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{{Short description|Culinary traditions of Sierra Leone}}
'''Sierra Leonean cuisine''' consists of the [[cooking]] traditions and practices from [[Sierra Leone]]. It follows the traditions of other [[West African cuisine]]s. The country has 16 tribal ethnic groups.<ref name=bbc>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220609-a-gourmet-revival-of-sierra-leones-bold-flavours | title=A gourmet revival of Sierra Leone's bold flavours }}</ref>

==Overview==
[[Image:Manihot esculenta dsc07325.jpg|thumb|Unprocessed [[cassava]] root]]
The most commonly eaten food in Sierra Leone is [[rice]], which is typically served as part of every meal eaten,{{sfn|Albala|2011|p=162}} and is considered so ubiquitous that many Sierra Leoneans consider
that a meal is not complete without it.{{sfn|LeVert|2007|p=129}} Another popular staple food is [[cassava]], which is pounded to make ''[[fufu]]'';{{sfn|Albala|2011|p=162}} the leaves of the cassava are cooked into a green stew.{{sfn|LeVert|2007|p=129}}

[[Palm oil]] and [[peanut]]s are also widely eaten,{{sfn|LeVert|2007|p=129}} and while [[yam (vegetable)|yam]]s are found in Sierra Leone, they are not a mainstay of the diet as they are in other parts of [[West Africa]].{{sfn|Albala|2011|p=162}} Other staples of the Sierra Leonean diet are [[banana]]s, [[cinnamon]], [[coconut]], [[ginger]], [[okra]], [[cooking banana|plantains]] and [[tamarind]].

Commonly eaten meats include [[Goat meat|goat]], [[Chicken as food|chicken]] and [[beef]], and there are also a number of dishes using pork as an added ingredient.{{sfn|Albala|2011|p=164}}

[[Orange (fruit)|Oranges]], bananas, [[papayas]], [[lemons]], [[avocados]], [[guava]], [[watermelons]], [[mangoes]], and [[pineapples]] are fruits commonly eaten by Sierra Leoneans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.peacecorps.gov/educators/resources/cuisine-and-etiquette-sierra-leone/|title = Cuisine and Etiquette in Sierra Leone}}</ref>

Popular starches in the country's cuisine include:

*[[Acheke]]<ref name=bbc/>
*[[Garri]]<ref name=bbc/>
*[[Black-eyed peas]], known in [[Sierra Leone Creole]] as ''binch''

==Stews==
[[Image:Stir-Fried-Okra-2008.jpg|thumb|Stir-fried [[okra]]]]
[[Stews]] are a fundamental part of Sierra Leone's cuisine, with cassava leaves having been called the country's national dish.<ref name=Osseo23>{{Citation
| last =Osseo-Asare | first =Fran | date =2005 | title =Food Culture in Sub-Saharan Africa | publisher =Greenwood Publishing Group | page = 32| isbn =0-313-32488-3}}</ref> Stew is often served with [[jollof rice]], white rice or snacks such as plantain, ''[[akara]]'', yam or cassava. Groundnut stew, also called [[peanut stew]] or [[peanut soup]], often has chicken and vegetables included.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Africa {{!}} Encyclopedia.com|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/food/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/west-africa|website=www.encyclopedia.com|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> This is often served to families as a large meal.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}

===Cassava leaves===
[[Cassava]] leaves are an important cooking ingredient in Sierra Leone and considered the primary staple food.<ref name=Osseo23/> In preparation, the tenderest cassava leaves are washed, then either pounded very finely or bruised with a [[pestle and mortar]], and then finely shredded before cooking. The leaves are added to [[palaver sauce]], which is made using red [[palm oil]] mixed with other ingredients, such as [[onions]], [[Black pepper|pepper]], [[Fish as food|fish]], meat, and vegetables to create a stew. The stew is a favorite among Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad. To give the dish a more exquisite taste, [[coconut oil]] may be used instead of palm oil.<ref>{{Citation
| last =Osseo-Asare | first =Fran | date =2005 | title =Food Culture in Sub-Saharan Africa | publisher =Greenwood Publishing Group | page = 33| isbn =0-313-32488-3}}</ref>

==Beverages==
[[File:GT Ginger Beer.ogg|thumb|GT Ginger Beer]]
[[Ginger beer]] is typically a homemade [[non-alcoholic beverage]], made out of pure [[ginger]], and sweetened with [[sugar]] to taste. [[Cloves]] and [[lime juice]] are sometimes added for flavor.<ref>{{cite book |last=Massaquoi |first=Rachel C.J. |year=2011 |title=Foods of Sierra Leone and Other West African Countries: A Cookbook |isbn=9781449081546 |publisher=AuthorHouse |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bKwN7Absx6AC&pg=PA152 |page=152}}</ref>
*Star Beer ([[Sierra Leone Brewery Limited]])
*Poyo ([[palm wine]])<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/sierra-leone/food-and-drink/ | title=Food and drink in Sierra Leone }}</ref>

==Sweets==
*[[Foorah]] or [[Furah (food)|furah]],<ref name=bbc/> sweetened dumplings made of rice flour.

==See also==
{{portal|Sierra Leone|food}}
* [[African cuisine]]
* [[List of African cuisines]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Cited works===
* {{cite book |last=Albala |first=Ken |year=2011 |title=Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia |volume=1 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=9780313376269 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTo6c_PJWRgC }}
* {{cite book |last=LeVert |first=Suzanne |year=2007 |title=Sierra Leone |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=9780761423348 |url=https://archive.org/details/sierraleone0000leve |url-access=registration }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cuisine of Sierra Leone}}

{{Sierra Leone topics}}
{{African cuisine}}
{{Cuisines}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sierra Leonean cuisine| ]]
[[Category:West African cuisine]]

Sierra Leonean cuisine - Revision history

imported>Julietdeltalima: /* Cassava leaves */eliminated overlinking