33 Recipes to Enjoy During Kwanzaa

Delicious dishes that celebrate African culture and community.
Published November 13, 2015

The African American holiday Kwanzaa is celebrated by millions around the world. The holiday is observed from December 26 to January 1, typically culminating in a communal feast. Celebratory aspects of Kwanzaa include gifts (zawadi), symbolic foods, and a seven-branched candle holder (kinara) holding red, black, and green candlesticks that are lit each night.

The menu can range broadly depending on family traditions—classic African-American soul food is popular, as are dishes from every point of the African diaspora.

Kwanzaa is a time to gather, reflect, and enjoy delicious food with people we love. Try some of our favorite dishes to share with your family this season.