A Nigerian party is incomplete without finger foods. Finger food is popularly known in Nigeria as a small chop. They serve as a starter and prepare the palate for the main course.
Nigerian finger foods/small chops can also be eaten as a standalone snack. They range from meaty dishes like gizdodo to pastries like sausage rolls and sweet snacks like donuts or chin-chin. We’ve rounded up 10 of the tastiest Nigerian finger foods that people around the world are missing out on.
1. Asun
Asun is a spicy goat meat that is especially served at parties. Asun has a distinct aroma thanks to the goat flavor that might wake you up from sleep if cooked in your neighborhood. The goat is usually grilled in an open grill and finally cut into tiny delicacies.
2. Suya
In Nigeria, night time is the perfect time for suya. Popularized by mallams in northern Nigeria, this beef kebab is sold in different parts of a street. They’re cheap and often sold in newspaper wrappers, along with fresh red onions and a special spice mix called yaji.
3. Puff Puff
Puff Puff is a sweet, fried dough vegetable oil. It is arguably one of the most popular small chops in Nigeria, if not the best. This sweet, fluffy snack is made with the simplest of ingredients—flour, sugar, water, nutmeg—yet offers the chance to take your taste buds on an incredibly tasty journey
4. Samosa
Not all small Nigerian chops originated in the West African country. One of them is samosa, which has its origins in the Middle East. It’s a fried thin film of batter that contains treats like meat, topped with onions, peppers, potatoes, and some veggies. It is also served at parties with puff puff, spring rolls and spicy grilled chicken. It’s pretty much a Nigerian fried meat pie but with a thinner layer of batter.
5. Peppered snails
Nigerians love their meat and even more so when it is fried/grilled and peppered. Peppered snails aren’t the most popular, meaning unlike most of those little chops sold on street corners, peppered snails are rarely seen. This in no way diminishes the Nigerian’s love for this spicy and crunchy food.
6. Spring rolls
Spring rolls are part of the traditional small cutlet package. Just like samosa, they are not native to Nigeria but are an Asian appetizer that Nigerians love and feature at virtually all parties.
7. Gizdodo
Gizdodo is a combination of two delicious Nigerian foods – gizzard and dodo (fried plantains) that are delicious enough on their own. The gizzard and plantain are fried separately before being sautéed together in a pepper sauce. Nothing spells YUMMY quite like Gizdodo (yes, not even those five letters).
8. Meat Pie Ivonne Ajayi
Meat pie is a delicious pastry made with a thick dough, meat and vegetable fillings. It is easily one of the most popular comfort snacks in Nigeria. Often accompanied with ice or a chilled soft drink. There are other equally tasty variations like fish pie and chicken pie made in the same way.
9. Chin Chin
This is a fried snack made from simple baked ingredients like wheat flour, sugar, milk and so on. The traditional way to prepare this crunchy treat is to cut into strips or cubes and fry, although some are healthier when baked.
10. Sausage rolls
This is a pastry made from sausage in a rolling pin. It’s originally a British snack that made its way to Nigeria. They are made in a similar way to meat pie, in fact they can be said to be meat pie’s cousins. They are often sold near shops and restaurants.