What type of food does your family typically make for Thanksgiving? Probably the usual turkey, stuffing, pie, and many other items, right? Well, not every family cooks the same ole’ traditional Thanksgiving dishes. In some households, they don’t even consider cooking turkey or ham. For example, my mom makes fried chicken because it was something her grandmother made for the family when she was growing up in Liberia (in Western Africa). So now that she has a family of her own, she makes that same chicken she ate when she was young.

Even the side dishes we eat are vastly different from what you’d typically eat at Thanksgiving. We do tend to have the occasional side dishes like mac and cheese and cornbread, but outside of those two, you’d be surprised by what’s being served. One dish at our table is Fufu and soup. Fufu and soup is a traditional and staple African dish that many countries in Africa eat. Fufu by itself isn’t necessarily the best, but when it’s paired with a spicy soup it is a thousand times better. When paired together, there aren’t many foods that can beat this combination.

Another dish being served is cassava leaf and potato greens. Cassava leaf is made with cassava leaves and is often accompanied by an assortment of meat like goat, chicken, fish, pig, and others. It’s seasoned with a blend of spices and palm oil, according to my mother. Potato greens on the other hand are a traditional and beloved dish in Liberian cuisine. It’s very popular, due to its rich and spicy flavor. It’s a wonderful soup made from the leaves of the sweet potato plant, which are known for their unique texture and taste. The dish typically includes meat, seasonings, palm oil, hot peppers, and many other ingredients.

No matter what food traditions you have for your Thanksgiving meal, I hope you can enjoy some time with your family.