Christmas is one of the biggest celebrations in Nigerian culture. In Nigeria, cities empty out as families travel home to their villages and hometowns, churches hold long services, and every compound seems to have a pot on the fire. In the UK, Nigerian families keep many of the same traditions alive, from Christmas Eve services to open houses where relatives, friends and neighbours drop in throughout the day.
Food sits at the centre of all of it. A Nigerian Christmas is less about one formal sit-down meal and more about a generous spread that keeps coming, with dishes cooked in large quantities so that anyone who visits can be fed. If you are wondering what Nigerians actually eat at Christmas, or you are planning your first Nigerian Christmas in the UK, this guide covers the main dishes, drinks and soups, and how to shop for them here.
Traditional Nigerian Christmas food
Party jollof rice
Jollof rice is the undisputed star of the Nigerian Christmas table. "Party jollof" is the version cooked in very large pots, traditionally over an open flame or firewood. The rice at the bottom of the pot catches slightly, giving the whole dish a smoky flavour that many people say cannot be recreated on a home hob. It is cooked in a rich base of blended tomatoes, red peppers, scotch bonnets and onions, with stock, thyme, curry powder and bay leaves.
Nigerian fried rice
Nigerian fried rice is different from Chinese-style fried rice. Parboiled rice is cooked in stock with curry powder and thyme, then stir-fried with mixed vegetables such as carrots, green beans, sweetcorn and peas. Many families add diced liver, prawns or chicken. It is almost always served alongside jollof rice, so guests can have a bit of both.
Goat meat pepper soup
Pepper soup is a light but fiery broth flavoured with a special blend of pepper soup spices, scotch bonnets and herbs such as scent leaf. Goat meat pepper soup is the classic starter at Nigerian parties and is especially welcome on a cold British December evening.
Puff puff
Puff puff are soft, sweet, deep-fried dough balls made with flour, sugar, yeast and water. They are one of the most popular Nigerian snacks and are made in big batches over the festive season.
Chin chin
Chin chin is a crunchy fried dough snack, cut into small cubes or strips. Many families make it in large quantities in the days before Christmas, store it in tins and jars, and offer it to every visitor.
Moi moi
Moi moi is a steamed bean pudding made from peeled, blended black-eyed beans, peppers, onions and palm oil or vegetable oil. It is often cooked with boiled eggs or fish inside, and is a traditional partner to jollof and fried rice.
Fried plantain
Fried plantain, known as dodo, is a must at every Nigerian celebration. Ripe plantain is sliced and fried until golden and caramelised at the edges, and it goes with almost everything on the table.
Small chops
Small chops are the finger-food course of a Nigerian party: samosas, spring rolls, puff puff, chicken wings, gizzards and sometimes mini sausage rolls, often served together in a small tray or bowl. They are a staple at Christmas gatherings and are easy to serve while guests are mingling.
Many households also serve fried or grilled chicken, turkey, beef or goat meat stew, coleslaw and Nigerian salad alongside the main dishes.
Nigerian Christmas drinks
Malta Guinness
Malta Guinness is the most popular non-alcoholic drink at Nigerian celebrations. It is a sweet, malty soft drink that is suitable for children, adults and guests who do not drink alcohol. At large gatherings it is usually bought by the case.
Supermalt
Supermalt is another widely loved malt drink, with a slightly different, sweeter taste. Many families keep both Malta Guinness and Supermalt in, so guests can choose their favourite.
Chapman
Chapman is a Nigerian non-alcoholic cocktail. It is usually made with Fanta and Sprite, a splash of grenadine and a few drops of Angostura bitters, served over ice with slices of cucumber, lemon or orange. It is bright red, refreshing and a party favourite.
Zobo
Zobo is a drink made from dried hibiscus flowers (also known as sorrel), often flavoured with ginger, cloves and pineapple. It is served chilled and is similar to the sorrel drink enjoyed at Caribbean Christmases.
Fruit punch
Fruit punch, made with mixed fruit juices and chopped fruit, is especially popular at children's parties and family gatherings.
Nigerian Christmas soups and swallows
While rice dishes take the spotlight, soups and swallows are just as important in many Nigerian homes at Christmas, especially for family meals on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. A swallow is a soft, dough-like staple that is rolled into a small ball and used to scoop up soup.
Egusi soup with pounded yam
Egusi soup is made from ground melon seeds cooked with palm oil, leafy greens, assorted meats and fish. Paired with pounded yam, it is a Christmas staple in many households across the country.
Banga soup with eba
Banga soup is made from palm fruit extract and flavoured with special banga spices. It is particularly popular in Delta and Edo states and is often served with eba (made from garri) or starch.
Oha soup with fufu
Oha soup, made with tender oha leaves and thickened with cocoyam, is popular in Igbo households and is often served with fufu during the festive season.
Okra soup with pounded yam
Okra soup is quick to make and loved across Nigeria. Its slippery texture pairs well with pounded yam, eba or semovita.
Nigerian Christmas in the UK: what you need
Shopping for ingredients in the UK
Recreating a Nigerian Christmas in the UK is easier than it used to be, but it still takes some planning. The key is knowing what you can pick up at your local supermarket and what you will need to source from a specialist retailer.
What you can buy at mainstream UK supermarkets
Many of the basics are available in ordinary UK supermarkets, including long-grain rice, tomatoes, tinned tomatoes and tomato paste, onions, red peppers, carrots, green beans, sweetcorn, peas, chicken, turkey, beef, flour, sugar, yeast, vegetable oil, curry powder, thyme and bay leaves. Larger supermarkets also often stock plantain, scotch bonnets and some world food items.
What needs to come from specialist Nigerian food retailers
Some ingredients are rarely found in mainstream supermarkets. These usually include:
- Red palm oil and banga (palm fruit) concentrate
- Egusi, ogbono and crayfish
- Stockfish and dried fish
- Pepper soup spice and suya spice
- Garri, pounded yam flour and semovita
- Goat meat, which is often best ordered from a butcher in advance
- Malta Guinness and Supermalt by the case
Bulk buying for large family celebrations
Nigerian Christmas cooking is done at scale. If you are hosting, it is sensible to buy dry goods such as rice, flour, palm oil, seasoning and drinks in bulk a few weeks before Christmas. Specialist grocers get very busy in December, and popular items can run low close to the day. Buying early also gives you time to make chin chin and other snacks ahead.
Nigerian Christmas party supplies in the UK
Cooking the food is only half of the job. Serving it to a house full of guests needs some practical planning too.
Chafing dishes for keeping food warm
Chafing dishes are a common sight at Nigerian parties. They keep jollof, fried rice, stews and soups warm for hours, which is ideal for open-house Christmas gatherings where guests arrive at different times. A set of chafing dishes is a worthwhile investment if you host regularly.
Disposable trays for serving
Disposable foil trays are useful for cooking and serving large quantities, and for sending guests home with a plate of food, which is a common tradition.
Large pots for cooking for big groups
A large, heavy-based pot is essential for party jollof. Many Nigerian families keep an extra-large pot specifically for celebrations, as the quantities involved are far more than a standard saucepan can handle.
A Nigerian Christmas, wherever you are
A Nigerian Christmas in the UK brings together faith, family and food. Whether you are cooking party jollof for a crowd, making chin chin with the children or simply enjoying a bowl of pepper soup, the dishes carry the warmth of home. With a bit of planning, you can bring the full spread to your table.
You can browse our range of African and Caribbean groceries for Nigerian Christmas ingredients, and our Warmounts gold chafing dish buffet set for keeping party food warm.
