Central Africa · Street food
Lekoh (Crispy Roasted Winged Termites)
Golden, crunchy roasted winged termites lightly seasoned with salt and Cameroonian wild garlic, rendering a rich nutty street delicacy.
The story
In the Center and South Forest Regions of Cameroon, the Beti and Fang peoples eagerly await the onset of heavy seasonal monsoon rains that trigger the nuptial flight of macrotermes alates. Collected around incandescent lanterns at dusk, Lekoh is tossed in clay or cast-iron pots and sold in small paper cones along night markets. A key technical detail is that mature alates contain up to 45% natural lipids, meaning they naturally fry in their own rich, savory oils without requiring added cooking fat.
Cook this next
Beignets de Macabo (Deep-Fried Grated Cocoyam Fritters)
Crisp, golden-crusted cocoyam fritters with a tender interior, laced with crayfish, aromatic herbs, and fiery habanero.
Beignets-Haricots (Yeast Fritters with Stewed Beans and Pili-Pili)
Crisp golden yeast puff puff served alongside slow-simmered spiced red beans and fiery pili-pili pepper sauce.
Bobolo (Fermented Pounded Cassava Baton)
Traditional dense, translucent fermented cassava baton wrapped tightly in Marantaceae leaves and steamed to a springy texture.
Djobo (Palm Kernel Pulp and Smoked Fish Soup)
A fragrant, rich Sawa soup of fresh oil palm fruit pulp, washed bitterleaf, and flaked smoked fish bursting with coastal barks.