Yoruba cooking is built on stews, swallows, beans and plantain, flavoured with pepper, palm oil and locust beans. If you have ever wondered what people mean by amala and ewedu, or how moin moin differs from akara, this guide explains 15 traditional Yoruba dishes in plain language. For more on food sold on the road, see our Lagos and Ibadan street food guide.
Swallows and soups
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Àmàlà | A smooth, dark swallow made from yam flour, cassava flour or unripe plantain flour, stirred in hot water |
| Ẹ̀wẹ́dú | A slimy green soup made from jute leaves, usually eaten with àmàlà |
| Gbẹ̀gìrì | A thick bean soup made from peeled beans, often served beside ẹ̀wẹ́dú; the combination is called abula |
| Iyán | Pounded yam: boiled yam pounded until stretchy and smooth |
| Ẹ̀bà | A firm swallow made by stirring garri into hot water |
| Ẹ̀gúsí | A soup thickened with ground melon seeds, often cooked with leafy vegetables and meat or fish |
| Ẹ̀fọ́ rírò | A rich vegetable stew with pepper, palm oil, assorted meat and fish |
Beans, rice and porridge
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Mọ́ínmọ́ín | Steamed bean pudding made from peeled, blended beans, pepper and onion |
| Àkàrà | Bean cakes, deep-fried until crisp outside and soft inside |
| Ẹ̀wà àgòyìn | Soft, well-cooked beans served with a spicy, dark pepper sauce, often with bread |
| Ìrẹsì Ọ̀fádà | Local unpolished rice, usually eaten with a green pepper sauce (ayamase) |
| Àsáró | Yam porridge cooked in a palm oil and pepper sauce |
| Ikókoré | A porridge of grated water yam, popular in Ijebu communities |
Snacks and sides
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Dòdò | Ripe plantain, sliced and fried until golden |
| Ẹ̀kọ | Smooth corn pudding, often wrapped in leaves and eaten with akara or moin moin |
How a Yoruba meal is eaten
Swallows are eaten by hand: you pinch a small piece, shape it into a ball with your fingers, dip it into the soup and swallow it without chewing for long. Wash your hands before and after. Elders are usually served first and the eldest person at the table often starts the meal.
Where to learn the words
If you want to order food in Yoruba, start with our guide to fruits, vegetables and market words in Yoruba, then practise with the 60 common Yoruba words.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous Yoruba food? Àmàlà with ẹ̀wẹ́dú and gbẹ̀gìrì, iyán with a rich soup, and mọ́ínmọ́ín are among the best known.
Is moin moin the same as akara? No. Both come from beans, but moin moin is steamed and soft, while akara is fried.
Photo: Unsplash contributor, illustrative. Dish names and recipes vary by town and family; spellings follow common usage.
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