Cooking up a storm: The rise of African superfoods

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse, for CNN

Updated 0901 GMT (1701 HKT) April 27, 2016

Tuleka Prah travels around Africa documenting popular dishes for her <a href="http://www.africanfoodmap.com/" target="_blank">blog, The African Food Map</a>.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Banku and Okra Stew – Tuleka Prah travels around Africa documenting popular dishes for her blog, The African Food Map.
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Bobotjie, is a popular national dish from South Africa. The favored meal made of spiced minced meat with an egg-based topping baked and served hot.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Bobotjie – Bobotjie, is a popular national dish from South Africa. The favored meal made of spiced minced meat with an egg-based topping baked and served hot.
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Look familiar? Fufu is a dumpling-like side dish hailing from Ghana. Prah says to make fufu, you can use boiled plantain, cassava or cocoyams which is then pounded together.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Fufu – Look familiar? Fufu is a dumpling-like side dish hailing from Ghana. Prah says to make fufu, you can use boiled plantain, cassava or cocoyams which is then pounded together.
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Irio is a Gikuyu side dish made of potatoes, corn and mashed peas.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Irio – Irio is a Gikuyu side dish made of potatoes, corn and mashed peas.
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A familiar West African staple many eager foodies will have heard of -- Jollof Rice.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Jollof Rice – A familiar West African staple many eager foodies will have heard of -- Jollof Rice.
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From Ghana, Kenke is a popular dish similar to a dumpling made from pounded maize. It is steamed in banana leaves and most often served on the side with soup or a spicy sauce.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Kenke – From Ghana, Kenke is a popular dish similar to a dumpling made from pounded maize. It is steamed in banana leaves and most often served on the side with soup or a spicy sauce.
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A Ghanaian stew or soup made of coco yam leaves, similar to spinach.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Kontomire – A Ghanaian stew or soup made of coco yam leaves, similar to spinach.
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A traditional dish from South Africa. It is a slow cooked meat and vegetable stew. Perfect for a cold winters day.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Lamb Bredie – A traditional dish from South Africa. It is a slow cooked meat and vegetable stew. Perfect for a cold winters day.
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Swahili for "roast meat", Nyama Choma is a type of barbequed meat -- usually mutton or chicken.
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Nyama Choma – Swahili for "roast meat", Nyama Choma is a type of barbequed meat -- usually mutton or chicken.
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<a href="http://www.africanfoodmap.com/galleries/food-food-food/" target="_blank">Prah describes this</a> on her blog as: "A porridge made from finger millet. Here, it was eaten with chapati."
Photos: African dishes you need to try
Uji – Prah describes this on her blog as: "A porridge made from finger millet. Here, it was eaten with chapati."
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(CNN)An apple a day keeps the doctor away -- but is that enough to keep us fit and strong?

From kale to quinoa to goji berries, more and more of us are constantly on the lookout for ways to eat ourselves healthy.
But as the search for the so-called "superfoods" intensifies, many health food fanatics are now increasingly turning to nutrient-packed products originating from Africa.