Four soups, One bowl, Supreme mash up = Federal Character. The first time M said ‘Federal Character’ I was behind my desk at work and I went ‘What? Why? How?’ He proceeded to talk about how the major tribes were represented, in the bowl – a new dimension to Geneen Roth and her belief – mine too, […]
Month: September 2016
Garri-crusted [Chicken] Scotch Eggs
When your goals are soft, jellied yolks, you know you’ve hit a home run with this chicken mince scotch eggs, coated in a yaji/suya-spice, garri crust. Garri makes a delightful crust instead of breadcrumbs. Gluten-free too. These gladdened my eyes and heart. To make this, you’ll need to: 1. Boil your eggs to perfection. And perfection […]
1934 – 2016: On My Cookshelf/ A Short History of Nigerian Cookbooks
There is a certain depth of documentation that comes with Independence, allows records be collected and preserved for posterity. This Independence week, I’m showing ‘liberty’ and freedom in food :). I’ve always found cookbooks fascinating. I’m the sort of person whose bedtime reading is ingredient lists and recipe directions – a veritable feast as I […]
Ram-stuffed Plantains
This year I begged for got some ram as a gift after the Sallah break. Thank you SS. So, what did I do with it? Well, I braised it – in a flavourful mix till it was tender. Then I took it out of the braising liquid, let it cool down before shredding. The shredded bits […]
On Independence: Freedom & Cultural Exchange
October 1st is in a few days – I have a plan 🙂 – to share musings and recipes and what Freedom means to me. Independence makes me think of Freedom..and food and Acaraje – the Nigerian export to Brazil via slave trade. Freedom is Cultural Exchange…in which some changes become celebrations of shared history. Cultures […]
How To Make ‘Great’ Nigerian Stock
Stock – the bedrock of Jollof Rice, of Fried Rice, Stews and more is easy to make. Nigerian stock differs from ‘Western’ style stocks because of the ingredients used. Your average Nigerian stock has red onions, fresh ginger and garlic, curry powder and dried thyme and more. In Europe, America and some other parts of […]
Independence Day | Around Nigeria & The New Nigerian Kitchen in 57 Bites
Fifty seven bites. 57. One to celebrate each year of Independence and in no particular order.The recipes, ideas, concepts embrace and celebrate Nigeria, old and new. I find my love for this country on its plate. I say you have to do whatever you need to find your connection with this place…it’s always going to […]
Kitchen Hacks: Buying Chicken Backs for Stock
I consider stock – vegetable, chicken or beef – essential to my kitchen. From Jollof Rice to Fried, stews and other sauces, it changes the game infusing it with rich flavour and essence. When I was younger, I used stock that was the result of cooking meat which would accompany the meal. Over time, that […]
Tanzanian Street Food, a la Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam
Street food is a window into the soul of any nation’s cuisine. What foods are battered, sold wrapped in paper and bags are often the bedrock upon which a great proportion of the population eat and feast. I find it one way to discover a city, to embrace it, to discover all the ways in […]