Look up an ingredient from anywhere.

Nigerian · Ghanaian · Jamaican · Trinidadian

🧭 The real thing: Latin & Caribbean markets (Fiesta, Sedano's, local tiendas) or African & Caribbean markets

• Habanero peppers

  92%

  How much: 1:1 — same count

  Habaneros are the same species (Capsicum chinense) with nearly identical fruity heat; scotch bonnets are just a touch sweeter.

  📍 Any supermarket

• Serrano peppers + pinch of cayenne

  66%

  How much: 2 serranos + ⅛ tsp cayenne per bonnet

  Matches the heat level but misses the tropical, apricot-like aroma.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Ghanaian · Brazilian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets or natural grocers (Whole Foods, Sprouts)

• Annatto-infused vegetable oil

  80%

  How much: Warm ½ cup oil with 1 tbsp annatto seeds for 5 min, then strain

  Annatto gives the same brick-red color plus an earthy, peppery note close to palm oil.

  📍 Hispanic aisle · International aisle

• Vegetable oil + sweet paprika + turmeric

  68%

  How much: ½ cup oil + 1 tsp paprika + ¼ tsp turmeric

  Nails the color; the flavor is milder, so lean on stock and bouillon.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Ghanaian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Raw pepitas, finely ground

  85%

  How much: 1:1 by volume — pulse to a fine meal

  Pepitas are close botanical cousins and clump into the same curd-like texture when fried.

  📍 Any supermarket

• Raw sunflower seeds, ground

  70%

  How much: 1:1 by volume

  Rich and nutty; slightly more bitter, so toast lightly first.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Ghanaian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Miso paste

  72%

  How much: 1 tbsp miso per 1 tbsp iru

  Another fermented legume paste — it brings the same funky, savory depth.

  📍 International aisle · Natural grocers

• Soy sauce + extra bouillon

  56%

  How much: 2 tsp soy sauce per tbsp iru

  Umami without the funk — works when nothing else is available.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Ghanaian · Cameroonian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Dried shrimp, ground

  88%

  How much: 1:1 after grinding

  Nearly identical smoky-briny flavor — West African 'crayfish' is actually tiny dried shrimp.

  📍 Asian markets · Hispanic aisle

• Anchovy paste + smoked paprika

  64%

  How much: 1 tsp anchovy paste + ¼ tsp smoked paprika per tbsp

  Delivers the savory sea-funk and a whisper of smoke.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Ghanaian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Salt cod (bacalao)

  82%

  How much: Soak overnight, changing water twice; 1:1

  The same cod, preserved with salt instead of air-drying — firm, flaky and deeply savory.

  📍 Hispanic aisle · International aisle

• Smoked turkey wings

  70%

  How much: 1 lb per ½ lb stockfish

  A Southern staple that gives the soup the smoky depth stockfish brings.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Spinach + a little kale

  80%

  How much: 2 parts spinach : 1 part kale

  Spinach brings the tenderness, kale the gentle bitterness and body of ugu.

  📍 Any supermarket

• Collard greens

  72%

  How much: 1:1, sliced thin

  Holds up to long simmering like bitter leaf.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Ghanaian · Senegalese · Cameroonian

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets or African & Caribbean markets

• Knorr chicken bouillon cubes

  90%

  How much: 1:1

  The same savory, MSG-forward profile most West African cooks rely on.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Jamaican · Ghanaian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Mild curry powder + extra turmeric

  88%

  How much: 1:1 plus ¼ tsp turmeric

  West African and Caribbean curry blends are turmeric-heavy and mild — this gets you there.

  📍 Any supermarket

Nigerian · Ghanaian

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Cassava flour

  82%

  How much: Stir 1 cup into 1¼ cups boiling water until smooth and stretchy

  Cassava is the base of many fufus — it gives a smooth, stretchy swallow.

  📍 Natural grocers

• Instant potato flakes + potato starch

  74%

  How much: 2 cups flakes + ½ cup starch stirred into boiling water

  A beloved diaspora hack — the starch gives fufu its signature stretch.

  📍 Any supermarket

Ethiopian · Eritrean

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets or natural grocers (Whole Foods, Sprouts)

• DIY berbere

  78%

  How much: ¼ cup paprika + 1 tbsp cayenne + 1 tsp each ginger & cardamom + ½ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp cloves

  Berbere's backbone is chili plus warm spices — toast the blend in butter to deepen it.

  📍 Any supermarket

Ethiopian · Eritrean

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Homemade spiced clarified butter

  88%

  How much: Simmer 1 cup butter 20 min with 2 garlic cloves, 1 tbsp ginger, ½ tsp cardamom, ¼ tsp turmeric; strain

  This is exactly how niter kibbeh is made at home in Addis.

  📍 Any supermarket

Ethiopian · Eritrean

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets or natural grocers (Whole Foods, Sprouts)

• Buckwheat + all-purpose flour (quick injera)

  62%

  How much: 1 cup buckwheat + 1 cup AP flour + 2½ cups club soda; rest 1 hour

  Buckwheat brings the earthy tang, club soda the spongy 'eyes'.

  📍 Any supermarket

Jamaican

🧭 The real thing: African & Caribbean markets

• Hickory chips + whole allspice berries

  80%

  How much: Soak 2 cups chips with 2 tbsp allspice berries

  Allspice IS pimento — the berries recreate the aromatic jerk smoke on any grill.

  📍 Any supermarket

• Liquid smoke + extra allspice

  60%

  How much: ¼ tsp liquid smoke in the marinade

  For oven-roasted jerk — smoke without a grill.

  📍 Any supermarket

Jamaican · Trinidadian · Guyanese

🧭 The real thing: Latin & Caribbean markets (Fiesta, Sedano's, local tiendas) or African & Caribbean markets

• Kitchen Bouquet

  90%

  How much: 1:1

  It's essentially the same caramel-based browning product.

  📍 Any supermarket

• Soy sauce + molasses

  70%

  How much: 1 tsp soy + 1 tsp molasses per tsp browning

  Deep color with the same bittersweet edge.

  📍 Any supermarket

Cuban · Puerto Rican · Dominican · Haitian

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets or African & Caribbean markets

• Orange juice + lime juice

  88%

  How much: ⅔ cup OJ + ⅓ cup lime juice per cup

  The classic mojo hack — sweet-tart and bright like true sour orange.

  📍 Any supermarket

Puerto Rican · Cuban · Vietnamese · Trinidadian

🧭 The real thing: Asian markets (H Mart, 99 Ranch, Uwajimaya) or Latin & Caribbean markets (Fiesta, Sedano's, local tiendas)

• Cilantro with stems

  82%

  How much: 1½× the amount, added later in cooking

  Same flavor family — culantro is just stronger, so use more cilantro.

  📍 Any supermarket

Mexican

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets or the international aisle at larger supermarkets

• Dried California / New Mexico chiles

  88%

  How much: 1:1 by count

  Similar mild heat and bright, tangy red-fruit flavor.

  📍 International aisle · Hispanic aisle

• Ancho chili powder + sweet paprika

  66%

  How much: 1 tbsp ancho powder + 1 tsp paprika per 3 chiles

  Close on color and earthiness; blend with a little stock to mimic the purée.

  📍 Any supermarket

Mexican

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets or the international aisle at larger supermarkets

• Pure ancho chili powder

  76%

  How much: 1 tbsp powder per chile

  The same pepper, already ground — toast briefly in oil to wake it up.

  📍 Any supermarket

Mexican

🧭 The real thing: Latin & Caribbean markets (Fiesta, Sedano's, local tiendas)

• Extra anchos + cocoa powder

  84%

  How much: 1 ancho + ½ tsp cocoa per mulato

  Mulatos are sun-dried poblanos like anchos — just darker and more chocolatey.

  📍 Hispanic aisle · International aisle

• Ancho powder + cocoa

  64%

  How much: 1 tbsp ancho powder + ½ tsp cocoa per chile

  Gets you the dark, bittersweet base in a pinch.

  📍 Any supermarket

Mexican

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets

• Dried ancho chiles

  80%

  How much: 1:1

  Fruitier and a bit sweeter, but the same raisiny depth.

  📍 Hispanic aisle · International aisle

• Ancho + chipotle powder

  62%

  How much: 2 tsp ancho + ¼ tsp chipotle per chile

  Adds the smoky bitterness pasillas bring.

  📍 Any supermarket

Mexican

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets or the international aisle at larger supermarkets

• Dark chocolate + cinnamon + sugar

  85%

  How much: 1 oz chocolate + ¼ tsp cinnamon + 1 tsp sugar per oz

  Mexican chocolate is just chocolate, sugar and canela — easy to rebuild.

  📍 Any supermarket

Mexican · Salvadoran · Guatemalan

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets or the international aisle at larger supermarkets

• Oregano + marjoram

  80%

  How much: ¾ tsp oregano + ¼ tsp marjoram per tsp

  Mexican oregano is citrusy and grassy; marjoram softens Mediterranean oregano's minty edge.

  📍 Any supermarket

Mexican · Cuban · Sri Lankan

🧭 The real thing: the Hispanic aisle at larger supermarkets or natural grocers (Whole Foods, Sprouts)

• Regular (cassia) cinnamon — use half

  80%

  How much: ½ the amount

  Cassia is stronger and spicier; halve it to match canela's gentle sweetness.

  📍 Any supermarket