5 Essential Ingredients for Your West African Pantry

Building a well-stocked West African pantry is the first step to cooking delicious, authentic dishes at home. Here are five essential ingredients you should always have on hand:

1. **Palm Oil**: The foundation of many West African dishes, palm oil adds a distinctive flavor and rich color.

2. **Ground Crayfish**: This adds an umami depth to soups and stews that's hard to replicate.

3. **Scotch Bonnet Peppers**: These small but mighty peppers provide the characteristic heat in many West African dishes.

4. **Seasoning Cubes**: While not traditional, these have become a staple in modern West African cooking.

5. **Long Grain Rice**: Essential for making perfect Jollof rice and other rice dishes.

With these ingredients, you'll be ready to tackle a wide variety of West African recipes!