Benin Cuisine: Ten Traditional Dishes

Benin brings together several peoples, including the Fon, the Yoruba, the Adja, the Bariba and the Fulani, with a cuisine that changes markedly from south to north: corn pastes dominate in the south, while yam and millet are more present in the north. Here are ten dishes that give a glimpse of this cuisine, with the ingredients to prepare them in France.

North and South: Two Cuisines in One Country

In southern Benin, corn paste, in its fermented (akassa) or plain (amiwo) forms, accompanies most meals. In the north, yam and millet take over, with dishes such as wassa-wassa. The sauces, based on tomato, okra or leafy greens, are what most distinguish households and regions.

Ten Traditional Dishes of Beninese Cuisine

1. Akara

Akara is a fritter made from peeled black-eyed peas, blended into a paste and then fried into small golden balls, born among the Yoruba people and associated with Nigeria and Benin. See the akara recipe.

2. Ablo, or Abolo

This small corn and rice bread, soft and lightly sweet, steamed, originates from Togo and Benin. See the ablo recipe.

3. Amiwo

Amiwo is a corn flour paste cooked with tomato paste and spices (onion, garlic, pepper, salt), sometimes enlivened with chili, shrimp or palm oil. Served with grilled chicken or fish and a fresh tomato and onion sauce, it is a traditional dish of Benin.

4. Wagasi

Wagasi is a cow's milk cheese, with a supple texture and mild taste, made by Fulani herders in northern Benin, particularly around Parakou. Fried or simmered in sauce, it often replaces meat or fish in a dish, served with pounded yam or a cereal paste.

5. Akassa, or Akpan

Akassa, also called akpan, is a dessert made from fermented corn mixed with condensed milk and then chilled, a sweet preparation originating from Togo and Benin, where the name akassa is the most common.

6. The Sauces That Accompany the Paste

Several sauces accompany corn or yam pastes: nùsúnnú, based on tomato, févi, based on okra, and mɔ̌yò, a blend of fresh tomato and chili. These sauces vary from one household to another depending on the leafy greens or proteins available.

7. Aloko

Aloko, ripe plantain cut and fried, is a common side dish or snack in Benin. The same dish, under the name alloco, is just as popular in neighboring Côte d'Ivoire: see the Ivorian alloco recipe.

8. Sodabi

Sodabi is a traditional spirit obtained by distilling palm wine, drunk during festivities and ceremonies in Benin and Togo. See our article on palm wine, of which sodabi is the distillate.

9. Tchapalo

Tchapalo is a traditional beer obtained by fermenting corn, consumed in several West African countries including Benin.

10. Yovo Doko

Yovo doko is a wheat flour fritter, fried and often sweet, sold as a snack in the streets of Benin.

The Ingredients of Beninese Cuisine to Gather in France

Several ingredients recur from one Beninese dish to another:

• black-eyed peas, for akara, hulled and blended into a paste
• red palm oil, used in amiwo and several sauces
• corn, in flour form, the base of amiwo, akassa and tchapalo
• chili and tomato, the base of the sauces that accompany the paste

Find this selection in our West African grocery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between amiwo and akassa?

Amiwo is a corn paste cooked with tomato and spices, served savory with meat or fish. Akassa, also called akpan, is a sweet dessert made from fermented corn and condensed milk, chilled before being served.

What is wagasi?

Wagasi is a cow's milk cheese with a supple texture, made by Fulani herders in northern Benin. It is fried or simmered in sauce, as a replacement for meat or fish.

Where to find Beninese ingredients in France?

NKOSI brings together several ingredients of Beninese cuisine (black-eyed peas, palm oil, chili) in its shop and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.