Cameroonian food: the traditional dishes

Cameroon changes its cooking from one region to the next. Here are the dishes that define the country’s culinary identity, their ingredients and where they come from.

Dishes

• LittoralNdoléCameroon's emblematic dish
• South-WestEruThe Banyang speciality of the South-West
• NationwidePoulet DGThe special-occasion dish, born in the 1980s
• LittoralMbongo tchobiThe black sauce of burnt spices
• CentreOkokGnetum leaves with peanut paste
• LittoralKokiThe bean cake steamed in leaves
• WestKondrèThe Bamiléké royal dish
• North-WestTaro à la sauce jauneA sauce with more than thirty spices
• Centre · SouthSangaMaize and greens in palm nut juice
• NationwideSoyaThe grilled skewers of the evening
• WestNkuiThe mucilaginous Bamiléké sauce
• Centre · LittoralMets de pistacheThe squash-seed cake, a dish of honour
• Centre · SouthNdombaSteamed in leaves
• NationwideBoboloThe fermented cassava bread
• NationwideBeignets-haricots-bouillieThe Cameroonian street breakfast
• South-WestKwacoco et bangaSteamed grated cocoyam with palm nut soup
• NationwidePoisson braiséThe grilled fish of Douala evenings
• NationwideCouscous de milThe cereal ball at the heart of northern meals
• NationwideKilichiThe dried, spiced meat of Ngaoundéré
• NationwideSauce aux feuilles de baobabThe slimy sauce of baobab leaves
• NationwideSauce tasbaThe sauce of a wild northern herb
• NationwideBouillie de milCereal porridge, with milk or peanut
• South-WestEkwangGrated cocoyam rolled in its own leaves
• North-WestKati katiThe Kom's wood-fire grilled chicken
• North-WestNjama njama et fufu cornThe huckleberry leaves and maize paste of the North-West
• WestNjapcheThe Bamum festive dish of nightshade leaves
• Littoral · CentreMintoumbaThe yellow cassava bread of the Bassa
• NationwideKwemPounded cassava leaves in palm-nut juice
• WestPilé de pommes de terreMashed potatoes and beans in red palm oil

Drinks

• NationwideFoléréThe ruby-red hibiscus drink
• NationwideJus de gingembreThe fiery juice that wakes you up
• NationwideVin de palmeThe fermented sap of the palm
• NationwideBili-biliThe sorghum beer of the North
• NationwideOdontolThe distilled spirit of the eastern forest
• NationwideKossamThe soured milk of Fulani herders