Have you ever considered eating only vegetarian meals for one week? It is Vegetarian Awareness month and we are switching things up. Nigerians have become accustomed to meaty meals and this is evident in most of our soups, asun, suya, stews, etc. In fact, there is a misconception that food cannot taste delicious without meat. We know this is not true and we are thankful for chefs and bloggers who share all sorts of vegetarian recipes for us to enjoy. Of course, we know that there are several health benefits to cutting down on meat dishes and we are starting to see an increasing number of meatless eaters. So in line with the Vegetarian Awareness Month, here is a list of delicious Nigerian dishes that can easily be prepared without meat.
Beans Porridge
This is probably the second most popular Nigerian dish after Jollof rice. The delicious oily taste and high protein content makes it an instant hit among Nigerians. It can be prepared in a number of ways; with plantain, potato or yam. Additionally, it can be cooked plain with red oil and spices and eaten with bread or the legendary Ijebu garri. This is one of the popular Nigerian dishes that we do not even remember is vegetarian. Yum!
Yam Porridge
Source – mariellasmenu.com.ng
This is an easy dish that looks rich and taste yummy but can be made within an hour.. The yam is cooked with palm oil, pepper, tomato and various spices. Some varieties of this dish add large helping of vegetables like pumpkin (ugu) leave. Different people cook this dish with different twists but it is usually a meatless marvel. Lastly, click here for a delicious pottage recipe.
Plantain porridge
Source – chidimminspiration.com
This is one dish with immense health benefits as it mostly prepared with unripe plantain. Plantains in their unripe state are packed with iron which is good for the development of the body. Additionally, it contains minimal starch making it suitable for diabetics. Just like yam, the plantain is cooked with palm oil, tomato, pepper and a number of spices.
Ukwa (African breadfruit)
Source – dobbyssignature.com
This dish is very popular in the southeastern states of Nigeria as it is consumed mostly by Igbos. Having grown up in Lagos, I did not know much about this dish until I got older and traveled back home more. Ukwa has a natural delicious flavor; it can be cooked plain and would still have a delicious taste. Just like beans, ukwa has a high protein current.
Puff-Puff
Source – sisiyemmie.com
I do not think it is possible to be Nigerian (in fact, West African) and not be familiar with the mother of all Nigerian snacks. This snack is a deep fried dough ball of simple ingredients like flour, sugar and yeast. Puff-puff is a snack enjoyed by everyone; adult or child, meat lover or vegetarian. You can experiment on this dish by adding ginger or pepper or chocolate to give it more flavor.
Moin-Moin
Source – sisijemimah.com
Steamed bean pudding, popularly known as moin-moin is a traditional dish cooked in plantain leaves and consumed by all Nigerians. It is a delicious accessory dish, as it is commonly seen accompanying jollof rice, fried rice, fried plantain, custard, pap, etc. Furthermore, it can be eaten alone as a snack with a cold bottle of drink to wash it down. The joy of vegetarian moin moin is unraveling the unique vegetables inside the steamed pudding.
Fried Yam/ Potato
This is one of the easiest Nigerian dishes to make. The yams and potatoes are Sliced and deep fried in hot oil till golden brown. The only spice often added before it is fried is table salt. This dish can be eaten with stew, ketchup sauce, or as simple snacks by themselves.
Akidi (Black beans)
Source – globalfoodbook.com
This is another Igbo dish. Black bean seeds look just like the regular black eyed beans but are darker in color. Unlike beans, the akidi is cooked separately from the yam until each component is soft. Then a palm oil sauce is prepared differently. When the akidi, yam and sauce are ready, they are all mixed together on low heat and then served.
Dodo
Dodo is a pride of Nigerians all over the world. This dish is sliced plantain fried in oil. Dodo is another tasty accessory dish which is often eaten with Jollof rice. Additionally it can accompany salads, custard, pap and beans. Even more, this golden-brown goodness is eaten all over Nigeria and even by Nigerians outside the shores of the country.
Abacha
Source – dooneyskitchen.com
Abacha is another wonderful dish from the Igbos. Known as African salad to every other Nigerian, this dish is an Igbo pride. It is dried cassava slices garnished with seasoned palm oil, onions, ugba (oil bean seed), garden eggs leaves and garden eggs. Eaten by itself, abacha is a rich vegetarian dish.
Chin-Chin
Source – nigerianfoodtv.com
Half the joy of eating chin-chin comes from the crunchy sound it makes as it is being crunched by your molars. Nigerian chin-chin is a crunchy deep-friend snack that is quite easy to make. It is usually served as light refreshments for guests. Further more, chin-chin is a Nigerian favorite not just because of its great taste but because it can be kept for long when stored in airtight containers. In summary, dough is first made from flour, butter, milk, and then it is cut into tiny pieces and deep fried.
Akara
Source – youtube.com
Akara, another bean-based dish is one of the most popular breakfast staples in Nigeria. . These are crisp light-as-air black-eyed-bean fritters usually eaten with bread, pap or custard. Even more, akara is a popular street food in Nigeria and West Africa as a whole. To conclude, akara is a relatively easy dish to prepare; the ground bean paste is deep fried in hot oil.
Boli/ Roasted yam
Source – guardian.ng
Boli (roasted plantain) mainly consumed in southern Nigeria is another plantain-based dish eaten in the country. The sweet yellow-ripe plantain is usually covered in spicy palm oil sauce and the bitter uziza (Piper Guineense) leave. The same goes for roasted yam which is usually sold alongside boli. Additionally, Boli is eaten with epa (groundnut) in the western part of Nigeria.
Okpa
Source – authorityngr.com
There is a mini debate in the Igbo tribe on which state makes the best okpa, but we all know who does. Okpa is a traditional Nigerian food popular in the southeastern part of Nigeria. It is made with okpa flour gotten from Bambara bean which is mixed with palm oil and spices and then steamed. If you have ever been to Enugu, then you know this is a dish that should not be toyed with.
Jollof Rice
Some would argue that this dish is not meant to be eaten without meat. But in my opinion, meat removing meat from this dish does not take anything away from this dish. Jollof rice is tasty on its own and meat is just added to advance the taste. Finally, with or without meat, Jollof rice is a widely loved dish which is enjoyed by basically the whole of Africa and more.
Most of these dishes although without meat are personal favorites to millions of Nigerians all over the world. Which of these dishes is your favorite? Tell us about them in the comment section below. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook so we can share experiences and pictures. Do not forget to hashtag #thevillagepot
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