15 Bold and Flavorful West African Plant-Based Recipes! – One Green Planet

With 16 countries encompassing West Africa, you know the dishes in West African cuisine are full of flavor and deliciousness! Here at One Green Planet, we love international dishes. If you aren’t familiar with international cuisines, we highly recommend you try different foods whenever you get a chance. But of course we encourage you to try vegan versions. And maybe you’re from West Africa yourself and find it difficult to find vegan recipes of your classic favorites. We can help you out with these 15 bold and flavorful vegan West African recipes from the Food Monster App.

1. Spicy West African Chickpea and Kale Curry

Source: Spicy West African Chickpea and Kale Curry

Who’s down to try this Spicy West African Chickpea and Kale Curry by Elsie Kriz for lunch or dinner? Loaded with some potatoes, kale, and spice to boot. There is something very fulfilling about a meal you can whip up in 30 minutes and get the family happily fed in little to no time. Nutritious, delicious and probably the best leftovers for your next day soup and sandwich brunch.

2. West African Peanut Stew

Source: West African Peanut Stew

If you’re the kind of person who loves to eat spoonfuls of peanut butter out of the jar, then you’ll enjoy this West African Peanut Stew recipe by Nicole Fraser. This recipe is healthy, cheap, and incredibly delicious.

3. Jollof Rice: West African Rice With Harissa and Baharat

Source: Jollof Rice: West African Rice With Harissa and Baharat

Jollof Rice is a beloved West African dish; delightful and delicious and a favorite at gatherings and celebrations! This particular recipe by Elsa Brobbey has roasted bell peppers, which add a succulent depth and sweetness to the base sauce. It also has harissa, a spicy chili paste and baharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend, both of which add warmth, zing and that touch of smokiness. Serve this one-pot dish with a side of sweet plantains or your favorite veggies.

4. African Groundnut Stew

Source: African Groundnut Stew

There’s something about the combination of sweet potatoes and greens that is particularly delicious – and nutritious. Black eyed peas are a traditional West African staple, and add an earthy flavor plus lots of protein to this dish. This African Groundnut Stew recipe by Cathy Elton is easy to play with to create your own favorite version of groundnut stew. For instance, carrots can take the place of the sweet potatoes, and cabbage or okra can replace the collards. Serve the stew with brown basmati rice or whole wheat couscous.

5. Baked Jollof Rice

Source: Baked Jollof Rice

Jollof rice is a popular West African one-pot rice dish that combines long grain rice with tomatoes and olive oil. It’s typically served with fried plantains, vegetabes, or protein, depending on which country you’re in. This Baked Jollof Rice by Elsa Brobbey is a classic reimagined as a casserole. The texture is near-perfect and the flavor is delightful savory.

6. Banana Akaras

Source: Banana Akaras: Sierra Leone Banana Fritters

Akaras appear in a multitude of recipes throughout the world, both sweet and savory. These Banana Akaras by Mike Benayoun are a favorite breakfast in Sierra Leone. Light and fluffy, but also gluten-free, the taste and texture of these fritters is like banana pancakes combined with doughnuts. They’re also ready in just 20 minutes, from start to finish, so they’re the perfect breakfast for your days off where you want to cook yourself breakfast, but don’t want to spend your entire morning in the kitchen.

7. Beju

Source: Beju

Beju, a type of of coconut cookie widely known in Nigeria, also seem to be common in the northeast of Brazil under the name bijus or tapioquinhas. Over there, these cookies include various fillings such as dulce de leche, jam, compote or butter. In Nigeria, these cookies are made with only three ingredients: cassava root, coconut, and sugar. This is a dessert that will even appeal to gluten and grain intolerant people, as it contains no wheat flour. Try this recipe by Mike Benayoun!

8. Akara

Source: Akara: Nigerian Fried Bean Balls

Akara are deep-fried bean fritters, popular in West African countries and Brazil. Black-eyed peas are the most common choice of bean for this crispy snack, but other beans, each with their own flavor or texture, can be experimented with until you find your favorite. Akara can be enjoyed as a snack or appetizer with a side of savory sauce for dipping and they’re best served while still fresh and crispy. Try this vegan version by Mike Benayoun.

9. Chin Chin

Source: Chin Chin

The good news is that you only need your hands to make this Chin Chin recipe by Tomi Makanjuola. This healthy, oven-baked adaptation of this popular snack is sweet, crunchy and delightful. You’ll be proud to share these round.

10. Yam and ‘Egg’

Source: Yam and ‘Egg’

Yam and ‘Egg’ is a staple in most Nigerian households. This vegan version by Tomi Makanjuola is an easy as pie dish that we love to eat for breakfast, lunch OR dinner. Anything really is possible in the world of vegan cooking and with a touch of adventure and experimentation in the kitchen, there’s no reason to miss out on anything.

If you enjoyed these vegan West African recipes, then we know you’ll love these 15 Meatless African Recipes!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!