Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's Bissau-Guinean recipes, part of West Africa. This page provides links to all the Guinea-Bissau recipes presented on this site, with 36 recipes in total.

Guinea-Bissau; officially: República da Guiné-Bissau; Republic of Guinea-Bissau is one of the smaller of the African countries and the only African country whose official language is Portugese. It was formerly the Portuguese colony of Portuguese Guinea and upon independence on September 24, 1973 (ratified on September 10, 1974) the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country's official name in order to prevent confusion between itself and the Republic of Guinea (above). The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse and has many distinct languages, customs, and social structures. Nearly 99% of Guineans are black and can be divided into the following three categories: Fula and the Mandinka-speaking people, who comprise the largest portion of the population and are concentrated in the north and northeast; the Balanta and Papel people, who live in the southern coastal regions; and the Manjaco and Mancanha, who occupy the central and northern coastal areas. Only 14% of the population speaks the official language Portuguese. 44% of the population speaks Kriol, a Portuguese-based creole language, and the remainder speaks native African languages. White Portuguese and mestiços speak one of the African languages and Kriol as second languages. French is also learned in schools, as the country is surrounded by French-speaking countries and a full member of the Francophonie. The majority of the populace follows traditional animist beliefs, with 45% of the population being Muslim, principally the Fula and Mandinka peoples Less than 8% are Christian, most of whom are Roman Catholic.

As a country on the Atlantic ocean, Guinea-Bissau cuisine uses fish as the basis of many recipes. The native cuisine also makes use of a combination of locally available fruit, grains, and vegetables, milk and meat products. Unlike many other West African countries the Guinea Bissau diet has a predominance of milk, curd, and whey. The carbohydrate staple is rice and peanuts (introduced by the Portugese) also make an important addition to the country's cuisine. Chillies are often used in numerous recipes, as is Guinea pepper, the seeds of Aframomum melegueta which are also called grains of paradise. Traditional ingredients include rice, peanuts, Bambara Groundnut and Hausa Groundnut, black-eyed peas, and root vegetables such as yams, coco yams, sweet potatoes, and cassava. Guinea Bissau cuisine also includes pork and fish.

These recipes, for the major part, originate in Guinea-Bissau. Otherwise they are fusion recipes with major Bissau-Guinean influences.

Guinea-Bissau officially the officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau (República da Guiné-Bissau in Portuguese; 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫 𞤄𞤭𞤧𞤢𞥄𞤱𞤮 in Fula and ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫ ߓߌߛߊߥߏ߫ in Mandinka) is a country in West Africa that covers 36,125 square kilometres (13,948 sq mi) with an estimated population of 2,026,778. It borders Senegal to its north and Guinea to its southeast.

Guinea-Bissau was once part of the kingdom of Kaabu, as well as part of the Mali Empire.[11] Parts of this kingdom persisted until the 18th century, while a few others had been under some rule by the Portuguese Empire since the 16th century. In the 19th century, it was colonised as Portuguese Guinea. Portuguese control was restricted and weak until the early 20th century, when its pacification campaigns solidified Portuguese sovereignty in the area. The final Portuguese victory over the last remaining bastion of mainland resistance came in 1915, with the conquest of the Papel-ruled Kingdom of Bissau by the Portuguese military officer Teixeira Pinto and the Wolof mercenary Abdul Injai.

The Bissagos, islands off the coast of Guinea-Bissau, were officially conquered in 1936, ensuring Portuguese control of both the mainland and islands of the region. Upon independence, declared in 1973 and recognised in 1974, the name of its capital, Bissau, was added to the country's name to prevent confusion with Guinea (formerly French Guinea). Guinea-Bissau has had a history of political instability since independence. The current president is Umaro Sissoco Embaló, who was elected on 29 December 2019.

About 2% of the population speaks Portuguese, the official language, as a first language, and 33% speak it as a second language. Guinea-Bissau Creole, a Portuguese-based creole, is the national language and also considered the language of unity. According to a 2012 study, 54% of the population speak Creole as a first language and about 40% speak it as a second language.[15] The remainder speak a variety of native African languages.

Food and Cuisine:

Rice is a staple in the diet of residents near the coast and millet a staple in the interior. Much of the rice is imported and food insecurity is a problem[1] in large part due to coups, corruption and inflation.[2] Cashews are grown for export. Coconut, palm nut, and olives are also grown.

Fish, shellfish, fruits and vegetables are commonly eaten along with cereal grains, milk, curd and whey. The Portuguese encouraged peanut production. Vigna subterranea (Bambara groundnut) and Macrotyloma geocarpum (Hausa groundnut) are also grown. Black-eyed peas are also part of the diet. Palm oil is harvested. Common dishes include soups and stews. Common ingredients include yams, sweet potato, cassava, onion, tomato and plantain. Spices, peppers and chilis are used in cooking, including Aframomum melegueta seeds (Guinea pepper).