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What to eat in Angola

Five dishes to try in Angola, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.

Five dishes to try in Angola

  1. Moamba de galinha

    Main dish

    Chicken stewed in palm oil sauce with okra, garlic and squash.

    How to have it: Angola's national dish, often cooked for Sunday family lunch and served with funge.

    Read about Moamba de galinha on Wikipedia

  2. Funge

    Main dishVegetarian

    Smooth, sticky porridge of cassava or maize flour.

    How to have it: The base of most meals; tear off a piece and use it to scoop up stews and sauces.

    Read about Funge on Wikipedia

  3. Calulu

    Main dish

    Dried fish stewed with palm oil, okra, sweet potato leaves and tomato.

    How to have it: A weekend dish; ask for it with funge and beans in palm oil (feijão de óleo de palma).

    Read about Calulu on Wikipedia

  4. Cocada amarela

    DessertVegetarian

    Yellow coconut pudding made with egg yolks, sugar and cinnamon.

    How to have it: A Portuguese-influenced dessert served at celebrations and in some Luanda restaurants.

    Read about Cocada amarela on Wikipedia

  5. Cuca

    DrinkVegetarian

    Pale lager brewed in Luanda, the country's best-known beer.

    How to have it: The default beer at the beach bars on Ilha de Luanda; drink it cold with grilled fish.

    Read about Cuca on Wikipedia

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Questions

What food is Angola famous for?

Moamba de galinha (chicken stewed in palm oil sauce with okra, garlic and squash) comes first on our list, followed by Funge, Calulu, Cocada amarela and Cuca.

What is the national dish of Angola?

Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Angola is Moamba de galinha: chicken stewed in palm oil sauce with okra, garlic and squash. Angola's national dish, often cooked for Sunday family lunch and served with funge.

Which dishes in Angola are vegetarian?

Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Funge, Cocada amarela and Cuca. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.

What do people drink in Angola?

Cuca: pale lager brewed in Luanda, the country's best-known beer.

How reliable is this list?

The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.

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Dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.