10 Uncommon Nigerian Foods You Should Try Right Now

Do you think you are in complete control of whatever you eat? Do you know the source of most things you consume? Have you been craving weird foods? Have you ever wondered what a Lizard or Lion tastes like? These are valid questions and you are not alone, some people go the extra mile to eat uncommon Nigerian foods not meant for regular tastebuds.

Popular Nigerian meals are supplemented with either turkey, chicken, beef, goat or fish. However, there are unconventional meals prepared with bizarre meat and ingredients. Here is a list of uncommon foods eaten in Nigeria.

1. Alligator

And no, we aren’t talking about alligator pepper but the animal itself. The alligator is fierce but not so much when chopped down to meat chunks in your soup. Alligators are usually killed for their skin, but it’s now meat for a few Nigerians.

2. Grasshoppers

Do you remember as a 90s kid when you used to play out in the green field? When we catch grasshoppers as a game? “Abaka”, we used to call them. They are roasted or fried with pepper and salt and eaten by children in rural areas.

3. Grasscutter Faeces

Sometimes you wonder why your Mama Put plug always gets the soup right. Is she adding white Maggi or what? No, my dears, she might be adding some extra love! Some people use the droppings from a grass cutter to prepare soups. It is believed that it makes the food smell good, oh well.

4. Suya Dog Meat

Dog meat has been tagged as a popular delicacy in Calabar and Ondo but do you know a lot of other cultures eat it well around Nigeria?

There are speculations that dog meat has been used to make suya. It’s delicious and sweet. A dog is not necessarily meant to be a pet or guard the house; sometimes, it is just a good source of protein.

5. Cat meat

A wide section of Nigerians consumes cat meat. It may not be stipulated in culture, but people sometimes love to explore.

6. Snakes

Snake looks and tastes like fish, hope you know? But the difference is in the lack of bones. When preparing them, they are well-seasoned, roasted or fried. The fangs and venom are extracted, and the flesh is enjoyed to total bliss.

7. Monkey

Even though monkeys and apes are like second cousins to humans, some people have no problem eating them. Monkeys and such strange meats are discouraged for food because they can transmit virus diseases to human hosts. Still, people don’t listen.

8. More Insects

A variety of insects are eaten as snacks and sometimes taken with drinks. Some of which are Locusts, Winged Termites (Esusu), Weevil Larvae (Akokuno), Crickets. They are usually fried with palm oil, smoked or dried.

9. Bat

The winged mammals are a delicacy in certain places, and you can even get some to buy on the expressway from those selling ‘bush meat’. They are discouraged as they are speculated to be a medium for which the Ebola virus and coronavirus is spread.

10. Cow Heart, Ear, Tongue and Brain

The cow is generally a typical delicacy for all Nigerian tribes. And equally, all parts of the animal are used to prepare different delicacies. The heart, ear and tongue are used to prepare peppered stew and Asun. The truth is that you may have eaten it at your relatives or somewhere at a gathering, and you simply didn’t know.

Which of these foods have you eaten? Leave a comment below.