Making A Case For Savoury Snacks
For me, snacks are right up there with rainy Saturdays and dark chocolate. They’re one of my favourite things in the world. Last weekend was amazing, I was home alone, with lots of snacks and shows to binge on. There was a truckload of bananas, an entire link of Baba Dudu, sisi pelebe, and of course, my trusted jar of Nutella. 24 hours into the weekend though, I was already tired of all the sweetness and I realised what I needed in terms of snacks was something savoury. I would have given my left ear for a packet of spicy plantain chips at that moment, and so it got me thinking about Nigerian savoury snacks, the real unsung heroes. I have decided to do my part in immortalising them in this article.
Plantain Chips
I begin with the evergreen Ipekere, aka plantain chips. Ipekere is made from unripe plantains, the gift that keeps on giving. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but anything made from plantain is mine, and I will stand by this till I die. It’s affordable, usually salty but sometimes you find sweet ones made from just ripening plantains.
2. Guguru ati epa
Literal translation: popcorn and groundnuts. This was a childhood snack for many of us way back in primary school. It’s basically sweet popcorn and salty roasted groundnuts sold together. This is perfect because of the contrasting tastes and flavours of sweet and salty. It’s still sold but is not quite as popular as it was. :(
3. Donkwa
Another childhood classic(from my childhood anyway), this is one savoury snack I can never tire of. It’s made from cornmeal and groudnuts and doesn’t require cooking. Its flavour is unique and quite unlike anything else I’ve ever tasted.
Image via Vegan Nigerian dot com
4. Boiled peanuts
This is a seasonal snack, usually sold during the rainy months of June-September. This is another easy-to-make snack that is also very inexpensive. It’s a national favourite, and we love it all the more because after disappearing throughout, the snack stays with us for weeks, like an old friend.
Image via Seriousseats dot com
5. Abacha
Hawked on the streets of Lagos, this another beloved snack - mostly loved by our mothers and Igbo brethren. It’s called Bobozi or Abacha Mmiri and is literally just strips of wet, cooked cassava packed with a bit of coconut, quite tasty.
6. Kilishi
Undefeated champion of Nigerian savoury snacks, kilishi is absolutely delightful, especially for a Yoruba girl like me. Loved by many, hated by none, kilishi is dried meat, spiced with loads of yaji which is basically seasoning powder made from pepper, groundnut and a few other spices. Kilishi is the ultimate. Nod if you agree.
Image via Red Confidential dot com
7. Corn
The queen of versatility, another gift that gives on giving. Roasted or boiled, eaten with coconut, pear, corn is another elite seasonal snack.
Featured image via Habbies Cookbook
Do you agree with these picks? Share your favourite savoury snacks in the comments section.