Alloco (fried banana)

Location of Côte d'Ivoire

Ivorian cuisine is the traditional cuisine of Côte d'Ivoire, or the Ivory Coast, and is based on tubers, grains, chicken, seafood, fish, fresh fruits, vegetables and spices and is very similar to that of neighboring countries in west Africa.^[1] Common staple foods include grains and tubers. Côte d'Ivoire is one of the largest cocoa producers in the world, and also produces palm oil and coffee.^[1]

Common foods and dishes[link]

Ivorian snails

Raw cassava

Cassava and plantains are significant parts of Ivorian cuisine.^[1] A type of corn paste called “Aitiu” is used to prepare corn balls, and peanuts are widely used in many dishes.^[1] Attiéké is a popular side dish in Côte d'Ivoire made with grated cassava and is very similar in taste and consistency to couscous.^[1] A common street-vended food is alloco, which is ripe banana fried in palm oil, spiced with a spicy sauce made of onions and chili. It can be eaten alone as a snack or often with a hard-boiled egg, as well as a side dish.

Grilled fish and grilled chicken are the most popular non-vegetarian foods. The lean, low-fat chicken of the region is commonly referred as poulet bicyclette.^[1] Seafood includes tuna, sardines, shrimp and bonito,^[1] which are similar to tuna.

Mafé is another common dish consisting of meat in a peanut sauce.^[2] Slow-simmered stews with various ingredients are another common food staple in Côte d'Ivoire.^[2] Kedjenou is a type of spicy stew consisting of chicken and vegetables that are slow-cooked in a sealed pot with little or no added liquid, which concentrates the flavors of the chicken and vegetables and tenderizes the chicken.^[2] It's usually cooked in a pottery jar called a canary, over a slight fire, or cooked in an oven.^[2]

Ivorian land snails are huge and very appreciated, commonly grilled or eaten in sauce.

Maquis restaurants[link]

Ivorians have a particular kind of small, open-air restaurant called a maquis,^[1] which is unique to Côte d'Ivoire. Maquis normally feature braised chicken and fish served with onions and tomatoes,^[1] attiéké, and/or kedjenou.

Fruits and vegetables[link]

Widely-consumed fruits include mandarins, mango, passion fruit, sour sops and coconuts.^[1] Eggplant is a commonly used vegetable in many dishes.^[2] "Foutou" is a dish consisting of mashed plantains.^[2]

Beverages[link]

Bangui is a local palm wine.^[1]

See also[link]

Food portal

• African cuisine
• West African cuisine

References[link]