10 Must-Have African Ingredients You Can’t Cook Without

There’s something magical about African cooking, it’s not just food but its memory, the culture and how it makes us have a feeling of home. For many Africans living in the U.S., a single taste of jollof rice, Egusi soup, or Suya can bring back an entire childhood in seconds.

But here’s the truth: the secret behind those unforgettable dishes lies in the ingredients. You can’t just swap palm oil for olive oil or crayfish for shrimp powder and expect it to taste the same. African food is bold, layered, and unapologetic and these 10 ingredients we are about to highlight are what makes it unforgettable.

Let’s take a journey through the pantry of Africa:

1. Palm Oil (Red Gold of Africa)

Rich, smoky, and earthy, palm oil isn’t just oil, it’s the soul of dishes like Egusi, banga, and bean porridge. Try cooking without it and watch your pot lose its entire identity.

2. Maggi/Seasoning Cubes

No African kitchen is complete without Maggi. Just one cube transforms stew, soups, and even plain noodles into something divine.

3. Egusi Seeds (Melon Seeds)

If egusi soup was a person, it would be crowned royalty. Nutty, hearty, and rich, egusi seeds are the base of one of West Africa’s most iconic dishes.

4. Stockfish (Okporoko)

That strong aroma? That’s the smell of home. Stockfish adds depth to soups and sauces like nothing else on earth. Diaspora Africans know that no substitute comes close.

5. Crayfish

Ground crayfish is the undercover star of African soups and stews. Sprinkle it in, and you’ve instantly unlocked authentic flavor for your meal

6. Plantain

Boiled, fried, grilled plantain is versatile, sweet, and loved across Africa. No matter where you’re from, you’ve got at least one plantain memory.

7. Fufu Flour (Yam, Cassava, Plantain)

No soup is complete without fufu. Whether you’re Team Pounded Yam, Team Garri, or Team Plantain, swallowing hits is different when it’s made the African way.

8. Scotch Bonnet Peppers (Ata Rodo)

African food is bold and so are these peppers. They bring the fire to your stews, jollof, and sauces. No scotch bonnet = no heat = no vibe.

9. Suya Spice

A smoky, nutty blend of peanuts, pepper, and spice that instantly transforms beef, chicken, or fish into Suya. Street food vibes, straight in your kitchen.

10. Groundnut (Peanuts)

Whether roasted as a snack or blended into rich peanut stew, groundnut is Africa’s comfort ingredient.

Cooking these dishes isn’t just about food, it's about keeping culture alive, one pot at a time. This is why MamaJones is here, to stock your pantry with the authentic African ingredients you grew up with, shipped straight to your door.

Shop all your African essentials using this link at MamaJones African Market today