SUNDAY LUNCH IN GHANA INCLUDING RECIPES

In Ghana, Sunday meals are more on the celebratory side especially after church. Sunday's are for visiting family or friends and you could be a host or be hosted. 

Most guests do arrive both annouced or un-announced and it’s a must to cater to them. It’s bad manners and frowned upon when you leave an un-announced guest unfed. 

Most households in Ghana will cook a minimum of two types of soup for the week at the weekend. The most favoured soup includes, Light soup ( a spicy tomato based soup), Groundnut (Peanut butter) soup, (Nkatie Kwan), Palm nut soup(AbenKwan), Okra soup (Fetri/Gumbo/Ladies fingers/Bhindi etc).

The various soup are usually cooked with Goat meat, Smoked Tuna, Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Guinea Fowl, Seafood to mention but a few.

A walk through your neighbourhood on a Sunday, especially after Church will definitely include the sound of a pounding pestle and mortar (making of Fufu), the smell of a burning fermented corn mixture (cooking of Banku) or the lingering smell of fried Fish, Chicken, Meat and Jollof Rice.

Due to the time consuming nature of Fufu (made with un-ripened plantain and cassava), its usually enjoyed on a Sunday, however I have created a quicker version about 4 years ago. 

Watch how to prepare your favourite Fufu below without the hassle of pounding.

‘Banku’ made with a mixture of fermented milled corn and cassava into pliable dumplings is best served with Okro soup. Each tribe in Ghana have their own way of preparing their version of ‘Banku’; where the Fantes only use the fermented corn dough for their version known as ‘Etew’ and the Ewe’s of Ghana have various types which include Akple, EwoDermi, AmorKple which are either made with only corn flour and or fermented cassava.

 Watch below the various Banku recipes. 

You will walk past a lady setting up to sell Rice balls with either, Groundnut or Palm nut soup to a waiting queue, shouting at her helpers to hurry up or one setting up to sell Tuo Zaafi (a popular dish with its origins from the Northern part of Ghana) .

Watch how to prepare Tuo Zaafi below;

The look of anticipation on the faces of individuals queuing can be intriguing to observe. The sense of determination exhibited whilst waiting, no matter long it takes to have a portion of their favourite Sunday meal is commendable. 

Cleverly the lady has their favourite chilled local beer to quench their thirst whilst they sit on the long bench and table provided to enjoy their meal. Individuals hardly speak to each other whilst eating, however the conversation comes from those in the queue  or individuals who have just finished eating. 

Watch below the various recipes that makes a Ghanaian Sunday Lunch.

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