Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Misola

Misola is a nourishing West African porridge made from millet, soybean, and peanut flours, gently cooked with water and milk. It’s creamy, mildly sweet, and rich in protein and fiber—ideal for breakfast or a fortifying snack.

🇲🇱 Mali$

Kilishi

Kilishi is a Nigerian spiced beef jerky: ultra-thin beef slices coated in a bold groundnut and chili paste, lightly sweetened, then dried until chewy-crisp. It’s smoky, peppery, and irresistibly snackable.

🇳🇪 Niger$$

Poulet DG

Poulet DG is a celebratory Cameroonian chicken and fried plantain dish simmered with a colorful vegetable sauce scented with garlic, ginger, thyme, and warm peppers. It’s hearty, aromatic, and beautifully balanced between sweet plantains and savory, spiced chicken.

🇨🇲 Cameroon$$

Domoda

Domoda is a rich, savory Gambian peanut stew featuring tender beef simmered with peanut butter, tomatoes, aromatics, and hearty root vegetables. It’s deeply comforting, lightly spicy, and perfect over rice or on its own.

🇬🇲 Gambia$$

Tiguadege Na

Tiguadege Na (Malian peanut stew) is a rich, savory West African stew of meat simmered with tomatoes, aromatics, and vegetables in a silky peanut-butter sauce. Traditionally served with rice or tô (a millet/sorghum porridge), it’s comforting, hearty, and warmly spiced with chili and bay leaf.

🇲🇱 Mali$$

Suya Fish Fritters

Crispy West African–inspired fish fritters seasoned with suya spice, scallions, and cilantro, fried until golden and finished with a squeeze of lemon.

🇳🇬 Nigeria$$

Dumboy

Dumboy is a traditional Liberian cassava dumpling, pounded until smooth and elastic, then served warm with a drizzle of rich red palm oil. Simple, hearty, and naturally gluten-free.

🇱🇷 Liberia$

Yovo Doko au Café

Yovo Doko au Café is a West African–style beignet infused with brewed coffee, yielding crisp, airy doughnuts with warm spice and a light powdered sugar finish. Perfect with tea or more coffee for a cozy treat.

🇧🇯 Benin$

Degue

Degue (thiakry) is a creamy West African millet couscous dessert, folded into tangy yogurt and milk, sweetened with condensed milk and sugar, and perfumed with vanilla, warm spices, raisins, coconut, and a splash of orange blossom water.