Local food map Bamenda (Cameroon)
Bamenda guides
Recipes 5
Pick a recipe
All Bamenda recipes
🌿
Snack Vegetarian

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥480kcal
💪3gProtein
🌾100gCarbs
🥑10gFat
🌿8gFibre
⚖️300 gServing

* Per serving · 300 g. May vary.

Nkwem

How to order / say it
Say it Nkwem — [N-kwem]
Order I'd like to try Nkwem, please.
Locally Je voudrais essayer le Nkwem, s'il vous plaît.
Say locally

A savory plantain dish spiced with peppers and herbs.

Why try it?

It's known for its bold flavors, representing Bamenda's use of local spices to transform everyday ingredients into culinary wonders.

How it tastes

Nkwem is sweet with a hint of earthiness from the plantains, layered with heat from peppers, producing an aromatic delight with every bite.

Origin & History — first documented: 1920

Developed in the early 20th century, Nkwem showcases the versatile plantain as a staple. Its evolution paralleled the spice trade routes that passed through the region.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥕 500 g ripe plantains
  • 🥕 1 large red pepper
  • 🧄 1 medium onion
  • 🧄 3 cloves garlic
  • 🥛 20 ml ghee
  • 🌿 1 tsp thyme

Method

  1. 1 Peel and slice plantains.
  2. 2 Fry onions and garlic in ghee until golden.
  3. 3 Add plantains, red pepper, and thyme to the pan.
  4. 4 Cook till plantains caramelize.
  5. 5 Serve warm as a flavorful snack.

More from Bamenda

Ndolé © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Meat

Ndolé

N-dole

A rich stew made with bitter leaves, groundnuts, and meat.
🥩
Main course Meat

Achu

Ah-choo

Yellow spicy taro dish typically served with a savory soup.
🌱
Main course Vegan

Fufu Corn

Foo-foo Corn

A staple accompaniment made from fermented cornmeal.
Koki © Wikimedia Commons
Snack Vegetarian

Koki

Koh-kee

A savory bean pudding made from black-eyed peas.
Bobolo
Side dish Vegan

Bobolo

Bo-bo-loh

A staple side dish made from fermented cassava wrapped in leaves and steamed.
🥩
Main course Meat

Eru

Eh-roo

A nutritious dish featuring wild greens slowly cooked with fish or meat.
Poisson Braisé
Main course Fish & Seafood

Poisson Braisé

Pwa-sohn bray-zay

A savory grilled fish dish seasoned with a blend of spices.
Egusi Pudding
Main course Vegetarian

Egusi Pudding

E-gu-si Puh-ding

A steamed dish made of ground melon seeds.
Poulet DG
Main course Meat

Poulet DG

Poulet Directeur Général
Poo-leh Day-Gee

A lavish chicken dish favored by Cameroon's elite.
Mbongo Tjobi © Wikimedia Commons
Main course Fish & Seafood

Mbongo Tjobi

M-bon-go Cho-bee

A dark, aromatic stew with smoked fish.
All Africa recipes — Cameroon — Bamenda — Nkwem
keyboard_arrow_up