Even though, exotic foods are delicious and enjoyable; once in a while, some of these foods can make you feel rootless and homesick. We know it is not easy to bring Nigerian foodstuff abroad. If you try it, you will be shocked at how people will snigger at your bags packed with Nigerian foodstuffs at the airport, especially when you have Iru (locust beans) in the bag.
There are certain foods Nigerians miss most when living abroad. Although, these foods are not necessarily our favourites, but they remind us of our fatherland and it is no wonder we get sad when alternative foods do not meet up with the original ones in taste and appearance.
Here are 22 foods Nigerians miss most while living abroad:
1. Pounded Yam and Egusi Soup
Pounded yam is incomplete without Egusi soup – melon soup. Pounded yam is made by boiling yam and pounding it. Nigerians abroad prepare alternative pounded yam using yam flour but it doesn’t taste like the original pounded yam. Although, the Yoruba people are known to be fond of pounded yam, some other Nigerian tribes also love this delicious delicacy.
2. Tuwo Sinkafa
Tuwo Shinkafa is one of the most delicious foods in the Northern part of Nigeria. Tuwo is made by soft rice and spicy sauce. The Hausa tribes love this food and that is why most of them living abroad miss it so much.
3. Ewa Aganyin
Photo Source: 9jafoodie
Every Nigerian beans lover are crazy about Ewa Aganyi. Ewa Aganyi is made up of cooked beans and pepper sauce. It is a delicious beans dish, well-known for its softness and tasty sauce.
4. Party Jollof Rice
Photo Source: BuzzNigeria
A Nigerian party without Jollof Rice is no party! There is a theory that party jollof rice are unique. Well, the food has a unique taste and aroma that is different from any type of jollof rice. Most Nigerians look forward to ‘owanbe’ parties, simply because of the delicious foods including jollof rice.
5. Amala and Ewedu Soup
Amala and Ewedu soup is classic Nigerian food, mostly eaten by the Yoruba tribes, especially people from Oyo State, but it is appreciated by other tribes.
6. Poundo-Cocoyam and Oha Soup
This mouth-watering delicacy is mostly eaten by people from the Eastern part of Nigeria, the Igbo tribes. Every Igbo family treasures this meal and that is why they miss it so much when they are abroad.
7. Adalu
Photo Source: Vegannigeria
Adalu is a combination of beans and corn, cooked together with flavourful seasoning and spices. Most Nigerians ate lots of this delicious meal when growing up, so they have deep love for it.
8. Moin Moin
Moin Moin is a Nigerian staple food which is very rich in protein. Moin Moin is a cooked bean pudding made from combination of grounded – pealed beans, pepper, and onions. It is very delicious and tasty.
9. Abacha and Ugba
Abacha and Ugba is known as ‘African Salad’ and it can be eaten as a meal or snack. Many people eat it as a meal because it is fills up your stomach just like any other meal. This meal is well-known in the Eastern part of Nigeria, among the Igbo tribes and they love it.
10. Semovita and Efo Riro
Semovita has become a popular food in Nigeria and it serves as an alternative for Pounded yam. People who do not want to go through the stress of pounding yam prefer eating Semovita. Semovita is usually taken with Efo Riro (Vegetable soup), which makes the meal more delicious and nutritious.
11. Akara and Pap
Photo Source: 9jafoodie
Nothing makes your Saturday morning better than waking up to the sweet aroma of Akara (beans cake) with freshly made pap. This meal is so delicious and tasty. Nigerians abroad will yearn for it whenever they wake up on Saturday morning.
12. Starch and Banga Soup
photo Source: 9jafoodie
Banga Soup is well-known in the Southern part of Nigeria. They soup can be taken with Starch and it is a very delicious Nigerian food. Who wouldn’t miss it?
13. Ofada Rice
Photo Source: Dobbys Signature
Ofada Rice produced locally in Nigeria. What makes it special is its unique flavour and aroma. Most Nigerians abroad will jump with excitement at the sight of ofada rice.
14. Kilishi
Photo Source: fabdivawrites
Well, you may find many alternative dried meat wherever you are, but Kilishi is the only one that has that unique Nigerian taste, aroma and spice.
15. Suya
Suya has been called so many names, barbecued meat, kebab and many others. But Suya is Suya and you can only find it in Nigeria. There is no definition for the kind of feeling or sensation you get when you take hot Suya, especially when it is soaked in Yaji (Suya Spice). This delicacy is utterly delicious that it gives Nigerians multiple foodgasms.
16. Gala and Lacasera
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Gala and Lacasera – there is always a romantic relationship between these two, they are made for each other. Most Nigerians love Gala and Lacasera especially when they are tired and stuck in traffic for hours.
17. Agege Rocky Bread
There are different types of breads in Nigeria but Agege bread is unique. People call it perfect because it has the right amount of ingredient, not too soft and not too hard. Some Nigerians abroad has a weakness for Agege bread and they miss it a lot.
18. Boli and Groundnut
Boli – roasted plantain is very tasty when taken with groundnut, it is truly a delectable snack for Nigerians and that is why they miss it most when they travel abroad.
19. Asun Goat Meat
Photo Source: Afrolems
Asun is a popular Nigerian barbecued goat meat with pepper sauce. It serves as an appetizer and always classified as a finger food. Asun is well-known in the Western part of Nigeria, among the Yoruba tribes. When Nigerians abroad crave for Asun, they remember their family gatherings or pleasant memories from home.
20. Nkwobi
Nkwobi, a cooked spicy cow leg is a popular traditional desserts in Eastern Nigeria. Most Nigerian men visit Igbo restaurants on Friday nights to enjoy Nkwobi.
21. Nigerian-made Indomie Noodles
Photo Source: 9jafoodie
Photo Source: Indomie Noodles has become a household name in Nigeria. Every Nigerian has different ways of cooking and eating their noodles. Even though, there are other brands of noodles abroad, Indomie noodles has a unique taste and gives you a homey feeling.
22. Ijebu Garri and Groundnut
Nothing is as soothing as taking Garri and Groundnut with chilled water in the afternoon. The combination gives a kind of fulfilment that only a true Nigerian can understand. When you take Garri and groundnut isn’t there, it just feels wrong.
What food do you miss most while abroad? Let us know in the comment box below.
Source: http://www.travelstart.com.ng/blog/22-foods-nigerians-miss-most-while-living-abroad/