10 Spectacular African Cuisine Side Dishes That Get Our Thanksgiving Stamp of Approval

Everyone knows that the turkey isn’t the real star of the African Thanksgiving table—it’s the side dishes. Start a new family tradition this year. Step out of the traditional and predictable with our crowd-pleasing African Cuisine side dish recipes.
#1 African Cuisine – Vegan Jollof Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 large yellow onion, diced (about 1 1/3 cups diced onions)
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 inch piece of ginger, minced (about 1 1/2 teaspoons)
- 3 to 4 Thai chili peppers, sliced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup uncooked basmati rice
- half teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 14-ounce (400g) can of crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup (250ml) vegetable broth or water
- chopped parsley to serve
#2 African Cuisine – Accra Banana
Ingredients
- 2 pounds grated cassava frozen is ok
- 3/4 teaspoons salt or more adjust to suit taste buds
- 3 large overly ripe bananas optional
#3 African Cuisine – Fried African White Yams
Ingredients
- yam, or white yam: as much as you can eat.
- Vegetable Oil
- Salt to taste
#4 African Cuisine – Corn Chaff
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked pinto beans
- 2 cups sweet corn
- 1 sprig Parsley
- 1 small green onion
- 2 gloves garlic
- 1/2 inch cube ginger
- 1 small habanero
- 2 Tbsp canola oil
- 1 medium onion
- 2 Tbsp palm oil
- salt to taste
- 1/4 cup crayfish optional
#5 African Cuisine – Egg Plant Soup
Ingredients
- 15 Thai eggplants aka green garden-egg
- 6 plum tomatoes
- 1 large white onion
- ¼ cup palm oil
- 1 scotch bonnet pepper chopped
- 340 g smoked mackerel the equivalent of one large mackerel skinned and de-boned
- 1 tsp chicken/ vegetable bullion
- 1 small handful of Clove basil aka Nigerian scent leaf/Thai basil
- Salt to taste
- Optional: 2 tbsp dried shrimp
- Optional: Extra dried chili-pepper
#6 African Cuisine – Goat Meat Pepper Soup
Ingredients
- 1½ lb goat meat (Cut into bite-size pieces)
- 1 cup red onions (chopped)
- 2 tbsp. Seafood Bouillon
- 1 tsp. Thyme leaves
- 1 cup brown beef stock
- ¾ lb beef tripe (cut into bite-size pieces)
- 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 2 tbsp. pepper soup spice
- ½ tsp. Utazi leaves (finely chopped)
- 1 cup chopped smoked dried shrimp (optional)
#7 African Cuisine – Spicy Kelewele
Ingredients
- 2 ripe plantains (yields 2-3 servings)
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or 1 teaspoon red pepper
- 1 teaspoon peeled grated fresh gingerroot
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Vegetable oil for frying
#8 African Cuisine – Sukuma Wiki
Ingredients
- 1 kale bunch
- 1-2 cups chopped or ground beef/chicken optional
- 3 medium tomatoes diced
- 1-2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 large white onion
- 2 or more tablespoons canola or cooking oil
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- half teaspoon coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon curry or turmeric spice
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more
- half juiced Lemon about 1 tablespoon
- Tablespoon bouillon powder or cube
#9 African Cuisine – Koki Beans
Ingredients
- 8 cups black eyed peas (koki beans) – peeled, soaked and rinsed
- 1 1/2 cups palm oil
- 1 bag spinach (8 oz/227 grams)
- 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons salt
- 6 cups water
- 5 chili peppers (or other hot pepper to taste)
- 1 bag frozen banana leaves and/ or 1 roll aluminium foil (preferably non-stick)foil
#10 African Cuisine – Poulet DJ
Ingredients
CHICKEN MARINADE
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs (Skinless or skin on)
- 1 Tablespoon Onion powder
- half teaspoon white pepper
- 1 Teaspoon kosher salt
- half teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon garlic infused olive oil
PLANTAINS
- 1-2 large semi ripe plantain
- 1/2 cup canola oil for frying
POULET DG
- 2 Tablespoons garlic infused olive oil
- 2 large Roma tomatoes diced ( ~ a cup and a half)
- 1 small onion sliced ( ~ 1/2 a cup)
- 2 medium carrots (~ 1 cup sliced)
- 1- 2 sprigs of parsley ( ~ 2 teaspoons ground)
- 1 small green onion
- 2 handfuls green beans (haricot vert)
- 1/2 celery stalk
- 1/2 leek leave (green part)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 inch ginger
- 1 small habanero
- chicken bouillon ( to taste)
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