If you love bold, comforting food, these Ghanaian food recipes are a wonderful place to start. From deeply flavored soups to jollof rice and soft rice balls made for soaking up every bit of broth, Ghanaian cooking is full of dishes that bring people to the table.
Over the years, we’ve had the opportunity to learn several of these recipes with guidance from our Ghanaian friend. We’ve made them in our own kitchen, learned along the way, and shared the versions we enjoy here on Savory Thoughts.
Whether you’re completely new to Ghanaian food or looking for a familiar dish to make at home, start with one of these recipes.
What Is Ghanaian Food?
Ghanaian food is part of the incredibly diverse food culture of West Africa. Rice, tomatoes, peppers, plantains, yams, cassava, peanuts, palm fruit, fish and different meats are commonly used to create filling meals with layers of flavor.
You’ll also notice that many dishes are meant to be enjoyed together. A soup may be served with fufu or rice balls, while a flavorful tomato base can become the foundation for rice and other dishes.
Here are some of the Ghanaian recipes we’ve made in our kitchen.
Ghanaian Jollof Rice
Let’s start with a favorite.
Our Ghanaian Jollof Rice is cooked in a rich tomato and pepper mixture with garlic, ginger, curry powder, bay leaves and other seasonings.
The rice absorbs all of that flavor as it cooks, giving it its recognizable reddish-orange color and deeply savory taste. It’s a wonderful dish for gatherings, celebrations or whenever you’re craving something a little more special than plain rice.
MAKE THIS: Ghanaian Jollof Rice
Ghanaian Palm Nut Soup (Abenkwan)
This is one of the newer Ghanaian recipes we’ve added to Savory Thoughts, and it is pure comfort food.
Ghanaian Palm Nut Soup, also called Abenkwan, gets its richness from palm nut cream. Our version combines it with beef neck bones, smoked fish, tomatoes, onion, ginger and peppers.
It’s rich, savory and incredibly satisfying. And if you’re wondering what to serve with it, don’t go far. The next recipe is exactly what you need.
MAKE THIS: Ghanaian Palm Nut Soup
Omo Tuo (Ghanaian Rice Balls)
Sometimes the simplest foods are the ones you remember.
Omo Tuo, or Ghanaian rice balls, is made by cooking rice until very soft, gently mashing it and shaping it into smooth balls.
The flavor itself is mild, and that’s exactly the point. The soft rice is perfect for pairing with flavorful Ghanaian soups such as palm nut soup, light soup and groundnut soup.
If you’re making one of the soups on this list, consider making Omo Tuo to go with it.
MAKE THIS: Omo Tuo (Ghanaian Rice Balls)
Ghanaian Light Soup
Don’t let the word “light” fool you into thinking this soup is short on flavor.
Our Ghanaian Light Soup is a tomato-based soup prepared with goat meat, tomatoes, onion, ginger and peppers. It’s warming, slightly spicy and deeply comforting without having the heavier consistency of some other soups.
Serve it with Omo Tuo, fufu, banku or rice and let the broth do the rest.
MAKE THIS: Ghanaian Light Soup
Ghanaian Peanut Butter Soup (Groundnut Soup)
If you’ve never tried peanut butter in a savory soup, this is your sign.
Ghanaian Peanut Butter Soup, also known as groundnut soup, is rich, creamy and packed with savory flavor. Peanuts add body and richness to the broth while complementing the spices and other ingredients beautifully.
This is another Ghanaian soup that’s especially good served with a starchy side that can soak up that flavorful broth.
MAKE THIS: Ghanaian Peanut Butter Soup
Ghanaian Tomato Stew
A good tomato stew can take you in several directions.
Our Ghanaian Tomato Stew combines tomatoes, peppers, garlic and seasonings and cooks them down until they develop a rich, concentrated flavor.
Serve it with rice, plantains and your favorite protein, or use it as part of another meal.
It’s also a great recipe to make ahead and keep on hand when you want to turn simple ingredients into a satisfying meal.
MAKE THIS: Ghanaian Tomato Stew
Where Should You Start?
If you’re making Ghanaian food for the first time, Jollof Rice is an easy introduction.
For something warm and comforting, try the Light Soup or Peanut Butter Soup.
And for the full experience, make the Palm Nut Soup with Omo Tuo. The soft rice balls and rich soup were made for each other.
Most importantly, don’t feel like you have to make everything at once. Pick one recipe, learn it, enjoy it, and come back for another.
We’ll continue adding Ghanaian recipes to this collection as we make and learn more dishes in our kitchen.
More Recipes to Explore
If you enjoy exploring food and culture through cooking, browse our other African-inspired recipes as well as our collection of Haitian recipes here on Savory Thoughts.
Check out our YouTube channel and here are a few to start with:
Leave a Reply