Ghanaian cuisine is a flavorful adventure that combines rich spices, bold flavors, and comforting staples like plantains, yams, and rice.
Each dish is a testament to the country’s diverse culture and history.
Whether you love savory soups, crispy street snacks, or spicy stews, this list is your perfect gateway to the best dishes Ghana has to offer.
Get ready to explore everything from Ghana’s most iconic dishes to some hidden gems you may not have heard of before.
Each recipe is packed with personality, bold flavors, and plenty of surprises. You’ll be craving these dishes in no time!
1. Jollof Rice – The Ultimate West African Classic
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of long-grain rice
- 1 pound chicken (cut into pieces)
- 1 cup tomato paste
- 2 fresh tomatoes (blended)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 bell pepper (chopped)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 2 cups chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make It:
Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot and sauté the onions until they’re soft.
Add the tomato paste, blended tomatoes, and bell peppers, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
Add the chicken and season with curry powder, thyme, salt, and pepper. Let it cook for 15 minutes until the chicken is well coated with the sauce.
Add the rice and chicken broth, stirring everything together. Cover and reduce the heat.
Let it simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the rice is cooked and fluffy. Serve it hot with fried plantains or a side salad.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Jollof Rice is the king of party foods in Ghana and across West Africa. With its smoky aroma and rich flavor, one taste will have you hooked.
2. Waakye – Ghanaian Breakfast Delight
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rice
- 1 cup black-eyed peas or red beans
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 4 dried millet leaves (optional, for color)
- Salt to taste
How to Make It:
Soak the beans overnight, then rinse and boil them with baking soda and millet leaves until tender.
Add the rice and enough water to cover everything. Cook on medium heat until the rice is tender and well-cooked. Remove the millet leaves before serving.
Waakye is typically served with fried plantains, boiled eggs, spaghetti, or shito (spicy black pepper sauce).
Don’t forget to top it with some juicy fried chicken or fish for the full experience!
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Waakye is a beloved street food and breakfast staple in Ghana. Its bold, earthy flavors and versatility make it a must-try dish.
3. Fufu with Light Soup – Comfort Food at Its Best
Ingredients for Fufu:
- 2 cups cassava flour
- 2 cups plantain flour
- Water
Ingredients for Light Soup:
- 1 pound fresh goat meat or chicken
- 4 fresh tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Salt to taste
How to Make It:
To prepare the fufu, mix the cassava and plantain flour with water to form a smooth dough. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly until it becomes stretchy and firm.
For the light soup, boil the meat with tomatoes, onions, and scotch bonnet pepper.
Blend the tomatoes and onions into a smooth paste and return to the pot. Add tomato paste, season with salt, and simmer for 30 minutes.
Serve the soup hot with freshly made fufu.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Fufu with light soup is Ghana’s ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, hearty, and packed with flavor. Perfect for family gatherings!
4. Kelewele – Spicy Fried Plantains
Ingredients:
- 4 ripe plantains
- 1 tablespoon ginger (grated)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- Salt to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
How to Make It:
Peel and cut the plantains into bite-sized cubes. Mix the ginger, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl.
Toss the plantains in the spice mix until well-coated. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry the plantains until golden brown and crispy.
Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Kelewele is the perfect snack or side dish. It’s sweet, spicy, and totally addictive.
5. Banku and Tilapia – Street Food Heaven
Ingredients for Banku:
- 2 cups fermented corn dough
- 1 cup cassava dough
- 3 cups water
- Salt to taste
Ingredients for Grilled Tilapia:
- 1 whole tilapia (cleaned)
- 2 tablespoons ginger (grated)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make It:
For the banku, mix the corn and cassava dough with water in a pot.
Stir continuously over medium heat until the mixture thickens and forms a smooth dough. Keep stirring for 20-25 minutes until fully cooked.
For the tilapia, marinate the fish with ginger, garlic, chili powder, oil, salt, and pepper.
Let it sit for 30 minutes, then grill it on medium heat until the skin is crispy and the flesh is tender. Serve with freshly made banku and a side of spicy pepper sauce.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Banku and grilled tilapia is a Ghanaian street food favorite. The combination of tangy banku and smoky fish is a flavor explosion you don’t want to miss.
6. Red Red – Flavorful Bean Stew
Ingredients:
- 2 cups black-eyed peas
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 cup palm oil
- 1 teaspoon ginger (grated)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 ripe plantains (fried)
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make It:
Boil the black-eyed peas until tender. In a separate pot, heat the palm oil and sauté the onions and ginger until fragrant.
Add the tomato paste and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the beans, season with salt and pepper, and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with fried plantains on the side.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Red Red is the ultimate comfort food in Ghana. Its rich, savory flavor paired with sweet fried plantains is simply unbeatable.
7. Groundnut Soup – A Peanut Lover’s Dream
Ingredients:
- 1 pound chicken or beef
- 1 cup peanut butter (natural)
- 4 fresh tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Salt to taste
How to Make It:
Boil the chicken with tomatoes, onions, and scotch bonnet pepper. Blend the tomatoes and onions into a smooth paste and add it back to the pot.
Stir in the peanut butter and tomato paste, and season with salt. Let it simmer for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with rice balls or fufu.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Groundnut soup is a Ghanaian favorite with a creamy, nutty flavor that makes it unforgettable.
8. Kontomire Stew – Spinach in a Whole New Way
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cocoyam leaves or spinach (chopped)
- 1 cup palm oil
- 1 onion (diced)
- 2 tomatoes (blended)
- 1 smoked fish (flaked)
- 1 tablespoon ground crayfish
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make It:
Heat the palm oil and sauté the onions until translucent. Add the blended tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes.
Stir in the spinach, smoked fish, and ground crayfish. Season with salt and pepper, and simmer for another 10 minutes. Serve with boiled yams or plantains.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Kontomire stew is rich, earthy, and packed with nutrients. It’s a staple in many Ghanaian homes, and once you try it, you’ll know why.
9. Chinchinga – Ghanaian Kebabs
Ingredients:
- 1 pound beef or chicken (cut into cubes)
- 2 tablespoons suya spice mix
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Salt to taste
How to Make It:
Marinate the meat with suya spice, paprika, oil, and salt. Let it sit for 30 minutes.
Skewer the meat and grill over medium heat until it’s charred on the outside and juicy inside.
Serve with sliced onions and a side of spicy pepper sauce.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Chinchinga is the go-to street snack in Ghana. These smoky, spicy kebabs are hard to resist!
10. Gari Foto – Quick and Delicious
Ingredients:
- 2 cups gari (cassava flakes)
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 bell pepper (chopped)
- 1 cup cooked shrimp or smoked fish
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make It:
Heat the oil and sauté the onions and bell pepper until soft. Add the tomato sauce and cook for 5 minutes.
Stir in the gari and mix well. Add the shrimp or smoked fish, season with salt and pepper, and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve warm.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Gari Foto is quick, easy, and incredibly tasty. It’s a lifesaver when you need a fast, filling meal.
11. Shito – Ghana’s Spicy Black Pepper Sauce
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried fish powder
- 1 cup dried shrimp powder
- 2 cups vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup chili powder
- 1 onion (blended)
- 1 tablespoon ginger (blended)
- Salt to taste
How to Make It:
Heat the oil in a pan and fry the blended onion and ginger until golden. Add the chili powder, dried fish powder, and shrimp powder.
Cook on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt. Let it cool and store in a jar.
Why Did This Make It to Our List?
Shito is the spicy condiment you never knew you needed. It takes any dish to the next level with its bold, smoky flavor.
Conclusion
Ghanaian cuisine is a true celebration of flavors—bold, spicy, and comforting.
These 11 recipes will take your taste buds on a wild ride through Ghana’s vibrant food culture.
Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or just love trying new things, these dishes are must-tries.