One of our favorite things about Nigeria is our food. The joy of every gathering is the food that ends up being shared, even at funerals. If you’re familiar with Nigerian food, you know that it’s all about the flavor. We’re talking rich sauces, flavorful soups, spicy seasonings and aromatic ingredients that will have you dancing at the table.
But, let’s be real – some of our favorite Nigerian dishes aren’t always the healthiest options. We’re talking about those carb-heavy rice dishes, fried meats and oily soups and stew. However, we’re all about balance and that’s why we’ve decided to embark on a journey of transforming traditional Nigerian cuisine into healthier options without compromising on taste. We assume that this will be hard for you but just hear us out.
From Jollof rice to Okro soup, we’re making a conscious effort to choose healthier ingredients without sacrificing the authentic Nigerian taste. We have to start with the ingredients we use. Instead of using white rice, we’ve switched to brown rice or quinoa. It tastes just as good!
When it comes to seasoning, we’re replacing the excess salt and all-purpose seasoning using natural alternatives like fresh herbs and spices. Trust us when we say that these can take your dishes to the next level – you won’t even miss the salt. And don’t even get us started on the benefits of turmeric – we’ve been putting that on everything lately.
Now, the amount of deep frying we do as a nation is alarming so we’re opting to baking or grilling our meats. This gives us all the flavor and none of the added fat. And if we have to fry at all, we like to replace groundnut oil for the healthier option which is olive oil. Also, reducing how much palm oil we use when making our soups and stews.
Lastly, let’s talk about dessert. We’ve only recently been delivered from putting condensed milk and powdered sugar on puff-puff. However, we’re making sure to be moderate and use natural sweeteners like honey or dates instead of processed sugar, when having our paps, custards, tea and coffee. Trust us when we say that you won’t even notice the difference.
Remember, we’re not saying that you need to completely give up your favourite Nigerian dishes, but it’s all about finding that balance and making conscious decisions. We’re making healthier choices anyway we can, especially with food.
