Last Updated on January 29, 2021 by Chef Mireille
25 Delicious Recipes from the African Diaspora including Africa, the Caribbean & Latin America.
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in America and in just a few weeks we will begin a month of celebration of contributions from the African Diaspora.
It really is a shame that because so little attention is played to the accomplishments and contributions of African descended people that we had to legislate to have only 1 month in recognition of a whole race of people across the planet.
Regardless, in my own way, I like to highlight the cuisines of the African diaspora during this time.
So what exactly is it?
What is the concept of the African diaspora?
Ask 10 different people what this means to them and you will get at least a few different explanations. So let’s break it down!
A diaspora is a scattered population whose geographical location lies in a different place.
Yeah – I would say that’s true for most black people. Due to colonization and widespread slavery, the African diaspora extends from Brazil to Jamaica to Georgia to London and even India & Pakistan.
Yes! There is a group of people known as Siddi who live in certain regions of India & Pakistan, descended from the Bantu people of southeast Africa.
Particular foods became specific to these communities, regardless of what country they reside in. The leftover scraps, usually cuts of meat the master would not eat, is what was given to slaves and black populations.
Using the spices from Africa, in every country, African descended people were able to create delicious foods from basic ingredients.
DID YOU KNOW?
More slaves were brought to Latin America than the United States!
For example, dried salted cod, also known as bacalao or bacalhau in Brazil has become quite an “exotic” ingredient and is a slowly trending food item. However, this was given to slaves as fresh fish would never be given to them.
Now we make delicious things like Fish Cakes (bacalaitos in the Latin Caribbean) or Caribbean style breakfast with it.
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You can also check out this collection as a Web Story!
In this compilation of African Diaspora food, I have included something for every one – whether you are looking for an awesome spice mix to flavor up daily meals or healthy African Vegetarian Recipes or decadent desserts!
I hope you will explore these diverse cuisines and try at least one of these delicious recipes from the African diaspora during Black History Month.
Here are the recipes you need to make during Black History Month!
25 African Diaspora Recipes
Spice Mix Recipes
Appetizers
- Bakabana – Suriname Plantain Fritters
- Tatale – Ghanian Plantain Fritters
- Kelewele – Ghanian Fried Plantain
- Pate – Haitian Salt Cod Patties
- Ethiopian Asa Tibs
Soup
- Fanesca – Ecuadorian Spring Soup
- Vatapa – Brazilian Seafood Stew
- Caribbean Chickpea Provision Soup
- Itakiet – Nigerian Bean Stew
Main Dishes
- Kenyan Kuku (Chicken Mung Bean Stew)
- Caribbean Creole Chicken
- Caribbean Stew Fish
- Xerem con Camarao – Brazilian Style Polenta with Shrimp
- Bruine Bonen – Suriname Red Bean Stew
Side Dishes
- Cou Cou – Bajan Style Polenta
- Nhopi – Zimbabwe Pumpkin Polenta
- Ground Provision – Caribbean Roast Vegetables
- Senegalese Tankora Black Eyed Pea Salad
Desserts
- Majarete – Dominican Corn Pudding
- Honduran Yuca Cake
- Haitian Orange Cake
- Tortitas de Maiz – Puerto Rican Cornmeal Pancakes
- Vanilla Beignet – French Caribbean Donuts
25 Recipes from the African Diaspora
25 Recipes from Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean to represent the diverse cuisines of the African diaspora.
Tatale is a delicious use of over ripe plantains. These delicious fritters can be eaten as a side dish to savory stews or as an appetizer with hot sauce.
Suriname Style Sweet Plantain Fritters make a delicious appetizer with Peanut Sauce & Fried Shallots
Kelewele is one of the most popular Ghanian street foods, where sweet plantains are first marinated with onion and chili before being fried.
Haitian style Fish Patties are made by seasoning up dried salted cod and then baking this delicious filling stuffed inside puff pastry.
This protein packed soup with chickpeas, bacalao and eggs is packed with veggies. A healthy and filling soup.
Fried Fish liberally seasoned with the ubiquitous Berbere Spice Mix from Ethiopian Cuisine
Another protein packed soup with a base of nuts and filled with fish and shrimp.
This vegan soup uses spices and ingredients from the British Caribbean. Chickpeas, okra and root vegetables combine into a hearty soup that can serve as a meal on its own.
Ground Provision are any combination of root vegetables. Here they are roasted with Caribbean seasonings.
Bean Stew enriched with peanut butter makes a healthy and delicious stew for Meatless Monday.
Chicken, Mung Beans & Coconut Milk combine into a delicious stew that makes a great dinner for any night of the week.
French Caribbean Style Creole Chicken is an herbaceous chicken dinner that is perfect for a weeknight meal.
Fresh fish is cooked with fresh vegetables in this quick and easy Caribbean Style Stew Fish.
Whole grain cornmeal is cooked with shrimp, beans and kale for a hearty and healthy one pot dish.
Suriname Style Red Bean Stew is cooked with sausage, but you can omit the sausage if you prefer a Vegetarian version. It still makes a protein rich meal!
Cou Cou is Bajan style polenta simmered with okra. This delicious side dish is a great compliment to any meal, but especially goes well with fish.
Another cornmeal based side dish. This version from Zimbabwe is enriched with pumpkin and peanut butter.
This healthy Black Eyed Pea Salad is flavored with Senegalese Tankora spice mix, made with peanuts, ginger, pepper and more...
This fresh corn pudding is a delicious sweet treat for any season.
Gluten Free Cassava Cake is heavily spiced and enriched with coffee. This decadent dessert is served with sweetened condensed milk ladled over it.
Traditional Haitian Cake is beaten to an extremely light and tender cake that practically floats in your mouth. You will love this Haitian style Orange Cake!
These Puerto Rican style Cornmeal Pancakes are gluten free and make a great tea time snack or merienda.
These instant beignet's are flavored with loads of vanilla and blood orange. You won't be able to have just one!
This spicy mix is ubiquitous in Ethiopian cuisine. Make your own to add authentic African flavor to all of your meals.
Piri Piri, sometimes spelled Peri Peri is a flavorful combination of 12 herbs and spices that make a flavorful mix that is great on everything from French Fries to Roast Chicken and popcorn!
Don’t forget to visit the RECIPE INDEX with over 1000 recipes from around the world including lots of Vegetarian Recipes and Gluten Free Recipes!
I LOVE this roundup! I’m used your berbere recipe on my chicken before, but I had no idea you had all of these gems here!
I am so happy you found this then and I am sure you will love the other recipes as much as the berbere!
Kelewele is one of my favorite things to eat. I love this roundup post highlighting the importance of our heritage and culture through food!
Kelewele is one of my faves also!
What a wonderful collection of recipes! Being Kenyan, I can only say thank you for representing the continent so well!
so glad you enjoy the collection of recipes. Hope you get to try some of the other ones soon, besides the Kenyan ones.
Coconut milk really is a staple in Kenyan cuisine. You captured that very well
thanks – Yes the Kenyan Kuku is one of my favorites on the list.
I can’t wait to cook my way through this list! Thank you for curating some fabulous recipes.
Your welcome. I hope you get to enjoy them soon as you cook your way through the list.
I was so excited about the MANY recipe I now have in my recipe box! Thank you!
Thanks – Can’t wait to find out how you like them when you try them
Ummmm, I’m saving this most amazing roundup! I’ve been looking for a guide to cook food from
The African Culture. You did that girl.
I am sure you will have a blast going through this list
My family is from Cabo Verde so I connected so much with this roundup! I’ve tried a lot of dishes on this list but there are so many that I haven’t tried that I look forward to! Thank you for sharing this!
I hope you get to try the ones you haven’t tried yet soon!
I’m obsessed with this round-up! The Bajan Cou Cou and Haitian Pate were incredible, so I will definitely be returning to make more from this list.
So glad you enjoyed them!
Thank you for putting together this wonderful list! I am bookmarking this post so I can try a few!
so happy you like it. Cant wait to see which ones you try. Would love for you to tag me on Instagram with your pis @chefmireille
This is an incredible collection of recipes! I can’t wait to try them — got my eye on that piri piri spice blend first!
that is such a useful blend to keep on the pantry – it is great on everything from french fries to roast chicken
I learned so much about African food ion this post. There are quite a few recipes on here that I am eager to try. Thanks for the informative post!
I cant wait to see which ones you try first. Dont forget to tag me on Instagram @chefmireille with your pics
All of these recipes look amazing. I love making fritters so the Tatale is one of the first things I am going to try. Thanks for the wonderful list!
You will definitely love the tatale and such a great use of over ripe plantains
Love this collection. I made the peri peri spice mix and have so many more on my list now to try!
I am sure you will love the other recipes just as much!
An awesome round up of dishes that are a part of the African Culture, be it in Africa or other continents. African dishes are generally prepared with simple ingredients and yet are so tasty and nutritious too. Kelewele has caught my attention and am excited to try it out. Mireille you’ve included a dish from my country Kenya…yeah!!
the Kenyan dish is a regular at my house!
Wow such lovely collection of recipes. Can’t wait to go start cooking my way through this list. Got to know about many new recipes and about the culture. Thanks for sharing.
What an interesting and informative read on African diaspora and their cuisine. I can’t take my eyes off the clicks. All the recipes in this collection sound so delicious. I think I’ll start exploring with Creole Chicken and root vegetables roast.
A highly illuminating and informative read, Mireille. And these recipes from the African diaspora are simply amazing. I especially love the Majarete, the corn pudding!
thats one of my faves! – I am sure you loved it!
This looks great with wonderful explanations and pictures
thank you – I am sure you will love whichever of the recipes you try!
Hi. I am a storyteller and I love your site and would like to direct attention to it. What an important tool for celebrating heritage! I would like to show/share some of the videos and recipes to small groups which they can link back to this website. Please email me directly with your response including any names/credits in particular that you would like mentioned.