Over the last ten years, we’ve become a go-to restaurant for Londoners looking to experience Nigerian food. And if there's one thing we've learnt, it's that there are still plenty of misconceptions about Nigerian cuisine. Even amongst Nigerians!
So, whether you're completely new to Nigerian food or Egusi runs through your veins, here are ten Nigerian food myths we think it’s finally time to put to bed.
1. Nigerian Food Is Just Jollof and Plantain
Don't get us wrong, we could eat jollof rice and plantain every day. But if that's all you know about Nigerian food, you've barely scratched the surface. No judgement here, we're here to expand your horizons!
From hearty bean-centred dishes like Moi Moi and Adalu to rich soups and swallows like Egusi and Pounded Yam, Nigerian cuisine has so many dishes that will have your taste buds dancing. And with hundreds of ethnic groups across Nigeria, there's plenty of regional diversity too.
At Chuku's, we've always wanted our menu to give people a taste of that diversity. That's why we serve sharing plates, so instead of having to commit to one main dish, you can enjoy a wider range of Nigerian dishes in one sitting.
And if you're a Jollof lover, don't worry, we've even got it twice on our menu! Will you choose our Jollof Rice or Jollof Quinoa?
2. Jerk Chicken Is Nigerian Food
Yep! We have been asked this. And not just once.
We understand where the confusion might be coming from with the rise of fusion restaurant African and Caribbean restaurants. But at Chuku’s, it’s strictly Nigerian food. And jerk is a Jamaican cooking tradition, not a Nigerian one.
So, no jerk chicken on our Nigerian tapas menu. But if you're after chicken with a little bit of a kick than our Chicken Ata Din Din is for you.
3. Nigerian Food Is Always Spicy
Spiced ≠ spicy. And whilst Nigerian cooking knows how to use spices, that doesn't mean Nigerian food has to be spicy.
Jollof rice that's burning your tongue? That's a choice someone made when adding scotch bonnet to the pot. But that's not what inherently makes the dish. And a dish isn't any less traditional if it doesn't blow your head off.
Now, there are dishes that are meant to bring the heat, like pepper soup (the clue is in the name) or our Lamb Ayamase (we didn't put three chillies on that for nothing). But if you prefer something milder, there's lots for you to enjoy in Nigerian cooking and on the Chuku's menu.
Unsure where to start? Just ask our team!
4. If You Grew Up Eating Nigerian Food, You've Tried It All
Not quite! Nigeria is a richly diverse country, which means its food cultures are difficult for any one person to know completely. What was a regular fixture on your dinner table might be completely unfamiliar to someone from another part of the country.
Take Kuli Kuli, for example. This crunchy fried peanut snack, which originates from the Nupe people of Nigeria's Middle Belt, is an ingredient we use in our Caramel Kuli Kuli Wings. For some Nigerian guests, it's a familiar childhood taste. For others, it's a brand-new discovery.
Or take our Sinasir and Miyan Taushe - a fluffy rice pancake served with pumpkin and peanut stew. It's a dish our founders love and one of their top recommendations, but they'd never even heard of it when Chuku's first started. They tasted it for the first time on a trip to Kano, several years after our first pop-up.
That's one of the things we love most about Nigerian food. Even when you think you know it, it can still surprise you.
5. Nigerian Food Is All About Meat
We're not sure where this one came from. Because when we look at what's at the heart of a lot of Nigerian food, it's seeds like egusi or ogbono, root vegetables like yam or cassava, beans and a whole array of leafy greens and other vegetables.
So at Chuku's, when we say over half our menu is vegan, that's us celebrating the core ingredients of Nigerian cooking and inviting as many people as possible to enjoy Nigerian food. For example, our Moi Moi is made without the fish or egg sometimes found in traditional versions. And dishes such as our Adalu, a beans and sweetcorn pottage, show just how satisfying plant-based Nigerian food can be. Both dishes are loved by vegans and meat-eaters alike.
So, whether you're vegan, vegetarian or simply fancy a break from meat, there's plenty for you to tuck into.
6. There's Only One Way to Do Nigerian Food
Ask ten Nigerians how to make Bitter Leaf Soup and you might get ten different answers. Including a few from people who've never cooked or even eaten it, because it wasn't part of their family's food culture.
Nigerian cooking varies between regions, families and generations. Everyone has their own food traditions - the dishes they consider staples, their own recipes and rules they'd consider it sacrilege to break.
At Chuku's, we like to honour tradition. But we also recognise that what one person considers the proper way can be very different from someone else's. And that's why we believe there's room to be playful with Nigerian flavours.
It's why we've turned Plantain into Plantain Waffles and made Suya Meatballs.
Not everyone will agree with every take. And that's okay! With so many different food traditions across Nigeria, we don't think there's one definitive rulebook for what Nigerian food can be.
7. You Need to Wait for a Hall Party to Enjoy More Than One Nigerian Dish in One Sitting
There's something special about the food at a Nigerian wedding or hall party. Piling your plate with a whole range of different dishes – three different types of rice, meat and fish, and that’s before you’ve got to the soups and swallows.
But why should you have to wait for someone's big celebration to enjoy a selection of Nigerian dishes?
That’s why we do Nigerian tapas. Rather than choosing just one main, you can fill your table with different sharing plates and taste a little of everything.
So, whether you're discovering Nigerian food for the first time or introducing a friend to your favourites, you can have your own little Nigerian feast. No Aso-Ebi required.
8. Nigerian Food Has Nothing for Dessert Lovers
Now, it's true that a separate dessert course hasn't traditionally been a big feature of Nigerian dining.
But there's plenty to satisfy a sweet tooth, like chin chin and puff puff. And our co-founders remember seeing candied almonds on the table at every hall party growing up.
And when you combine Nigerian ingredients with a little Nigerian creativity, there are all sorts of sweet possibilities.
At Chuku's, we've had a lot of fun exploring that possibility. So if you thought dinner at a Nigerian restaurant meant skipping dessert, we'd like to introduce you to our Chin Chin Cheesecake, Plantain Waffles and Chocolate Yam Brownie.
Yes, yam. In a brownie. If you've never tried it, you might want to hold off on judging until you have.
9. Nigerian Food Is Just for Nigerians
The beauty of food is that it can be enjoyed by anyone. Your taste buds and belly know good food when they meet it. And when Nigerian food enters the mouth, it doesn't matter whether you have a Nigerian name, Nigerian passport or grew up in a Nigerian household. Enjoyment will find you!
Of course, Nigerian food might hold an extra special place for us Nigerians, being part of our culture. But there's something special about sharing a part of your culture with others and inviting them to enjoy the very same culture you're proud of.
That's exactly why we started Chuku's: to share and celebrate Nigerian food and culture, and invite the UK to join in.
So, whether you know Nigerian food inside out or are about to take your first bite, there's a place for you at our table.
10. You Were Living a Good Life Without Nigerian Food
What more is there to say on this one? You might have thought you were living a good life before your first taste of Nigerian cuisine, but little did you know.
It is scientifically proven that eating Nigerian food regularly improves life satisfaction.*
*We think thousands of happy diners count as scientific evidence.
So now we've debunked those food myths, when are you coming to eat? Book your table here and come chop, chat, chill!
