20 Best Nigerian Lunch Ideas: Easy Recipe To Try – Asikoherbs
If you’re sick of the same old, same old, let’s take a gastronomic adventure to Africa’s west coast. Nigerian lunch ideas are far from dull; they are vibrant, colorful, and full of flavor. You’ll appreciate every mouthful of these classic dishes, which range from substantial stews and soups to savory staples.
You will get the opportunity to learn about the origins, flavors, and customs linked to each dish. A wealth of fascinating knowledge awaits you ahead.
In this essay, I will introduce you to the most popular meals in this great nation so that you can simply organize your trip to catch the essence of nigerian cuisine.
Also read>>>>
- Pregnancy Meal Plan: Best Week Plan for a Healthy Diet
- Top 50 Foodstuffs List in Nigeria: Nigerian Food Ingredients
- Top 70+Rich Protein Foods in Nigeria-Asikoherbs
- All Types of Donuts and Nutritional info you Need to know
What Constitutes a Healthy Lunch?- Nigerian lunch ideas
It is important to start the day with a nutritious breakfast, but it is as critical to end the day with a nutritious lunch. A healthy lunch should be nutritionally balanced as well as tasty. A well-balanced lunch should contain foods from at least three distinct food groups. It is also critical to keep your lunch quantity under control.
Do you, on the other hand, find it difficult to come up with a thorough list of foods to eat for lunch? Let’s look at some healthy Nigerian lunch ideas options.
Healthy Nigerian Lunch Ideas
This list contains some healthy Nigerian lunch ideas to add to your diet plan. Sit down, have a snack, and listen to a variety of entertaining tales.
1. Chicken and Jollof rice
Jollof rice and chicken is delicious food in Nigeria and other parts of the globe, and the good news is that you can add it into your food. It is high in magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and other beneficial elements.
Jollof rice is high in carbs, so it may help you feel more energized. It also has some effective characteristics that may help enhance your mood and give your mental health a significant boost. Again, the onions, peppers, and tomatoes used in the preparation of this rice type have been linked to an enhanced immune system, less inflammation, and a lower risk of heart disease and cancer.
Chicken, on the other hand, is high in protein, vitamins [A, B12, B6, E, K, niacin, and others], iron, potassium, and other minerals. Some of the health benefits of chicken include enhanced energy levels, increased bone strength, strengthened immune system, decreased risk of anemia, better cognitive performance, lower blood pressure, lower risk of cholesterol, and subsequent heart disease development.
That being said, it is important to note that certain studies have shown that eating too much chicken or fish may lead to heart disease and other serious health problems, As a result, consume these items in moderation.
2. DODO (FRIED PLANTAINS)
Fried plantains are a popular dish in the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. It’s called as Dodo in Yoruba and is served with anything from Jollof rice to spicy stews.
3. Efo Riro (Spinach Stew)
Efo riro is a hearty stew made with pumpkin leaves. Aside from the taste, this stew is consumed for its many health benefits
The leaves are the major element of “efo riro,” which means “stirred leafy vegetable.”
If you can’t find pumpkin leaves, water leaves and spinach will suffice.
To give it additional solidity, a type of meat is added to the mix, commonly chicken, beef, or smoked fish.
Scotch bonnets and red bell peppers add heat to the stew.
4. Amala and Ewedu.
Lunch may be consumed with ewedu and amala. It is highly tasty, as well as a light food with few calories.
Amala is delicious when mixed with local stews such as melon soup, vegetables, okra, and the like. It includes calcium, zinc, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, carbohydrate, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and dietary fibre, among other nutrients and minerals.
5. ASARO (YAM PORRIDGE)
If you’re new to Nigerian cooking and want to start with something simple, try Asaro. Yam is cooked till soft and mushy before being seasoned with peppers and onions to make a tasty and savory porridge.
6. Moin Moin (Steamed Bean Cakes)
When Nigerians eat Jollof rice and fried plantains, they often serve Moin Moin with the dish. It’s also served at parties and special occasions, accompanied with salad and soft drinks. Moin moin is among the most popular Nigerian main dishes.
This amazing food staple originates in western Nigeria. It’s a thick and creamy paste made from black-eyed beans, onion, and crushed red peppers. It may have a pyramid or cylindrical form, depending on the cook’s taste.
According to Nigerian culture, each additional component in Moin Moin is considered a “soul” or “life.” If three more ingredients are added, it is called as “Moin Moin with three souls.”
“Moin-Moin elemi meje” or “Moin Moin with 7 souls” is a popular version that includes minced meat, hard-boiled egg, lobster, titus fish, butter, green peppers, and carrots.
7. Egusi soup with pounded yam
Another healthy Nigerian lunch idea is egusi and pounded yam. It should be consumed lightly, and you should exercise portion control.
On the bright side, pounded yam is a food that can be simply prepared at home. Simply cook a little amount of yam in a pot for a few minutes, pound it with a mortar and pestle, and serve with your delicious Egusi stew!
8. IYAN (POUNDED YAM)
If you like mashed potatoes, you’ll love pounded yams. This nourishing staple may be served with traditional African soups and stews.
9. Fufu (Blended and Fermented Cassava)
Another Nigerian lunch idea like cooking using cassava root, popularly known as “Garri.” Aside from Nigeria, “garri” is a popular food in Ghana and several West African nations, such as Togo, Benin Republic, Guinea, Liberia, and Cameroon.
make ebà, a comfort food popular among Yoruba people, from dried shredded cassava flour. It is also made in different sub-regions of West Africa.
The sticky dough in this side dish is made of fresh or fermented cassava. Fufu takes many days to prepare, usually 3–4 days. It is traditionally served with Egusi Soup.
They grab a little piece of dough using their hands, flatten it into a small ball, make a hole in the middle with their thumbs, and dip it in the soup.
It is important to note that you should never eat Fufu with your left hand since many Nigerians believe that the left hand is used to go to the bathroom. It will be considered as disrespectful behavior.
10. Egusi Soup
Egusi soup is one of the Nigerian lunch ideas dish made mostly of crushed melon or pumpkin seeds.
Meat or fish, fermented beans, onions, and vegetables are among the other ingredients.
The tasty soup is created by the mix of ingredients.
This soup has a great nuttiness from the pumpkin seeds (egusi). The other ingredients add salty, savory, and spicy qualities as well.
The thick soup is often served with pounded yam, a dough-based dish made of, surprise, pounded yam.
11. Ogbono Soup
Ogbono soup has a rich flavor and a slippery texture. Because of its mucilaginous texture, it is also known as “pull soup.”
To be sure, the consistency takes some getting used to, but once you do, you’ll be hooked.
Its peculiar texture comes from ogbono, a type of wild mango. Surprisingly, the seeds are added rather than the meat.
In addition to the ogbono seeds, the soup contains dried fish, stockfish, various meat, and spices.
The many ingredients come together to create a mix of tastes and sensations.
Ogbono soup is often served with eba, pounded yam, or fufu.
12. Ngwo Ngwo (Goat Pepper Soup)
When you think of peppers, you probably think of a hot dish. It is, indeed. In Nigeria, goat meat is cooked with spices to create a delicate spicy soup used to cure common colds and flu.
Ngwo Ngwo does not follow a set recipe. The ingredients utilized vary by area, but the base ingredients are always goat meat and spices.
Onions and tomatoes are used by the Igbo people. Delta residents make Ngwo Ngwo using rigije, uda, gbafilo, es, and ataiko.
13. Amala
one is also is amala which is a traditional Nigerian dish made from yam flour cooked in boiling water until it forms a dough.
The dough is kneaded until it is smooth and lump-free, which is the hallmark of a flawless amala.
While yam flour is white while fresh, it becomes brown when dried, which is why amala looks brown.
Amala is comparable to fufu, but a little softer. It, like its cousin, is often served with soups such as ogbono and egusi.
14. Eba
The Nigerian eba,is also one of the Nigerian lunch ideas, a delicacy made from garri or pounded fried cassava, comes in last on our list.
Cassava is usually cooked in boiling water to make a dough, which is then formed into balls and served with stew or soup.
Eba may be yellow or white, and you can simply change the color by adding or removing palm oil.
You can make eba on the stovetop, in the microwave, or in a bowl with this recipe! That’s quite cool.
15. OBE ILA ALASEPO (OKRA SOUP)
Okra soup has a thick, viscous viscosity that makes the most of the flavors added to the pot. Obe Ila Alasepo is traditionally served with beef, although it is also delicious with shrimp, goat, or lamb.
16. Boli
Boli is a delicious dish made with ripe plantains. They may be baked, grilled, or roasted.
Cooking the fruit improves its flavor and forms a delicious outer crust in either case.
Because they contain very little oil, they are a considerably healthier alternative to deep-fried plantains. Simply season the plantains with salt and olive oil before serving.
With a side of guacamole, boli makes a tasty and healthy breakfast!
Save
Peanut Soup for Vegetarians
Kate and Cookie
17. Chin Chin
Chin chin is a deep-fried crunchy snack made of wheat, milk, and sugar.
It reminds me of a Spanish churro, but in bite-sized form, with a crispy-crunchy surface and a soft middle.
Sugar, lime zest, and nutmeg add sweetness and spice to the dough.
It has the ability to be formed into little balls, squares, or even sticks. Regardless, they taste fantastic.
The chin chin comes in a variety of textures, ranging from soft and pillowy to thick and crispy. It’s simple to adjust the consistency to your taste. Simply add or decrease the quantity of butter.
18. Nigerian Tomatoes Stew
Nigerian tomato stew has a gorgeous crimson color and delicious robust tastes.
This stew is incredibly appealing, with rich tomatoes and onions as its flavor base.
Bouillon, curry, thyme, garlic, and peppers are among the other flavoring ingredients.
The gamey ram, on the other hand, lends it its characteristic flavor.
Because it is so costly, this protein is considered as celebration meat and is often served exclusively on special occasions, such as the Islamic festival Eid-el Kabir.
19. Zobo (Hibiscus Tea)
You can always find Zobo, a famous and original Nigerian drink that has acquired fame across the globe, whether you go to a restaurant, a local residence, or a party. The Nigerian term for the hibiscus plant, which is the major component in this delicious drink, is “zobo.”
Zobo is made from hibiscus plant leaves. Cloves, ginger, and pineapple are among the other ingredients. When done, the cup is garnished with fresh citrus fruit, such as lemon and orange. It has a cranberry juice-like taste that is both appealing and delightful.
You may also make this delicious drink at home using this recipe.
20. Chapman is number twenty (Nigerian Cocktail)
Another Nigerian lunch ideas Chapman is an elegant drink with an intriguing backstory. According to legend, it began at the Ikoyi Club in Lagos. Chapman was one of the customers. He wanted something unique to drink, so the waiter invented a new drink and named it “Chapman.”
This drink is traditionally made with Fanta, Sprite, Angostura bitters, lemon, cucumber, and grenadine. The drink is served in a mug and garnished with cucumber slides. The modern version occasionally includes vodka or rum.
Other healthy Nigerian lunch ideas suggestions
- Plantains and beans, roasted
- Pottage with boiled yam and beans.
- Macaroni and cheese with sauce.
- Ugwu or Okro soup with Semovita
- Plantain with scrambled eggs, fruit or vegetable
Nigerian lunch ideas|What is a standard Nigerian meal?
In Nigerian families, dinner is a special occasion. Even weeknight dinners are healthy, tasty, and flavorful. Rice dishes like jollof rice and tuwo shinkafa are served with savory bean-based entrees such as Ewa Riro. Beef meals such as suya (grilled steak) and Nkwobi (spicy cow foot) are popular alternatives for people seeking meat.