Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Shayi Chin Chin

Crisp, bite‑size Nigerian Shayi Chin Chin made with a black tea–infused dough scented with vanilla and nutmeg, then deep‑fried until golden and dusted with powdered sugar. Perfect for tea time or an anytime sweet snack.

🇳🇬 Nigeria$

Kankankan Brochettes

Kankankan Brochettes are West African-style grilled beef skewers rubbed with a spicy peanut and chili blend, threaded with red onion and bell pepper, and brightened with lime. Smoky, nutty, and fiery, they’re perfect for the grill.

🇬🇳 Guinea$$

Agadez Guinea Fowl au Vin

A West African take on coq au vin: guinea fowl braised in red wine with smoked beef, mushrooms, aromatics, and dates, served over fluffy millet couscous. Rich, savory, and subtly sweet with herbaceous depth.

🇳🇪 Niger$$$

Conakry Dèguè

Conakry Dèguè (Thiakry/Degue) is a creamy West African millet-and-yogurt dessert, lightly spiced with vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and dotted with raisins and coconut.

🇬🇳 Guinea$$

Fouta Djallon Jerky

A West African–style beef jerky from the Fouta Djallon region: thin-sliced beef marinated with grains of selim, ginger, garlic, lime, vinegar, and warm spices, with a subtle peanut note. Smoky, spicy, tangy, and deeply savory.

🇬🇳 Guinea$$$

Botokoin au sésame

Botokoin au sésame is a Togolese-style sesame fritter: airy, lightly sweet yeast dough perfumed with nutmeg, fried until golden and rolled in toasted sesame seeds. Crisp outside and tender inside, it’s a comforting West African street snack.

🇹🇬 Togo$

Koobi

A Ghanaian koobi (salted tilapia) tomato-onion stew simmered in palm oil with garlic, ginger, and chilies—savory, aromatic, and boldly spiced.

🇬🇭 Ghana$

Alloco

Alloco is a beloved Ivorian street-food snack of ripe plantains fried until caramelized and served with a zesty tomato-onion-chili relish brightened with lime.

🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire$

Garri au Lait

A refreshing, no-cook West African bowl of soaked garri enriched with evaporated milk, sweetened to taste, and topped with roasted groundnuts, banana slices, coconut flakes, and ice for a creamy-crunchy chill.

🇨🇲 Cameroon$

Dibi

Senegalese Dibi: smoky grilled lamb marinated with mustard, garlic, ginger, lemon, vinegar, and warm spices, finished with soft onions and served with baguette and fries.

🇸🇳 Senegal$$$

I've been...

Shayi Chin Chin

Kankankan Brochettes

Agadez Guinea Fowl au Vin

Conakry Dèguè

Fouta Djallon Jerky

Botokoin au sésame

Koobi

Alloco

Garri au Lait

Dibi

I've been...

Shayi Chin Chin

Kankankan Brochettes

Agadez Guinea Fowl au Vin

Conakry Dèguè

Fouta Djallon Jerky

Botokoin au sésame

Koobi

Alloco

Garri au Lait

Dibi