16 Popular Ghana Local Dishes

Ghana’s cuisine is diverse. What matters most to tourists is eating like a local. Sit at a roadside stall and order some Waakye. And if hygiene were a problem, a large population of Ghanaians would have been gone by now (trust them, they’re fine and well-fed).

This guide is all about Ghanaian local dishes that will make you experience Ghana the way it’s truly meant to be tasted. We wish we could list all the delicious Ghanaian local dishes, but we’ve picked out the popular ones you’ll want to try first, since it is almost impossible to try all the dishes.

Keep reading to view these delicious dishes.

Breakfast in Ghana

Breakfast in Ghana is usually a quick meal that gives you the energy to start your day. Below are popular Ghanaian local dishes for breakfast.

1. Koko and Koose

Hausa Koko is a thick porridge made from fermented millet or corn. It’s usually enjoyed with Koose, which are crispy bean cakes that are soft on the inside. It’s a popular breakfast in many Ghanaian homes, especially among the Hausa community.

2. Hominy Corn Porridge

Hominy Corn Porridge is a delicious porridge that Ghanaians take as breakfast. The locals call it Oblayo, and they make it with hominy corn kernels, water, salt, and cinnamon.

The locals soak the kernels overnight to reduce the softening time while cooking. It is then cooked in a saucepan and stirred until it is tender. The seasonings are added, and the porridge is enjoyed. Sometimes, the locals add cornmeal to thicken the porridge.

3. Bofrot

Bofrot is a soft Ghanaian doughnut made from flour, sugar, salt, yeast, vanilla, milk, and warm water. It is entirely mixed by hand in a bowl and allowed to ferment. After some time, the dough becomes fluffy and is then dropped in batches into hot oil. The result is a golden brown Bofrot, which is usually taken with tea, coffee, or porridges like Koko. Sometimes, some locals sprinkle the top with sugar or spread Nutella on it.

4. Tom Brown

Tom Brown is a popular breakfast staple in Ghana, which is known to be rich in nutrients. It is a porridge made from millet, peanuts, milk, sugar, or honey, and water.

Unlike the other Ghanaian porridges, it has a unique preparation. First, the millet and peanuts are roasted and ground. Then, the powder is cooked until it thickens into a creamy texture. Finally, sugar and milk are added to sweeten it up.

The locals commonly enjoy the hot Tom Brown with diced mango or sliced banana. What a combination, right?

5. Rice Water

From its name, yes! It is made from rice water, but imagine it tastes creamier. Rice water is a breakfast commonly made by the locals in Ghana. Rice water is popular across the world, and it has different names. However, the traditional Ghanaian rice water is made with rice, water, salt, nutmeg, sugar, milk, and hot water.

The locals simply cook the rice until tender. Then, add salt and crush the rice until it is completely soft. Lastly, they add hot water to further soften it, and then serve it hot with milk or sugar. Fancier toppings include coconut flakes and toasted nuts.

Lunch and Dinner in Ghana

In Ghana, lunch and dinner are usually packed with flavour. Also, food eaten at dinner tends to be nutrient-dense to help with recovery during sleep. Below are popular Ghanaian local dishes for lunch and dinner.

6. Waakye

Waakye is a Ghanaian rice and bean combination that can be eaten for lunch or dinner. It is pronounced “wa-chee” by the locals and is a popular street food sold by street-side vendors to people who eat out.

Waakye has rice, black-eyed beans, salt, and waakye leaves. Waakye leaves, when cooked with beans, give the beans their red signature colour. It is commonly served by wrapping it in banana leaves. The locals accompany it with lamb stew, fish sauce, avocado, fried plantain, vegetable salad, and more.

7. Fufu

Fufu is one of the most popular Ghanaian staples and has been around for centuries. It is made by boiling yam or cocoyam, plantain, and salt together. Then the mixture is pounded consistently until it becomes smooth and free of lumps. It is then prepared into a ball and further cooked in boiling water to firm it up. Finally, it is served with the soup of choice.

The locals have a variety of soups they eat fufu with. Among the most common are groundnut soup and palm nut soup. Oh yes! You don’t need a spoon to enjoy this. Just wash your hands, cut a bit of fufu, and dip it into the soup. That’s the experience that will make you feel like a local.

8. Rice Balls (Omo tuo)

Locally known as Omotuo in Ghana, rice balls are Ghanaian food made with rice. Rice balls are in the same class as fufu, but are also a substitute for people who don’t eat fufu.

It is simply made with rice, water, and salt. The rice is cooked with enough water to make it smooth and soft. It is then further mashed continuously with a wooden ladle until all the rice comes together. It is then prepared as balls and served with soups such as groundnut soup or chicory curry.

9. Eto

Eto is a mashed potato dish made in Ghana. The staple is very nutritious as it contains ingredients like plantain, eggs, avocado, and groundnut. It is popular among the Akan people of Ghana, who often prepare it during communal feasts, family gatherings, or festive occasions.

This Ghanaian local dish is enjoyed with fresh avocado, boiled eggs, or smoked fish. What will make you feel like a local is when you eat Eto in an Asanka, which is a Ghanaian plate.

10. Yam Pottage

Yam Pottage is a savoury yam porridge made in Ghana. It is popularly known as Mpotompoto by the locals and was created due to the availability of yams in the area. It is made by boiling chunks of yam with ingredients to spice it up, like pepper, vegetables, tomato, fish, and salt. When the yams are very soft, they are further mashed until they resemble paste. However, the smoothness depends on your preference. Some prefer the Yam Pottage to have small or medium-sized yam chunks rather than being completely smooth.

Yam Pottage can be accompanied by a variety of dishes such as fried fish, grilled chicken, and peppered sauce.

11. Tubaani

Tubaani is a soft, steamed bean cake that comes from Northern Ghana. It is more popular among the Dagbani-speaking people. The ingredients consist of black-eyed peas, onion, salt, water, and banana leaves. The locals ate Tubaani during times when food was scarce, especially after harvest. It is rich in protein and good for giving people energy for work and daily life.

To make Tubaani, black-eyed peas are soaked, blended with onion and salt into a thick batter. Then it is wrapped in banana leaves. The wraps are then steamed until the batter becomes firm. It’s usually served hot with spicy pepper sauce, stew, or sometimes with fish, meat, or veggies on the side.

Snacks in Ghana

Snacks are popular in Ghana as they are quick to make and convenient to move around with. Below are popular Ghanaian snacks.

12. Nkatie Cake

Nkatie Cake is a popular Ghanaian snack made from just roasted groundnuts and melted sugar. It is also referred to as Peanut Cake. It’s a favourite among school kids but loved by people of all ages. Even though it’s easy to make, most people prefer buying it from street vendors.

To make it, sugar is melted with a little water over heat until it turns into caramel. Then, roasted peanuts are stirred in quickly before the mix hardens. It’s shaped into balls or bars while still warm. After it has cooled, it’s ready to be enjoyed.

13. Atsoomo

Atsoomo are spiced chunks of dough that are fried and enjoyed as a tasty snack in Ghana. It is made with coconut flour (or regular flour), sugar, baking soda, egg, and salt. The locals make Ghanaian atsoomo by mixing the ingredients (except eggs) until it looks like breadcrumbs. Then, the egg is added and mixed until the mixture becomes a dough. The dough is then rolled out and cut into small squares or diamond shapes, and fried in hot oil until golden brown. It is that simple. Some locals enjoy accompanying them with porridge such as Koko.

14. Kosua ne Meko

Kosua ne meko is a spicy egg snack that is enjoyed in Ghana. The Akan people of Ghana are known to refer to it as Kosua ne meko, which means “egg and pepper.” The locals just hard-boil eggs and then slice them in half. Then they top them with a sauce that is made from tomatoes, onions, ginger, and salt. This sauce is called meko and is often made in a traditional clay bowl.

15. Adaarkwa

Adaarkwa is a sweet and spicy groundnut snack. It is referred to by several names, such as Dzowoe, Dzowey, and Zowey. The Ewe people are rumoured to have created Adaarkwa. However, it is also popular across other countries. For example, Northern Nigerians call it Donkwa.

The locals make it by mixing groundnut paste with ingredients like roasted corn flour, ginger, pepper, sugar, cloves, and salt until it comes together like dough. It is then shaped into balls and served.

16. Poloo

Poloo is a crunchy coconut snack enjoyed in West Africa. It is also known as Ghanaian coconut biscuits. It is one of the simplest snacks to make as it uses simple ingredients and methods.

The locals simply mix all the ingredients until they become a firm dough. The dough is rolled out, cut into shapes, and deep-fried until golden brown. Once done, it’s ready to enjoy as a snack.

Final Thought

As mentioned earlier, we wish the list could continue. Nevertheless, these Ghanaian local dishes will give you an authentic experience of the Ghanaian food culture. Whether you’re hoping to come try these dishes or just curious to know, you have started building a connection to Ghana culture.

Don’t stop here, come over. You might find hidden delicious dishes that only the locals know.