Photo of Ivy, author of The African Gourmet

About the Author

Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

View citations →

Start Your African Journey

From political insights through food to traditional wisdom and modern solutions - explore Africa's depth.

Osso Bucco is an African comfort food

Explore More Content

📁 African food 📁 African Food Culture 📁 African Ingredients 📁 African Recipes

Popular in This Category

Osso Bucco is an African comfort food recipe popular in Nigeria.


Osso Buco African food recipes

Make easy beef osso buco African food recipe tonight for dinner since all the ingredients are found at your local supermarket. Serve our Nigerian recipe with boiled yams for a traditional comfort food dish.

A little note about beef osso buco or cow leg African food. Osso buco or cow leg is the cut of meat in the back of the cow's leg between the ankle and knee. It is a heavily worked cut meaning, cuts from parts of the cow that are most active and typically have more beefy flavor, and a dark red color. 

You need to braise osso buco for a long period of time, because there’s inner-muscular sinew and a marrow bone in the middle of the cut. When the sinew and marrow renders, it melts into the meat, adding a level of richness.When you braise osso buco for a long time the cut of meat becomes thick, delightful and delectable.

The recipe below for Nigerian Beef Osso Buco uses leg shanks for a traditional African food dish.

Nigerian Beef Osso Bucco African Comfort Food Recipe


Ingredients

3 cups yams, diced 

7 hot peppers, chopped

1 cup palm oil

1 tablespoon dried crayfish powder

2 cow legs cut into bit sized pieces (ask your butcher or local supermarket meat section to cut the cow leg for you)

2 yellow onions, diced

2 bell peppers, diced

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 vegetable maggi cubes

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 dry bay leaf

2 whole cloves

1 tablespoon lemon zest

6 cups water


Directions
In a large pot add baking soda, spices and herbs and boil the cow meat until the beef is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Add the onions and peppers and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Add the yams and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes more. Add broth or water if the stew is dry. Serve with garri or fresh bread.

Nigerian Beef Osso Buco recipe uses leg shanks


Bonus recipe
Best Garri Fritters Recipe to Eat with Nigerian Beef Osso Bucco.
 
Garri Fritter Recipes
Ingredients

2 cups cassava flour

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 - 1/3 cups water

1-2 cups oil for frying

Directions
In a large frying pan heat vegetable oil. Add all ingredients, mix well and form small fritters, fry until golden brown about 3 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with extra salt or curry powder before serving.

Make easy beef osso buco and fried garri African food recipes for dinner. Serve our Osso buco or cow leg African Comfort Food and add African food richness.

More recipes you will find yummy.

  1. African Mexican SalsaAfrican Mexican Salsa=
  2. Learn how to cook buttermilk fried yamsLearn how to cook buttermilk fried yams=
  3. Recipe of peppered goatRecipe of peppered goat=
  4. San Pedro African Seafood RecipeSan Pedro African Seafood Recipe=
  5. Nigerian Breakfast Fried Akara and Ogi Nigerian Breakfast Fried Akara and Ogi=

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=
The African Gourmet explores how African food, history, and science intertwine. Here, a plant is a healer, a story is a map, and the kitchen is a laboratory. I’m Ivy — a writer raised by historians, now sharing Africa’s wisdom from the U.S. through cookbooks, cultural research, and storytelling. If you’re curious about where flavor meets memory, you belong here.

Recipes Explain Politics

🍚

🍚 When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations. The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe."

🍲 The Deeper Recipe:

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

Africa Worldwide: Top Reads

Africa × World: Editor's Picks

Cross-continental food, science, history, and cultural exchanges.

African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "The African Gourmet" if you cover more than just food?

Great question! While many associate "gourmet" exclusively with cuisine, its true meaning is "a connoisseur" – someone with refined taste and deep expertise. For over 18 years, I've served as a gourmet of African culture at large, savoring and presenting the continent's rich history, vibrant traditions, timeless wisdom, and contemporary stories with the same discerning palate one would apply to fine food. The name reflects my commitment to curating Africa's cultural wealth with authority and passion.

What makes The African Gourmet different from other culture sites?

With 18 years of consistent publishing, I offer depth and continuity that's rare online. I don't just report on African culture – I contextualize it, connecting traditional wisdom with modern realities, and food with folklore, politics, and daily life. It's a holistic view of Africa's past, present, and future, all through the lens of a seasoned cultural storyteller.

How do you choose what to write about?

My content selection is driven by a desire to showcase Africa's incredible diversity and challenge stereotypes. I balance covering foundational cultural elements (like proverbs and recipes) with timely analysis of current events (like the AGOA trade agreement). The goal is always to educate and illuminate the complex, dynamic realities of the African continent.

Do you focus on specific regions of Africa?

My coverage spans the entire continent – from North to South, East to West. While certain stories may focus on specific countries or regions, my mission is to represent the breathtaking diversity of 54 countries and thousands of cultures. I make a conscious effort to include both well-known and underrepresented cultures in my work.

Can I request a topic or contribute to the site?

I welcome thoughtful topic suggestions from engaged readers! While I maintain editorial control to ensure quality and consistency, I'm always interested in hearing what aspects of African culture you're curious about. Feel free to reach out through my contact page with your ideas.

How can I support The African Gourmet's work?

The greatest support is engaged readership – sharing articles you find valuable, participating in discussions, and helping spread cultural understanding. Following the blog and sharing it with others who would appreciate this unique perspective on Africa helps this 18-year labor of love continue to grow and reach new audiences.