Burkinabe cuisine facts for kids

Burkinabé cuisine is the delicious food from Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa. It's a lot like the food in other West African countries. The main foods people eat are grains like sorghum, millet, and rice. They also use fonio, maize (corn), peanuts, potatoes, beans, yams, and okra.

Rice, corn, and millet are the most popular grains. People often enjoy grilled meats, especially mutton (lamb), goat, beef, and fish.

Many fresh vegetables are used in cooking. These include yams, potatoes, okra, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, leeks, onions, beets, pumpkins, cucumbers, cabbage, sorrel, and spinach.

In cities, you might find more imported foods. But in the countryside, meals often feature Tô (Food). This is served with a sauce made from leaves like corchorus or baobab. Sometimes, dried fish and spices like chili and soumbala are added for extra flavor.

Popular Dishes from Burkina Faso

A plate of foufou (right) served with peanut soup.

Burkina Faso is located in West Africa.

• Tô: This is a very important traditional dish in Burkina Faso. It's like a thick porridge or cake made from ground millet, sorghum, or corn. Tô is usually eaten by hand with a tasty sauce. The sauce is made from vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and carrots. Sometimes, a piece of meat like mutton or goat is added.
• Poulet Bicyclette: This means "bicycle chicken" in French. It's a popular grilled chicken dish that you can find all over West Africa.
• Ragout d'Igname: This is a delicious yam stew that comes from Burkina Faso.
• Riz Gras: This dish means "fat rice." It's rice cooked with onions, tomatoes, and meat, making it very flavorful.
• Sauce Gombo: This is a sauce made using okra, which gives it a slightly sticky texture.
• Brochettes: These are skewers of grilled meat, similar to kebabs, and are a common snack or meal.
• Poulet Braisé: This is another type of grilled chicken, very popular in cities. Many restaurants and bars serve this dish.
• Babenda: This is a stew made with fermented beans, fish, and vegetables like cabbage or spinach.

Restaurants in Burkina Faso often serve their own dishes alongside popular foods from nearby countries. For example, you might find kédjénou, a fish or meat stew from Côte d'Ivoire. Another common dish is poulet yassa, a chicken stew with lemon and onions from Senegal.

• Foods and preparations in Burkina Faso
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  The fruit of the African Baobab tree.

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  Foods being cooked in Burkina Faso.

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  Preparing tô.

Refreshing Drinks

• Bissap: This is a sour but refreshing drink made from the flowers of the Roselle plant, which is part of the Hibiscus family. It's usually sweetened with sugar.
• Degue: A creamy drink made from pearl millet and yogurt.
• Dôlo: This is a type of beer made from pearl millet or sorghum.
• Tédo: Also known as Pain de Sainge, this drink is made from the fruit of the baobab tree.
• Yamaccu: A spicy and refreshing drink made from ginger.
• Zomekome: This is a popular soft drink. It's made from millet flour, ginger, lemon juice, and tamarind.
• Jus de Weda: This is a juice made from the fruit of the Saba senegalensis vine.