Growing up, I have noticed many Nigerian families followed the same breakfast routine or there was a general meeting at the village square before we were born on what they should feed us with regarding breakfast and what should be eaten for breakfast.
I would love to borrow the popular Bible verse that says let those who don’t take pap and moi moi/akara for breakfast on Saturdays cast the first stone. And how about on Sunday? I’m sure we are all chanting in our minds while reading this article already, lol! Our favourite “Sunday Rice”. Just as I stated earlier, it looks like the Nigerian tradition. Not to forget swallows for dinner.
I was at a friend’s house one morning and she could see my confused expression when she served me semovita and egusi soup. It felt weird to eat such a combo for breakfast. She smiled and said she wasn’t planning to go anywhere that day or do any strenuous activities, hence, the big breakfast. But it didn’t stop me from frowning at it, I felt she had broken our traditions. Hehe…
Let’s look out at some of the popular breakfasts on most Nigerians’ home food timetables;
Moi moi/akara/ pap: this is referred to as the sleeping tablet of most households in southwestern part of Nigeria. They usually eat this every Saturday morning or during holiday.
Kunu gyda & masa: Kunu gyda and Masa typical northerner breakfast that is subscribed to as breakfast with masa. Kunun gyada, a thin liquid food made with groundnuts and masa, also known as ‘rice cake’, is a popular northern Nigerian food made from rice, the type of rice they use in making tuwo shinkafa.
Okpa/akamu: Okpa is a traditional Nigerian food; very popular in the eastern parts of Nigeria but has spread across other states especially the streets of Lagos. Okpa is made out of okpa beans, known as bambara groundnuts. This tasty food is served with akanmu or oatmeal for breakfast in some homes.
Bread and tea: This is also a typical African breakfast- most families even go extra mile to buy the bread a night before it will be eaten as breakfast or they get it the same morning. Both adults and children can relate to this regular A1 Nigeria breakfast.
Yam & egg: Eii! Who in Nigeria can’t relate to this combo as go-to-go breakfast either weekdays or Sunday morning.
Bread & beans (ewa at breadi): Bread and beans aka labourer workers body fuel, usually gives the strength one needs to get through the day. There are various types of beans, the normal mixed one and “ewa aganyin” plain beans and the one with fried special sauce.
Rice: the legendary Nigerian food and Sunday afternoon favourite lunch, can be paired with different soups like egusi, banga, margi special, efo riro, edikaikong and all sorts. Then for the stew, it is paired with chicken or turkey stew, fish stew, beef stew. And for the families that like intercontinental sauces; chicken gravy, beef or chicken stir fry.. etc.
In as much as these delicious dishes also represent our identity as Nigerians, I think it is advisable for families to learn how to also prepare intercontinental meals just to change taste and try out the meals other countries cherish. And don’t even worry about where to get the ingredients for these meals, they are in supermarkets and you can find some in our local market too. You know that you can adjust some of the ingredients right?
For many Nigerians that like pepper, you can always include our peppers in your stir fries and gravies so you don’t puke. Next time, we will be looking at how to make some friendly budget intercontinental dishes that will make your family feel like they are in a five star restaurant. Till next time, bye!