Top 20 African recipes

Toast whole spices and grind fresh for this fiery Ethiopian blend that transforms stews, roasted vegetables, and grilled meats with layers of heat and warmth.

Fragrant basmati rice layered with spiced vegetables, golden onions, and aromatic mint in this South African twist on classic biryani that feeds a crowd.

Thinly sliced sweet potatoes bake under a blanket of caramelized onions and melted cheese with a subtle chili kick in this comforting vegetarian casserole.

Shredded cabbage stir-fried with curry spices, tomatoes, and carrots until tender-crisp in this quick African-inspired side dish that's ready in 25 minutes.

Crispy millet flour pancakes with a slightly nutty flavor, cooked on a griddle until golden and served with honey, chutney, or alongside African stews.

Mix grated ginger, sugar, yeast, and lemon juice in a soda bottle, add water, and let it ferment in sunlight until fizzy for this simple homemade ginger beer.

Steep fresh grated ginger with cinnamon, cloves, and citrus juices to create a spiced concentrate that's refreshing served over ice or mixed with soda water.

Tender beef chunks simmer with bay leaf and red pepper, then bake with rice, kidney beans, bell peppers, and curry powder in this hearty one-dish meal.

Sliced bananas bake with citrus juices, brown sugar, and toasted coconut in this quick West African dessert that's incredible with vanilla ice cream.

Toast whole spices until smoky, grind with dried chilies and aromatics, then blend with oil and wine for a thick Ethiopian berbere paste that clings to meats and vegetables.

Fresh spinach wilts into a savory peanut butter sauce with sautéed onions and tomatoes in this quick 15-minute West African side dish.

Hubbard squash and yams simmer in coconut milk with cinnamon and cloves for a lightly sweetened West African side dish ready in 25 minutes.

Toast cumin, cardamom, and fenugreek until fragrant, then grind with dried chilies and shallots for an aromatic Ethiopian spice blend that's ready in minutes.

Roast onion, garlic, ginger, and whole spices until fragrant, blend with olive oil and lemon juice for a potent Ethiopian marinade that transforms tuna, pork, or beef.

Knead berbere spice into stiff dough, roll into thin strips, cut into bite-sized pieces, and bake until crunchy for these addictive Ethiopian snack bites.

Tender beef cubes simmer for 2 hours in a spiced tomato base with cayenne and ginger, then fresh spinach wilts into the stew for a hearty African meal over rice.

Pureed tomatoes and creamy avocado blend with tangy buttermilk in this refreshing cold soup topped with cucumber and sour cream.

Red lentils simmer with sautéed peppers, onions, and berbere spice in ghee for this protein-rich Ethiopian main dish ready in an hour.

Mash black-eyed peas with fork, cook with tomatoes and golden onions, stir in ground peanuts for this unique Kenyan vegetarian stew over rice.

Mix self-rising and whole wheat flours with club soda into thin batter, pour into a hot skillet, and cook on one side only for spongy Ethiopian flatbread.