper and turmeric/saffron, stir for half a minute, then add the tomato paste and stir for a minute.

Add the sweet peppers and cook for about a minute, then add the tomatoes. Increase the heat and cook until the tomatoes are softened.
Then add coconut milk. Stir until milk boils. Add the shrimp, salt and cilantro, cover and simmer for 5 minutes until the shrimp are cooked through. If the sauce is not enough, add coconut milk or water.

Serve hot.

Efo Riro is a Nigerian vegetable soup. Photo by Dobby Signature, used with permission.

Efo riro” is a Yoruba word which simply means “Vegetable soup” and it’s enjoyed by many. This is because it's really versatile and could be eaten with meals such as Rice, Yam and any type of Swallow. When I got to the market to buy the ingredients for cooking this meal, I actually got so confused when it came to choosing which Leaf to use for the soup.

“Efo Riro” is a Yoruba word that just means “vegetable soup” and is liked by a lot of people. That's because this soup is versatile, you can eat it with rice, sweet potatoes, and just about anything. When I came to the market to buy the ingredients for this dish, I thought for a long time what kind of greens to buy for it.

Senegalese national dish sibu yen. Photo published by Wikipedia user KVDP.

There are about as many variations for spelling ceebu jenn (thieboudienne, thiep bu dinenne, ceebujenn…) as there are to making it. This rice (ceeb) and fish (jenn) recipe is the national dish of Senegal and can also be made with beef (ceebu yapp). If the dish looks familiar, it's because it's a descendent of paella.

There are many variants of the pronunciation of this name (siboudien, sip bu dinen, sibuyen ...), as well as options for preparing this dish. This rice (sib) and fish (yen) recipe is the national dish of Senegal and can also be made with beef (sibu yapp). If the dish looks familiar, it's probably because sibu yen is derived from paella.

Matapa is a typical Mozambican dish made with young cassava leaves, garlic, crabmeat or shrimp. In most cases, cashew nuts are added to matapu. This dish can be eaten with bread, rice or just like that.

Chef Guru Mozambique Cuisine (Guru of Mozambique Cuisine) gives simple instructions for you how to cook matapu:

Are you ready to eat matapu? Photo by Brandi Phiri. Used with permission.

1 kg of shrimps
– 750 gr of peanuts
– 1 kg of cabbage leaf or cassava leaf
– 1 coconut
– 2L of water
– salt to taste

Ingredients:
1kg shrimp
750 gr peanuts
1 kg cabbage or cassava leaves
1 coconut
2 liters of water
salt to taste

Doro vet (above) is traditionally eaten with inyera [eng], a lacy flat bread made with millet-like grains:

5 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon yeast
enough warm water to make a thin batter

Begin by combining the flour, baking powder and yeast in a large bowl. Add enough water to make a batter the consistency of thin pancake batter. Cover the bowl and set it aside.

Ingredients
5 tbsp flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp yeast

Start by mixing flour, baking powder and yeast in a large bowl. Add enough warm water to achieve the consistency of pancake batter. Cover the bowl and set it aside.

You can find full cooking instructions [eng].

Ethiopian/Eritrean inera (flat bread) eaten with dishes such as doro vet. Photo published by Wikipedia user Rama (CC BY-SA 2.0 FR).

Food blogger Immaculate writes about the Cameroonian dish ndole:

At the top of my favorite Cameroonian food is Ndole, which is always present at parties ,and when properly cooked flies off the table. It is an absolutely irresistible combination of peanuts, bitter leaves (substitute spinach), meat (stock fish, shrimp,) and oil. If I could eat this every day I would, It is rich, high in calories and loved by many. It tastes like a stew spinach dip with all the spices and meat.

My all-time favorite Cameroonian dish is ndole, which no party is complete without, and if prepared properly, it is snapped up in a moment. This is an extremely tempting combination of peanuts, spinach, meat (cod, shrimp), dried shrimp and butter. If I could eat this dish every day, I would. This is a very satisfying dish, and many people like it. It tastes like stewed spinach with all the spices and meat.

Follow Immaculate's instructions to make your own ndole.

There are many more delicious African dishes than those listed above, so be sure to explore the blogs in this article to find more!

Ghanaian cuisine is rich in local national. Almost every ethnic tribe has its own delicious "signature" dish. However, a lot has changed over the years due to increasing urbanization. Nowadays, many of these dishes are prepared in urban areas and eaten by people from other ethnic communities.

Features of the national cuisine of Ghana

The Ghanaians have a rather simple but very fragrant cuisine. Most meals consist of large cuts of stew or fish, usually served with staples such as rice or yams. Onions and chili peppers, along with tomatoes, palm nuts, and broth, are the basis for most stews. Meat is not often found on the table of the average Ghanaian, it is usually replaced by cheaper fish.

The specific foods that make up a cuisine vary depending on the region in question. In the north, millet, yams, and corn are most commonly eaten, while in the south and west, plantain (similar to bananas), cassava, and cocoyams (root vegetables). The people of the dry southeastern region eat mainly corn and cassava. Rice is the staple food throughout the country. Jollof is a spicy dish of rice, tomato sauce and meat that is loved by most of the Ghanaian population. Pito, a fermented drink made from sorghum, is popular in the north, while palm wine is preferred by those living in the south.

While each ethnic group has its own style of cooking, most Ghanaians tend to cook intuitively, determining which ingredients to add as they cook. Milk, cheese and other dairy products are rare in the Ghanaian diet, usually found only in large supermarkets. On the other hand, soy milk can be found in any grocery store.

Top 10 Popular Dishes in Ghanaian Cuisine

Traveling in this country, it is impossible not to try traditional cuisine. Check out the main ones:

Soups and stews

Most dishes from Ghanaian cuisine are usually served with stew or soup. The most popular are peanut soup, palmnut or light soup. Usually rice is served with soup or stew, kenke is eaten with fried fish and hot peppers, and jar is served with stew or soup, sometimes with tilapia (freshwater fish). Fufu, akle and conconte are served with puree soup.

By "meat" in Ghanaian cuisine is meant any protein - snails, crabs, beef or fish, as well as the meat of wild animals. Although Ghana has passed a law to protect endangered species, it is very difficult to convince the tribes that hunted for their food for centuries to stop doing so. Despite the bans, you can find antelope meat, squirrels, local hares, as well as giant cane rats (grasscutters) in the markets, the hunting of which, of course, is not prohibited. The rat dish is considered a delicacy in Ghana.

The country is located on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. It borders on Cote d'Ivoire in the west, Burkina Faso in the north and Togo in the east. The locals are mostly not rich, but very hardworking, friendly and hospitable. They spend half the day off in church.
There is only one beach for whites in Accra - on the territory of Ghana's only five-star hotel "Labadi Beach".

Equatorial monsoon, in the southwest - transitional to equatorial. The extended territory contributes to the formation of differences between the natural and climatic conditions in the north and south. The average monthly temperature in summer is up to +32°С in the north, from +26°С in the south, in winter +30°С and +22+24°С and respectively. At the same time, the highest temperature in the southern regions falls on the period from April to June (+27+35°C in the shade). In January-February, "harmattan" blows - a dry, dusty wind from the north, but its influence is practically not felt in coastal areas.
Precipitation in the north falls from 1000 mm per year, and in the southwest - up to 2000 mm. There are two main rainy seasons - from April to June and from September to October. The entire territory of Ghana is characterized by a short-term downpour regime: the rains begin quickly and end quickly. The level of water that fell in one such downpour can reach up to 100 mm.

Ghana money

A cedi (C, GHC) is equal to 100 peses. There are 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 cedis banknotes in circulation, as well as 500, 200, 100 and 50 cedis coins.
1 GHC = 5.5 UAH

The Ghanaian tribes have an ancient history. According to archaeologists, the first large settlements in the country appeared in the 4th millennium BC. e. Since then, several waves of resettlement have swept here, the main of which moved in a latitudinal direction from the regions of the Sahara and the Sahel. Therefore, numerous local ethnic groups have a colossal set of cultural and historical traditions, and each of them differs markedly from its neighbors both in phenotype and in customs and traditions.
Residents of Ghana for the most part speak excellent English, the teaching of which is included in all school programs in the country. Even in the most remote areas, locals know at least the simplest set of English words, so communication with them usually does not cause any difficulties. However, local English contains many words borrowed from Twi, Ashanti and other languages, so some words often carry a completely different meaning than in canonical English. In the northern regions and among the Ghanaian Muslims, the Hausa language is widely spoken.

Sights of Ghana

The first major settlement on the site of the modern capital of Ghana was founded by the Ga tribes in the 15th century. After the arrival of the Europeans, a powerful trading center began to grow intensively around the two coastal fortresses they built - the English Fort Ussher and the Danish castle Osu (Christianborg), which became the largest settlement in the region by the beginning of the 19th century. Since 1877, Accra has become the capital of the country; colonial administration institutions, markets (including slave markets) and numerous public buildings are located here. It is now a bustling and fairly modern city by local standards, teeming with institutional offices, embassies, banks and shopping districts that mix the usual bustle of the city with African ease.
The main decoration of the city are the numerous old quarters with colonial mansions and traditional pomposity. Accra's Independence Square, east of downtown, is home to spectacular festive parades. The Independence Arch and the Unknown Soldier Memorial are also located here. Between Independence Square and the city center is the Accra Arts Center with a permanent exhibition and sale of local artisans.

The ancient capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, Kumasi ("City of the Golden Throne") was founded in 1695 and still retains its reputation as one of the leading cultural centers of West Africa. Not far from the Kejetiya market (the largest open market in West Africa) are the Center for National Culture, a library and a trade and exhibition center - the venue for numerous holidays and festivals. Here you can also visit the original zoo, which, due to the abundance of vegetation, is more like a botanical garden. Also interesting is the Maniya Palace (Asantehenes) - the ancient residence of the Ashanti rulers. The Ashanti king still lives in the more modern palace directly behind Maniya, and if you contact the palace secretariat, you can even pay him a visit. The old palace houses the Ashanti Cultural Museum, and nearby is the memorial museum (mausoleum) of King Prempe II Jubilee, Fort Kumasi and the Military Museum.

The region adjacent to the river and Lake Volta is rich in various historical and cultural monuments. Noteworthy are the ruins of European forts, the beautiful museum in Ho, the remains of German colonial architecture in the northern part of the region and numerous natural attractions: the Vli waterfalls, the lush rainforest near Hohoe, the Tsatsadou waterfalls in Alavagno or Tagbo in Liate Vot, Mount Afajato and the Calakpa nature reserve. In the Eastern Volta, Mount Afajato and the Togbo waterfalls are attractive for climbers and trekkers.

Ghana ( Ghana) or Republic of Ghana ( Republic of Ghana listen)) is a West African state that is part of the Commonwealth of Nations ( Commonwealth of Nations). Shares borders with Côte d'Ivoire ( Cote d'Ivoire), Burkina Faso ( Burkina Faso) and Togo ( Togo). The southern border of the republic is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean ( atlantic ocean) and the Gulf of Guinea ( Gulf of Guinea). The capital city of the Republic is Accra Accra).

The climate in the country is equatorial monsoon, gradually turning into equatorial closer to the southwest. The southern part of Ghana is slightly cooler than the northern part. The average annual air temperature is +27 °C in the south and +30 °C in the north. There are two wet seasons: from April to June and from September to October. The southern part of Ghana is most comfortable to visit in December - February. The northern regions are most comfortable for recreation from April to October.

The official language of Ghana is English. More than half of the population is Christian.

Beach leisure awaits vacationers in the city of Ada ( Ada), located on the Volta River ( Volta River). Active tourists can go sailing and fishing. Monuments of history and architecture await travelers in the cities of Accra and Elmina ( Elmina). Vacation in Akosombo ( Akosombo) will be remembered for a hike to the dam of the same name and hydroelectric power station ( Akosombo Dam).

Beach lovers will be able to swim in the largest artificial reservoir in the world - Lake Volta ( Volta lake). To Anomabu ( Anomabu) is located Kakums National Nature Park ( Kakum National Park).

On the territory of modern Ghana is the early feudal state of Ashanti ( Ashanti). The official name of the entity is the Ashanti Federation ( Asante Confederacy). The guests of the autonomy are waiting for exciting trips to historical and architectural sights, as well as out-of-town leisure with visits to the natural beauties of the ancient state and the villages of the Ashanta people. Wildlife fans and their fellow travelers are recommended to make a trip to the country's largest reserve - Mole National Park ( Mole National Park).

How to get there

Airplane

There are no direct flights from the CIS countries to Ghana. Tourists will have to plan their trip taking into account connections in European cities. The most comfortable way to get to Ghana is with transfers in Paris ( Paris), London ( London) or Casablanca ( Casablanca). Flights to the airports of these cities are operated by airlines Air France, British Airways and Royal Air Morocco. Ivory Coast airport in Abidjan ( Abidjan) receives many more flights from various European countries than the airport in the capital of Ghana. And from Abidjan itself, planes fly to Accra three times a day.

Ground transport

Ghana can be reached by car or bus from Côte d'Ivoire and Togo.

Visa

When planning a vacation in Ghana, citizens of the CIS and the EU should remember that you can apply for a visa directly at the border or in advance at the consular office of the Republic of Ghana.

To apply for a visa on arrival, you must send an e-mail to the Ghana Immigration Department in advance ( Ghana Immigration Service) passport data and indicate the expected duration of stay in the country.

An entry permit at the consulate of the republic is issued from 3 to 14 days. The validity of the visa is 90 days.

Customs

When planning a vacation in Ghana, it should be borne in mind that the country's customs legislation prohibits the export of national currency from the territory of the republic. The amount of exported foreign currency should not exceed the amount of imported. For the export of an amount over 5,000 US dollars, permission from the Ministry of Finance of Ghana is required ( Ministry of Finance of Ghana). The same rule applies to exported funds in excess of the declared amount upon entry into the country.

Persons over 16 years of age can take with them duty-free:

• alcohol and cigarettes for personal use;
• perfumery (up to 284 ml);
• It is allowed to transport audio and video equipment in an amount not exceeding 1 pc. per person.

It is forbidden to take with you:

• medicines (without a doctor's prescription).

It is forbidden to take with you from the trip:

• animals and birds (export of parrots is strictly prohibited);
• jewelry made of gold and precious stones (without a certificate and a receipt from the store);
• antiques and handicrafts (without special permission from the Ghanaian authorities).

Kitchen

The national cuisine of Ghana is considered one of the most Europeanized in Africa ( africa). The basis of the cuisine is thick soups cooked on beef or chicken broth with the addition of vegetables, herbs, starch and hot spices.

Fans of gastronomic tourism and their fellow travelers will be offered to taste Pepe peanut soup ( Pepe) or, prepared from yam leaves, Nkontomire stew ( Nkontomire) with the addition of banana pulp and Ampesi sauce ( Ampesi).

Ghanaian cuisine is unimaginable without Fufu ( Fufu) - a thick puree made from cassava, bananas and yams. Fufu they are eaten with soups, having previously rolled the mass into balls, and are also used as a side dish for meat or fish.

From meat dishes, vacationers will be offered "Yolof" ( Yolof) - a dish of meat and rice, vaguely reminiscent of paella. Tourists will like the taste of Chofi turkey fried in batter and spices ( Chofi). Exotic fans will be offered to try a dish of fried green snails during the trip.

Ghana's cuisine is rich in fish and seafood. We advise you to try "Gary Photo" ( Gari Foto) - a nutritious salad of tomatoes, eggs, onions, shrimp and crabs, wrapped in a sheet of dough.

Rice, legumes, cassava paste and fried bananas are most often served as a side dish. In local cuisine, sauces are common that taste like spicy ketchup.

For dessert, sweet tooth on vacation can try the national dish "Fula" ( Fula), which is a thick mixture of milk, sugar and ginger. Arabic sweets are very popular in Ghana.

You can refresh yourself by drinking a tonic non-alcoholic drink based on Askenki grains ( Askenki). Coffee, cocoa, tea and fruit juices are very popular.

Money

The national currency of Ghana is the cedi ( GHC), equivalent to 100 pesos. There are banknotes in circulation from 1,000 to 20,000 cedis, as well as coins in denominations from 50 to 500 cedis.

During the trip, currency can be exchanged at exchange offices, banking institutions and bureaus Forex. US dollars can also be converted at hotels, bars and restaurants. We recommend that you keep the receipts after the currency exchange, since the reverse exchange of funds at the border can only be carried out upon presentation of checks.

Bank cards of popular international payment systems are accepted for payment in large hotels, shops and restaurants. Please note that fraud with plastic cards is widespread in the country, so you should be very careful when calculating.

There are ATMs in major cities in Ghana. ATMs charge a 3% fee for cashing out money. In suburban areas of the country, plastic is useless.

Exchange offices, banks and hotels can help tourists and their fellow travelers cash traveler's checks. The most favorable rate is offered for checks in US dollars and pounds sterling. It is more profitable to cash out large amounts at the bureau Forex, smaller ones are preferable to change in banks and exchange offices.

What you need to know

Sights of Ghana

We recommend starting a trip to the sights of Ghana with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• Traditional buildings of the Ashanti people ( Asante Traditional Buildings) is a complex of 13 buildings made of wood and thatch, preserved from the heyday of the Ashanti Empire (XVIII - early XIX century). Most of the buildings were destroyed after the colonization of Ghana by the British.
• Forts and fortresses in the central region of Ghana. Fortress St. Jago ( Saint Jago Fortress) is located in the city of Elmina. It is the oldest fortification in the region. It was built by the Dutch in 1637 for defensive purposes, and later it housed a prison, hospital and rest home. Cape Coast Castle ( Cape Coast Castle) is located in the city of the same name and is a colonial building of the middle of the 17th century. Elmina Castle ( Elmina Castle) - one of the oldest European structures, designed to torture and keep slaves. The construction of the fortress dates back to the 15th century. Today there is a museum inside the castle. A death cell and a stone well have survived to this day, where prisoners were kept to be sent to slave markets.

You can also diversify your vacation in Ghana by visiting at least one of the six sites that claim to be included in the UNESCO list.

• Mole National Park in northwest Ghana. The vast area of ​​the reserve is covered with savannas.
• Kakum National Park covers an area of ​​357 km2 and was specially created to preserve the population of antelopes living in the coastal zone, as well as monkeys and elephants. More than 200 species of birds live in the natural park.
• Talensi villages ( Tallensi).
• Nzulenzu village ( Nzulezu Town), built on piles above the waters of the lake of the same name.
• Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God ( Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary) in the city of Navrongo ( Navrongo).
• Pilgrim Routes of Northwest Ghana ( Pilgrimage Routes of North- Western Ghana).

As part of the trip, one should not ignore other objects of Ghana that do not claim to be included in the UNESCO list, but are considered the property of the republic.

• Memorial complex of Kwame Nkrumah ( Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park) in Accra, dedicated to the fighter against the colonization of Ghana and the first president of the Republic, Kwame Nkrumah.
• Christiansborg Castle ( Christiansborg Castle), also known as "Osu Castle" ( Osu Castle) is a Danish fort built in the 17th century to protect slave and palm oil traders from pirate raids. Today, the government of Ghana is located inside the building.

Souvenirs of Ghana

Vacationers and their fellow travelers most often bring from Ghana:

• clay and wood products;
• masks made by local natives;
• leather items with authentic ornaments;
• African jewelry.