Cameroonian cuisine is diverse, colorful, spicy, and deeply rooted in the country’s many ethnic traditions. Because of its mix of over 250 ethnic groups, Cameroon has one of the richest food cultures in Africa. Here’s a guide to the most popular foods in Cameroon:
Staple Foods
Food
Description
Fufu (or Couscous)
A dough-like starch made from cassava, maize, or yams; eaten with soup or sauce
Eru
A thick, green vegetable soup made with eru leaves, waterleaf, and often smoked meat/fish
Ndolé
Bitterleaf stew made with peanuts, meat or shrimp — Cameroon’s national dish!
Achu & Yellow Soup
Mashed cocoyams with spicy yellow soup (usually with meat or fish); from Western Cameroon
Koki
Steamed bean cake made from red palm oil and black-eyed peas
Kondré
Spicy plantain stew with pork or goat — popular in the West Region
Egusi Pudding
Made from ground melon seeds, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed
Mbongo Tchobi
Black sauce stew made with charred spices, served with fish and plantains (Bassa origin)
Proteins & Side Dishes
Food
Description
Soya (Suya)
Spicy grilled beef skewers (Nigerian influence, but widely loved in Cameroon)
Poulet DG
“Director General Chicken” — rich chicken and ripe plantain stew, considered elite/party food
Fish (especially grilled)
Often served whole, with pepper sauce and sides
Pepper Soup
Spicy meat broth with goat, fish, or chicken — for hangovers, colds, or enjoyment
Rice & Sauce
Common daily meal — tomato sauce with beef, chicken, or fish
Beans & Plantains
Popular street or school meal combo, very filling
Egusi Soup, Okra Soup, Cassava Leaf Stew – Common across ethnic lines
Street Food & Snacks
Snack
Notes
Accra Banana
Deep-fried sweet banana fritters
Gateaux
Fried dough balls (snacks, not like French “gâteau”)
Beignets & Haricot
Fried dough balls with beans and spicy sauce — very popular for breakfast or lunch
Roasted Maize & Groundnuts
Simple and widely sold on the street
Cornchaff
Mix of beans and corn cooked together with palm oil and spices
Puff-puff
Soft, slightly sweet dough balls — perfect with tea or pepper sauce
Drinks
Drink
Description
Palm Wine
Traditional fermented drink tapped from palm trees — sweet and slightly alcoholic
Fou fou corn drink (millet beer)
Local traditional beers, brewed in the North and West
Foléré (Bissap)
Hibiscus flower drink, sweet and tangy — served chilled
