ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Gabon
Four dishes to try in Gabon, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Four dishes to try in Gabon
Poulet nyembwe
Chicken stewed in a sauce of palm-nut pulp.
How to have it: Often called Gabon's national dish; served with rice, plantain or cassava batons.
Bâton de manioc
Fermented cassava paste wrapped in leaves and steamed into firm sticks.
How to have it: The usual side for sauces; sold wrapped in leaves at Libreville markets.
Fried plantain Banane plantain frite
Ripe plantain slices fried until caramelised.
How to have it: Sold at roadside grills alongside fish and meat skewers in the evening.
Atanga
Purple bush-pear fruit, softened in hot water and eaten with cassava.
How to have it: In season mid-year; sold in heaps at markets and roadside stalls.
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Questions
What food is Gabon famous for?
Poulet nyembwe (chicken stewed in a sauce of palm-nut pulp) comes first on our list, followed by Bâton de manioc, Fried plantain and Atanga.
What is the national dish of Gabon?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Gabon is Poulet nyembwe: chicken stewed in a sauce of palm-nut pulp. Often called Gabon's national dish; served with rice, plantain or cassava batons.
Which dishes in Gabon are vegetarian?
Three of the four on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Bâton de manioc, Fried plantain and Atanga. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
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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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.