8 DISHES YOU SHOULD TRY OUT THIS NEW YEAR

It’s more than a week into the New year, 2026. The streets, cities and market places are still bustling with the festive spirit. New year celebrations are still going on in some places. So many new year resolutions have been formulated while some are still yet to complete their list. Whether you have every of your goals for the year in place or not I have something very important to add to your to do list this year. 

Food, they say, is life. One of the best ways to keep a good memory of place or an event or a moment is to eat good food. In other words, the human brain would usually remember where and when it has tasted good food before.  Thus, I have curated a list of foods you should try this new year, incase you haven't tried them. This list consists of meals that I would tag high-class deliciousness not your regular Jollof rice and Fried Rice combo, but meals that come with a twist and are more savory. These are meals that would, assuredly, make this new year deliciously memorable. 

You need to add at least two of these meals to your goals this year. You cannot afford to let another year go without trying these meals. You could try these foods in your next celebration or as part of your dishes in a potluck or picnic with your friends or family or just on any special day this year. 

1. Asun Jollof Rice: Why do regular Jollof rice this year when you could go for Asun Jollof? Jollof Rice doesn't have to go, just add a twist to the recipe. 

Asun Jollof rice is a spicy, smoky Nigerian dish particularly common in the southwest. It is a combination of grilled or roasted goat meat (the "Asun") mixed with seasoned rice, often cooked in the goat meat's stock. 

Ingredients are Rice, pepper, tomatoes, tomato paste, goat meat, goat meat stock, seasoning and spices. Here is a recipe for a delicious Asun Jollof Rice.

2. Coconut Fried Rice: 

If you've been looking forward to trying something different this year, foodwise, Coconut Fried Rice is a must try. It is an interesting twist on the regular fried rice recipe. You would definitely enjoy it. Instead of using water while cooking your rice, you use coconut milk and your stock then you fry the ingredients and seasoned rice with coconut oil. Try out this recipe and be wowed!

3. Ofada Rice and Ayamase Sauce: The third on our list is the classic, delicious Ayamase Sauce and Ofada Rice. 

This food is native to the South-West Nigerians. It is one of the best Nigerian meals you would ever enjoy. The Ayamase sauce is prepared with green scotch bonnets, ata rodo, onions, assorted meats of choice, palm oil, seasoning and other spices. Paired with some fried plantains, eggs or beef or chicken, your taste buds will thank you. This is not just a hype, you need to try this, if you've not. Add it to your goals this year. Here's a recipe.

4. Efo Riro and Pounded Yam: The Yorubas call Pounded Yam the king of Swallows. Imagine the deliciousness of Efo Riro and the king of Swallows one afternoon with the love of your life. That would be a delicious fantasy. If you have not tried this combo, my boss do. 

Efo Riro is a vegetable soup native to the Yorubas, particularly the Abeokuta people. Pounded Yam, on the other hand, is a Swallow made from mashed Yam. This combo is something you should try this holiday season. It could serve as the main meal or second meal for the day. Here is a recipe on how to prepare Efo Riro and Pounded Yam.

5. Amala and Abula: If this delicious and flavourful meal doesn't make it to this list what have we curated for you? Amala and Abula(Gbegiri and Ewedu) is a popular dish among the Yorubas in Nigeria. No Owanbe is complete without a delicious and tasty Amala and Abula. 

Amala is a swallow made from dry and grinded Yam or Yam peels. Ewedu is a draw soup made from Jute leaves also called “Ewedu” in Yoruba. Gbegiri is a soup made with peeled beans. This combo is one that lifts your taste bud to another realm that cannot be explained. A very good food to enjoy this season. For my non-Yorubas whom haven't tried this, add it to your must do for this year. Here is a recipe for you. 

6. Nigerian Fisherman Soup:

Next on the list is the delicious Fisherman soup from the South-South. Nigerian Fisherman Soup is a tasty seafood soup made with fresh fish, prawns, and other sea foods. 

This meal definitely needs to make it on the list of foods you would be trying this year. You can enjoy this meal with any swallow of your choice or without a swallow. Here is how to prepare this deliciousness.

7. Afang Soup: 

Another deliciousness on the list is the mighty Afang Soup. Native to the Efik and Ibibio people of Nigeria, it is a flavourful vegetable soup prepared with the Afang leaf, any meat of choice, stock fish, periwinkle, lots of crayfish and many more. It can be enjoyed with pounded yam, Fufu, Garri and any swallow of choice. Here's a recipe for you.

8. Groundnut Soup: This dish is one of the most underrated dishes in Nigeria. 

If you are looking for a flavourful soup, one that would burst your brain and give your taste bud an ecstasy you can't explain, you really need to try out Groundnut Soup. You can enjoy it with rice or any swallow of your choice. Check out this recipe.