Chadian cuisine is the cooking traditions, practices, foods and dishes associated with the Republic of Chad. Chadians use a variety of grains, vegetables, fruits and meats. Commonly consumed grains include millet, sorghum, and rice as staple foods. Commonly eaten vegetables include okra and cassava. A variety of fruits are also eaten. Meats include mutton, chicken, pork, goat, fish and beef. The day's main meal is typically consumed in the evening on a large communal plate, with men and women usually eating in separate areas. This meal is typically served on the ground upon a mat, with people sitting and eating around it.
Northern and southern cuisines
Fish is abundant in northern Chad, including tilapia, perch, eel, carp and catfish. Southern Chadians do not consume many dairy products from livestock, and are not as dependent upon fish as a protein source, but have more options in using fresh produce and spices compared to people in northern Chad. People in Northern Chad include nomadic Arabs and Tuaregs who rely upon staple foods, including dairy products and meats.
Foods and dishes
Bread made from millet and sorghum that has been ground into flour
Daraba is a traditional dish prepared with okra, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, greens, peanut butter (or peanut paste), and additional ingredients.
Dried, salted and smoked fish
Esh is a common dish among northern Arabs that consists of boiled millet flour served with a moulah sauce.
Fried beef and fish
Jarret de boeuf is a traditional beef and vegetable stew. It is recommended to stew for at least 2 hours.
Kisser is a type of sourdough crêpe
La Bouillie is a traditional breakfast cereal that is served hot. The main ingredients are rice or wheat, milk, peanut butter and flour.
Millet pancakes and fried balls. Aiyash is a dish eaten by Chadian Arabs in which millet balls are dipped in various sauces.
Nile perch
Okra-based gumbo
Peanut butter
Porridges made from millet and sorghum are common throughout the country.
Red beans are part of the diet in Southern Chad.
Sauces prepared with meat, fish and spices. Sauces are sometimes used to dip various millet and sorghum foods, such as millet bread.
Sesame seeds and sesame oil are used in many dishes
Shea butter
Squash stew with peanuts
Stews are often prepared with cassava leaves and okra as the primary greens in them.
Toasted termites and crickets
Millet
Sorghum
Rice
Beef
Bushmeat, which is sometimes dried
Pork
Chicken
Fish, particularly in Northern Chad, including tilapia, carp, eel, perch and catfish. Fish is the most common protein source in Chad.
Goats are the most commonly raised livestock in Chad, and are used for food in the forms of goat meat and goat milk.
Mutton
Fruits and vegetables
* Particularly common in Southern Chad
Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in Chad. Red, black and green teas are consumed in Chadian cuisine. Karkanji/carcaje is a red tea made from dried hibiscus flowers with ginger, clove, cinnamon and sugar added to taste. It is very common in Chad. Liquor and millet beer are consumed by non-Muslim Chadians in Southern areas of the country. Millet beer is known as bili-bili.
Additional beverages in Chadian cuisine include:
Fruit juices
Gala is a beer brewed in Chad
Jus de Fruit is a traditional beverage prepared with mango, milk, sugar and cardamom powder.
Milk
Soft drinks