The Country Food Similarity Index is a statistically-based attempt to quantify how similar the food in one country is relative to another. By comparing the weight of raw food ingredients used in each country, a score is assigned that reflects the degree of similarity between the respective countries. The methodology is exactly the same for each country studied.
The Most Similar Diets to Gambian Food
Gambian cuisine is a rich tapestry woven from the diverse cultural influences of West Africa and beyond. Centered around rice, fresh vegetables, fish, and groundnuts, the Gambian diet is known for its hearty stews, vibrant flavors, and a balance of savory and spicy elements. The five countries with the most similar diets are all located in tropical regions.
- Senegal almost completely surrounds Gambia, so it is no wonder their diets are similar. As a result, they share many similar dishes like Jollof rice. Their meals consist of fish, and a mix of vegetables like carrots, cabbage, and eggplant, seasoned with spices and cooked in a rich tomato sauce. Rice forms the base of many dishes in both countries.
- Sierra Leone is another West African country that was once colonized by the British. The Sierra Leonean diet, with its focus on rice, cassava, and leafy greens is similar to typical Gambian food. Peanut stew is a popular dish in both countries. Both use palm oil to impart a rich, deep flavor to their meals.
- Guinea-Bissau borders Senegal, so it shares a similar climate and agricultural base with Gambia. Their diets are marked by the use of rice, millet, and seafood, much like Gambian cuisine. Both countries emphasize the use of locally sourced ingredients, such as cassava, yams, and leafy greens, in their everyday cooking.
- Malaysia is far from Gambia, but their diets share some surprising similarities, particularly in the use of rice, spices, and coconut. Both were once colonized by the British. Given their coastal locations, both Gambia and Malaysia have a rich tradition of seafood dishes. Fish and shrimp are commonly featured in local cuisine.
- Sri Lanka is another Asian country that borders the Indian Ocean on this list. Coconut and rice are very popular ingredients in both Sri Lankan and Gambian cooking. However, Sri Lanka is more well known for its use of spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg, among others.
Related: The 10 Most Similar Countries to Gambia
The Least Similar Diets to Gambian Food
Four of the five countries with the least similar food to Gambia are located in Europe. As a result, their climates are much colder than Gambia’s. These four countries consume significantly more pork and yogurt.
- Poland‘s cuisine uses a range of condiments like sour cream, mustard, and horseradish to enhance the flavors of dishes. Gambis’s cuisine uses more peanut-based sauces. Poland consumes more meat.
- Slovakia‘s diet also consists of far more meat than Gambia’s. Slovakians also eat more dairy products. Cream, yogurt, and cheese are three ingredients commonly eaten in Slovakia that are rarely eaten in Gambia.
- Latvia‘s cuisine often includes ingredients like potatoes, rye bread, dairy products (especially sour cream and cheese), pork, mushrooms, and berries. These ingredients are not especially common in Gambia.
- Hungary‘s geographic location and distinct cultural influences are greatly different from Gambia. It is landlocked, so Hungarians eat significantly less fish. Sour cream and various cheeses are very common in the country.
- Syria is known for its use of ingredients like chickpeas, lentils, olives, pine nuts, and spices like sumac, allspice, and saffron. Its staple food is bread. It has strong influences from the Mediterranean, Persian, and Ottoman cuisines.
Related: The 10 Least Similar Countries to Gambia
Full Food Similarity Ranking of Countries and Territories
Gambia’s Most Common Food Ingredients
Protein: Saltwater Fish, Chicken
Fruit: Banana, Coconut
Vegetable: Peanut, Onion
Starch: Rice, Wheat
Primarily based on 2020 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.