A Foodie's Guide to Ghana's Street Food
Ghana is mostly famous for its delicious delicacies, especially street foods. When traveling to Ghana, it is important to delve into the vibrant world of Ghanaian street food, where every bite tells a story of tradition and flavor. Ghana's street food scene is a feast for the senses that celebrates the rich culinary heritage of the people. Prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure unlike any other and explore the vibrant and diverse street food scene while journeying through the bustling streets and local markets, where savory aromas and mouthwatering flavors await.
As a passionate foodie myself, I make it a mission when traveling to find and try as many local foods as possible from backstreet vendors serving legendary jollof rice to family-run stalls specializing in regional delicacies, to experience the true essence of Ghanaian street food. Here are some Ghanaian street foods I recommend you should try while in the country.
Kelewele (spicy fried plantains)
Kelewele
This is one of my favorite night snacks. Kelewele is a delicious treat that combines the sweetness of ripe plantains with a blend of spices. Sliced into bite-sized chunks, the plantains are marinated in a mixture of ginger, cloves, pepper, and sometimes onions and garlic, then deep-fried to crispy perfection. It is enjoyed as a quick bite on the go as a night. It can also be found in most restaurants as it is usually served as a side dish to a hearty meal. Kelewele is often found sizzling in large metal pans at roadside stalls and its irresistible aroma draws in passersby to indulge in its deliciousness.
Grilled Meat Skewers
Grilled Meat Skewers
Grilled meat skewers, known locally as "suya" or "kebabs," are a beloved street food delicacy, one that I never miss out on any time I get the opportunity to try them. The meat skewers consist of tender chunks of meat, typically beef, chicken, or goat, marinated in a flavorful blend of spices before being skewered and grilled over open flames. The secret to the irresistible taste of Ghanaian grilled meat skewers lies in the spice used to marinate the meat, which typically includes a mixture of ginger, garlic, onions, and a variety of aromatic spices such as cayenne pepper, paprika, and coriander. The combination of these spices grilled on charcoal fire infuses the meat with a rich, smoky flavor and aroma. These Skewers can mostly be found early evening being grilled by the roadside.
Stir-fries Noodles
Stir fried Noodles
Stir-fry noodles, popularly known as “indomie”, is a nighttime street food champion you’re set to enjoy. It is mostly sold at night by roadside stalls but you can also find it on the menus of most restaurants. Stir-fried Indomie is prepared by first cooking the noodles until tender, then stir-frying them with vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, cabbage, and onions. Soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili, and other spices of your choice can be added. You can also add proteins like chicken, beef, or shrimp for an extra boost of flavor and protein. This dish can be made as a vegetarian dish or a non-vegetarian dish. It all depends on what you decide to include when stir-frying the noodles.
Waakye (rice and beans)
Waakye
Waakye, pronounced "waa-chay," is a beloved Ghanaian dish made with rice and beans. The rice and beans are cooked together with millet leaves or sorghum leaves, giving the dish a reddish-brown color and infusing it with a subtle earthy flavor. Waakye is typically served with a variety of accompaniments, including fried plantains, boiled eggs, spaghetti, gari (cassava flakes), and a spicy tomato-based stew or sauce called ‘shito’. You can also eat it with any protein of your choice (fish, beef, chicken). This dish can also be eaten as a vegetarian dish. The best waakye is mostly sold by roadside stalls and eaten as a breakfast by many Ghanaians. You could ask some locals for recommendations of where to get the best waakye in whichever neighborhood you are staying in. I recommend trying it for breakfast when visiting Ghana.
Roasted Plantain
Roasted Plantain
Roasted Plantain is commonly known as ‘Kofi broke man’ (which means Kofi the broke man) by the locals in Ghana. It is a very affordable snack that can be eaten as a substitute for lunch. The slightly ripped plantains are cut into big pieces and roasted on fire. This famous snack is usually paired with roasted peanuts. This snack is sold by street vendors selling by the side of the roads and you usually find them grilling the plantains over a small metal pan filled with charcoal fire. The plantain blends perfectly with the peanuts when eaten together. I prefer this snack when I want something light to eat for lunch instead of a heavy meal.
Corn with Coconut
Corn with Coconut
Another snack you can not miss out on when you are in Ghana is Corn with Coconut. The corn is usually either boiled or roasted. I personally prefer boiled corn as it is usually much softer and juicier compared to roasted corn. The corn is sometimes dipped in salt water after it has been boiled or grilled to give it an extra flavor. You can try both options and decide which one you prefer. The coconut paired with the corn is the hard white flesh of a matured coconut. This snack is mostly also eaten as a replacement for lunch. Similar to the roasted plantain, this snack is also sold by the vendors on the side of the roads.
Porridge
Corn Porridge
Porridges in Ghana are delightful traditional breakfast staples that cater to various tastes and preferences, each with its own unique twist and cultural significance. The two most popular porridges are;
Hausa Koko, also known as "spiced millet porridge," a traditional Ghanaian breakfast dish with origins from the Hausa people of West Africa. It is made from fermented millet and seasoned with a blend of spices such as ginger, cloves, and chili powder, giving it a distinctively spicy and aromatic flavor profile.
Mole Koko also known as corn porridge is a corn-based porridge enjoyed by various ethnic groups in Ghana. It is prepared from corn that has been soaked in water for a day or two and ground into a thick paste. The corn paste is then mixed with water and stirred continuously on fire until it thickens into a smooth, creamy consistency.
Both porridges can be sweetened with sugar or honey, with the option to add milk for added creaminess. You can also have some bread, biscuits, or peanuts (peanuts are my favorites to add) with it if you want.
Coconut
Coconut
Coconuts are a popular street food item in Ghana, with vendors skillfully wielding machetes to crack open the tough outer husk and reveal the refreshing coconut water inside. You can always enjoy sipping on the cool, sweet liquid straight from the coconut. The water is very refreshing and much needed especially on a hot day. After drinking the water, I like to have the vendor scrape out the tender coconut meat for a tasty snack. Coconut vendors are everywhere and can be found on almost every main street in the country.
Delighting in these street foods is more than just a chance to satisfy your hunger – it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and hospitality of Ghana. Don’t just try the delicious food, engage the local vendors and learn about traditional cooking methods that give authentic flavors to Ghanaian cuisines.
Hello, fellow adventurers! I'm Rashida, your not-so-typical travel guide. Join me for laughs, mishaps, and perhaps a questionable decision or two (because let's face it, those always make for the best stories). Learn More
