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Maltese vs Nigerian food & cuisine

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Malta

VS

Nigeria

Malta

Nigeria

The average Maltese daily plate size is

The average Nigerian daily plate size is

2401 g.
1648 g.
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Grains

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Fish and seafood

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Produce

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Eggs and dairy

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meats

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Sugar, fats and nuts

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Grains 456 G

WHEAT

391 G

RICE

24 G

CORN

36 G

BARLEY

0 G

RYE

0 G

OATS

2 G

MILLET

0 G

SORGHUM

0 G

OTHER CEREALS

3 G

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Grains 369 G

WHEAT

74 G

RICE

105 G

CORN

92 G

BARLEY

1 G

RYE

0 G

OATS

0 G

MILLET

21 G

SORGHUM

75 G

OTHER CEREALS

1 G

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Produce 755 G

PULSES

3 G

VEGETABLES

417 G

STARCHY ROOTS

104 G

FRUITS

231 G

SEA PLANTS

0 G

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Produce 1112 G

PULSES

30 G

VEGETABLES

188 G

STARCHY ROOTS

752 G

FRUITS

141 G

SEA PLANTS

0 G

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Meats 198 G

POULTRY

66 G

PORK

67 G

BEEF

57 G

MUTTON AND GOAT

3 G

OTHER MEAT

2 G

OFFALS

3 G

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Meats 20 G

POULTRY

3 G

PORK

4 G

BEEF

4 G

MUTTON AND GOAT

5 G

OTHER MEAT

2 G

OFFALS

2 G

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Fish and seafood 79 G

FISH

60 G

SEAFOOD

19 G

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Fish and seafood 22 G

FISH

21 G

SEAFOOD

1 G

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Eggs and dairy 567 G

EGGS

33 G

MILK AND DAIRY

523 G

ANIMAL FATS

11 G

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Eggs and dairy 23 G

EGGS

8 G

MILK AND DAIRY

14 G

ANIMAL FATS

1 G

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SUGARS, FATS AND NUTS 346 G

NUTS

29 G

SWEETENERS

239 G

SUGAR CROPS

0 G

VEG OILS

50 G

OILCROPS

28 G

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SUGARS, FATS AND NUTS 102 G

NUTS

2 G

SWEETENERS

28 G

SUGAR CROPS

9 G

VEG OILS

30 G

OILCROPS

33 G

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Herbs

MINT

OREGANO

PARSLEY

ROSEMARY

SAGE

BAY LEAVES

THYME

AFRICAN BASIL

BAOBAB LEAVES

BITTER LEAVES

HIBISCUS

PREKESE

UTAZI LEAVES

UZIZA LEAVES

Malta
Common
Nigeria

MINT

OREGANO

PARSLEY

ROSEMARY

SAGE

BAY LEAVES

THYME

AFRICAN BASIL

BAOBAB LEAVES

BITTER LEAVES

HIBISCUS

PREKESE

UTAZI LEAVES

UZIZA LEAVES

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Spices

CINNAMON

CLOVES

CUMIN

FENNEL SEED

SAFFRON

BLACK PEPPER

PAPRIKA

ALLSPICE

CALABASH NUTMEG

CUBEB PEPPER

DRY CHILI

GRAINS OF PARADISE

GRAINS OF SELIM

NJANGSA/DJANSANG

TURMERIC DRY

Malta
Common
Nigeria

CINNAMON

CLOVES

CUMIN

FENNEL SEED

SAFFRON

BLACK PEPPER

PAPRIKA

ALLSPICE

CALABASH NUTMEG

CUBEB PEPPER

DRY CHILI

GRAINS OF PARADISE

GRAINS OF SELIM

NJANGSA/DJANSANG

TURMERIC DRY

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Aromatics

CARROT

CELERY STALKS

FENNEL

LEMON

ORANGE

GARLIC

ONION

TOMATO

BELL PEPPERS

CHILI PEPPERS

GINGER

Malta
Common
Nigeria

CARROT

CELERY STALKS

FENNEL

LEMON

ORANGE

GARLIC

ONION

TOMATO

BELL PEPPERS

CHILI PEPPERS

GINGER

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Condiments

ANCHOVIES

CAPERS

HONEY

OLIVE OIL

OLIVES

WINE

WINE VINEGAR

TOMATO PASTE

CRAYFISH

DRIED FISH/SEAFOOD

FERMENTED BEANS

PALM OIL

SHEA BUTTER

TAMARIND

Malta
Common
Nigeria

ANCHOVIES

CAPERS

HONEY

OLIVE OIL

OLIVES

WINE

WINE VINEGAR

TOMATO PASTE

CRAYFISH

DRIED FISH/SEAFOOD

FERMENTED BEANS

PALM OIL

SHEA BUTTER

TAMARIND

Nigeria

SEASONINGS

Nigerian food is bold, complex, and with distinctive tastes dominating – there’s no chance you’d describe it as subtle. Heat and spice are foundational: scotch bonnet peppers deliver heat, bell peppers add sweetness and body, and dried ground pepper blends create complexity.

Aromatic intensity comes from onions, garlic, and ginger – all used generously.  Deep, savory undertones are created with fermented ingredients: locust beans (iru), fermented fish, dried fish, and crayfish.

Smokiness and earthiness elements are common; they’re achieved with additions of smoked fish or meat, and also charring or grilling. Palm oil contributes a distinctive nutty, slightly sweet flavor that’s fundamental to authentic Nigerian taste. It’s not just a cooking medium but a flavor component that defines many dishes.

Sourness and acidity come from tomatoes (fresh and concentrated paste), tamarind, and fermented foods. Salt is used liberally. Local  herbs provide the unique aromatics:

BITTER LEAVES – indigenous vegetables, living up to its name with a pronounced bitter taste. The leaves are dark green and of a slightly rough texture. Despite the initial bitterness, they become more palatable when cooked and add complexity to dishes.. Beyond flavor, bitter leaf is valued for its medicinal properties, digestive aid and blood sugar regulation.

UTAZI LEAVES have a distinctive, bitter-sweet taste that develops sweet undertones. They’re valued in southeastern Nigerian cuisine, particularly among the Igbo people. The leaves have an ability to cleanse the palate and are sometimes chewed fresh as a natural mouth freshener.

AFRICAN BASIL, also known as scent leaf, is a herb with a strong, distinctive fragrance that’s more intense than Mediterranean basil. The leaves are broader and more robust,the  aroma is minty and peppery, and slightly medicinal notes. Scent leaf is used both fresh and dried.

UZIZA LEAVES – come from the same plant that produces uziza seeds (also called Guinea pepper). Heart-shaped leaves have a unique peppery, bitter flavor. Uziza leaves add both heat and a complex herbal flavor that’s difficult to replicate with other ingredients.

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