How to Cook Nigerian Meals E-guide

By 9jafinds Editorial | Evergreen Food Guide

Cooking Nigerian meals abroad can feel intimidating — missing ingredients, unfamiliar kitchens, and long prep times. But with the right guide, you can bring Naija flavor to any table, anywhere in the world.

This step-by-step guide covers 10 iconic Nigerian meals, complete with measurements, instructions, and diaspora-friendly tips. Bookmark it, revisit it, and shop authentic ingredients directly on 9jafinds.com/shop.

1. Jollof Rice

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 3 cups long-grain parboiled rice

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 6 medium tomatoes (or 1 can plum tomatoes)

• 2 red bell peppers

• 1 large onion

• 3 tbsp tomato paste

• 2 tsp curry powder

• 2 tsp thyme

• 2 bay leaves

• 3 cups chicken stock

• Salt & seasoning cubes to taste

Instructions:

1. Blend tomatoes, peppers, and half the onion. Boil until reduced.

2. Heat oil, fry sliced onions, then add tomato paste & blended mixture. Cook 10–15 mins.

3. Add curry, thyme, bay leaves, stock, and seasoning. Simmer 10 mins.

4. Add washed rice, stir, reduce heat, and steam until cooked.

👉 Shop: Nigerian Jollof Starter Pack

2. Egusi Soup

Ingredients (serves 6):

• 2 cups ground egusi (melon seeds)

• 1/2 cup palm oil

• 2 tbsp ground crayfish

• 1 onion (blended)

• 2 tbsp ground pepper

• 6 cups meat/fish stock

• 2 bunches spinach (or ugu leaves)

• Assorted meat & fish (beef, goat, stockfish)

• Seasoning cubes & salt

Instructions:

1. Fry egusi paste (egusi + water) in palm oil until crumbly.

2. Add crayfish, pepper, onion, and stock. Stir well.

3. Add cooked meats and simmer.

4. Stir in spinach/ugu last, cook 5 mins.

👉 Shop: Egusi Seeds + Nigerian Palm Oil

3. Pounded Yam + Efo Riro

Ingredients:

• 2 cups yam flour (elubo)

• 4 cups water

• 1/2 cup palm oil

• Spinach or efo leaves

• 2 tbsp ground crayfish

• 2 tomatoes, 1 onion, 2 red peppers (blended)

• Assorted meats & stock

Instructions:

1. Boil water, stir in yam flour until smooth stretchy swallow forms.

2. For stew: fry blended mix in palm oil, add crayfish, meats, and spinach.

👉 Shop: Yam Flour (Elubo) + Nigerian Palm Oil

4. Moi Moi (Steamed Bean Pudding)

Ingredients (serves 6):

• 2 cups peeled beans or bean flour

• 1 red bell pepper

• 1 onion

• 2 tbsp palm oil

• 2 tbsp ground crayfish

• 1 boiled egg (sliced into cups)

• Seasoning cubes & salt

Instructions:

1. Blend beans with pepper and onion into smooth batter.

2. Add oil, crayfish, seasoning.

3. Pour into cups or foil wraps; place egg slices.

4. Steam 45–60 mins.

👉 Shop: Bean Flour + Moi Moi Wraps

5. Suya (Street Meat Skewers)

Ingredients:

• 500g beef (thinly sliced)

• 3 tbsp suya spice (yaji)

• 1 tbsp groundnut oil

• 1 onion (sliced rings for garnish)

Instructions:

1. Coat beef in oil + yaji spice. Marinate 1 hour.

2. Skewer meat, grill or oven-bake until cooked.

3. Serve with onions, tomatoes, cucumber.

👉 Shop: Authentic Suya Spice Pack

6. Nigerian Pepper Soup

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 500g goat meat or fish

• 2 tbsp pepper soup spice

• 1 onion (sliced)

• 1 scotch bonnet pepper

• 4 cups stock

• Salt & seasoning

Instructions:

1. Boil meat with onion, pepper, and spice until tender.

2. Simmer in stock until flavors meld.

👉 Shop: Pepper Soup Spice Mix

7. Fried Plantain (Dodo)

Ingredients:

• 4 ripe plantains

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Slice plantains diagonally.

2. Fry in hot oil until golden brown.

3. Drain & serve with rice, beans, or eggs.

👉 Shop: Crunchy Nigerian Plantain Chips

8. Akara (Bean Fritters)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups peeled beans (or bean flour)

• 1 onion

• 1 scotch bonnet pepper

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Blend beans, onion, and pepper into thick paste.

2. Heat oil, scoop paste in balls, fry until golden.

👉 Shop: Bean Flour Pack

9. Okra Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh okra (chopped)

• 1/2 cup palm oil

• Assorted meats/fish

• 1 tbsp ground crayfish

• 1 scotch bonnet pepper

Instructions:

1. Fry palm oil with crayfish and pepper.

2. Add meats, stock, then stir in okra.

3. Cook until slimy & thick.

👉 Shop: Okra + Palm Oil Combo

10. Nigerian Stew (Red Tomato Stew)

Ingredients:

• 6 tomatoes

• 2 red bell peppers

• 2 onions

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil

• 500g chicken or beef

• Curry, thyme, seasoning cubes

Instructions:

1. Blend tomatoes, peppers, onion. Boil down.

2. Fry in oil, add seasoning.

3. Add cooked meat, simmer 15 mins.

👉 Shop: Tomato Stew Base Pack

To wrap things up

These 10 Nigerian meals form the backbone of Nigerian cuisine. Whether you’re a student abroad missing home, a second-generation diaspora trying to reconnect, or simply curious, this guide is your passport to the flavors of Nigeria.

And with 9jafinds.com/shop, you can buy authentic ingredients and keep the taste of home alive.

Here’s a  Nigerian Diaspora Cookbook (PDF) we created for you! 🎉

Download it here: Nigerian_Diaspora_Cookbook

It contains 10 full recipes with step-by-step cooking instructions.