Middle Africa

Food of Cameroon

The 6 most iconic national dishes of Cameroon — real photos, key ingredients and tasty facts behind every plate.

Africa

Stew

Ndolé

Cameroon’s best-known national dish, ndolé is a rich, slightly bitter stew of leafy greens, peanuts and meat or seafood. It is deeply savory and commonly eaten with plantains, bobolo or miondo.

BitterleafGround peanutsBeef or shrimpOnionsPalm oil

Did you know?

Ndolé is strongly associated with the Duala people and is often served at weddings, holidays and major family celebrations.

Main

Poulet DG

Poulet DG is a festive Cameroonian chicken dish cooked with ripe plantains and vegetables in a glossy, aromatic sauce. It balances sweetness from the plantains with savory chicken and spices.

ChickenRipe plantainsCarrotsBell peppersOnionsTomatoes

Did you know?

The initials “DG” are commonly said to stand for “Directeur Général,” reflecting the dish’s reputation as an upscale or special-occasion meal.

Main

Koki

Koki is a steamed bean pudding made from ground black-eyed peas or cowpeas mixed with palm oil and seasonings, often wrapped in leaves. It has a dense, soft texture and a rich, earthy flavor.

Black-eyed peasPalm oilOnionsScotch bonnet peppersBanana leaves

Did you know?

Koki is especially associated with western Cameroon and is often paired with ripe plantains for a classic home-style meal.

Stew

Eru

Eru is a thick vegetable stew from southwestern Cameroon made with shredded eru leaves and waterleaf, usually enriched with palm oil, meat and dried fish. It is intensely savory and commonly eaten with fufu.

Eru leavesWaterleafPalm oilDried fishBeef or cow skin

Did you know?

Eru is especially popular among Bayangi and Manyu communities and is also widely eaten across neighboring parts of Nigeria.

Street Food

Soya

Cameroonian soya is skewered grilled meat coated in a spicy seasoning mix and sold widely as a beloved street snack. It is smoky, peppery and often served with onions and fresh spices.

BeefGround peanutsChili pepperGingerOnions

Did you know?

Although related to the wider West African suya tradition, soya is so entrenched in Cameroon that it is a staple of night-time street food culture in many cities.

Rare findStew

Sanga

Sanga is a traditional Cameroonian dish made from crushed cocoyam leaves cooked with corn, palm oil and spices, sometimes with fish or smoked meat. It has a hearty, rustic texture and a distinctive vegetal flavor.

Cocoyam leavesFresh maizePalm oilCrayfish or smoked fishOnions

Did you know?

Sanga is particularly associated with the South and Centre of Cameroon and remains far less internationally known than ndolé or poulet DG.