The most obvious food which springs to mind when one considers Ghana is Cocoa, the country’s most famed, and indeed it’s biggest, export. Yet there is a diverse range of exciting and interesting cuisine in Ghana which is perhaps not quite as well known.  Thick soups or stews are a staple part of the Ghanaian diet, but these are much more flavour-filled than you might first expect. Indeed the rather unusual groundnut or peanut stew is one of the mainstays of the Ghanaian national diet. These aren’t your regular, bland British stews either; a crucible of seasonings and spices, from cayenne and ginger, all the way through to garlic and chilli pepper are used to add a little bit extra to the meals.

The most popular dish within Ghana, and indeed a large proportion of Western Africa, is Fufu. It can be made with Cassava, or rather the edible root of said shrub, or even humble instant mashed potatoes if you want to try your hand at it yourself before you visit Ghana.  It is simply cooked, then pureed and mashed into a ball, to be served either as a side with another meal or to be smothered in a hot sauce and eaten as a main.

A Ghanaian equivalent of fast food could be seen to be fried plantains, which are often available from market stalls. The plantain comes from the same family of crops as the banana and is often eaten with chilli pepper and ginger as a topping. If this all sounds like it might be too hot to handle, a well-liked corn drink known as askenkee might help cool things down. Rice and tomatoes also help to make up the staple parts of the Ghanaian diet.

Oto is the main Ghanaian food for ceremonial occasions, served with hard-boiled eggs; it is essentially mashed yams mixed with onions and tomatoes, with salt and pepper added to enhance the taste experience. If you’re looking to sample Ghanaian cuisine on a budget then the markets which line the streets are the best place to pick up a bargain. However, if you feel like treating yourself, then take yourself out to a restaurant on a Sunday, where you will find yourself amongst the wealthier Ghanaians. Or, for your everyday meals, local “chop-houses”, as they are often known, can always be found to be serving delicious locally sourced cuisine.