We Asked Nigerians What Joy Tastes Like. Answer: Dodo. Always Dodo.

General Sep 2, 2025 0 2 Add to Reading List

Food does more than keep us alive; it carries stories, memories, and emotions. For many Nigerians, a single plate can transport them back to childhood, heal a broken heart, or simply brighten a dull day. That is what we call a joy meal: the dish that makes you feel comforted, fulfilled, and at peace.

We asked people a simple but powerful question: “What’s your joy meal; the one food that makes you instantly happy?” The responses we got were warm, humorous, and nostalgic. From classic Nigerian meals like beans and dodo to surprising picks like shortbread biscuits, each story showed how deeply food connects with happiness.

In Nigeria, food is often tied to family gatherings, traditions, and cultural identity. Pounded yam may remind someone of weekends in their grandparents’ home, while a hot plate of suya might bring back memories of late-night hangouts with friends.

These meals are more than recipes; they are experiences. That is why a “joy meal” is not simply food; it is therapy, culture, and happiness served on a plate.

1. Beans and Dodo

For many Nigerians, beans and plantain, often called beans and dodo, are pure joy. One of our respondents shared, “Beans and dodo cooked together make me happy all the time.” Mayowa agreed, explaining that beans with plantain are both nourishing and flavourful: “It’s proteinous and tasty.”

It is no surprise. Beans provide energy, while fried plantain brings that irresistible sweetness. Together, they form one of Nigeria’s most satisfying comfort meals.

Beans and Dodo (Fried Plantain)

₦4,000

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You can also choose to add grilled fish, chicken, or beef for an extra ₦700, with drinks like soft drinks or juice available as sides.

2. Yam in Any Form (Gift)

Yam is often called the “king of crops” in Nigeria, and Gift could not agree more. She said: “I love yams in any form — yamarita, yams and beans, anything yams. But I love it particularly when paired with egg sauce or fish sauce. It takes me to cloud nine.”

From fried yams on the streets to pounded yams in family kitchens, yam is a staple that never loses its appeal. No wonder so many Nigerians consider it their favourite meal.

Yam and Egg Sauce

₦7,000

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from Spice & Chillis’ cloud kitchen in Ikeja, Lagos. You can order it via their website, WhatsApp, Glovo, or Chowdeck.

3. Pancakes

While pancakes are not traditionally Nigerian, they have found their way into many homes. Dolapo confessed: “I love pancakes, and I can never get tired of it. Even if I’m full and I see pancakes, I’ll still eat it no matter how much. I never say no to pancakes.”

The soft texture, often topped with syrup, honey, or sugar, explains why pancakes are often considered comfort food. Sometimes joy comes from something simple, warm, and easy to reach for.

4. Pounded Yam & Soups (Odunmorayo & Grace)

When it comes to Nigerian traditional food, pounded yams are unbeatable for many people. Odunmorayo explained how it ties directly to his childhood: “Pounded yam and efo-riro with bushmeat makes me feel good because I ate a lot of it growing up, especially with my grandparents in Ondo. Pounded yam is like their signature food there.”

For Grace, it is pounded yams with white soup: “It makes me feel happy eating it. It’s like a mini-traditional food in our house, and everyone likes it.”

Both responses show how swallow meals carry powerful cultural and emotional weight in Nigeria. Pounded yams are not just filling; it is family on a plate.

1 wrap of Freshly Pounded Yam with 1 Goat Meat

Ìgbàlódé Lite

₦4,186

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Ile Iyan by PODs serves freshly pounded yams alongside rich Egusi soup. This dish combines smooth, hand-pounded yams with hearty Egusi, a thick, melon-seed-based soup prized for its flavour and satiety.