The African Gourmet

Easy Weeknight African Meal

Enjoy making this easy week night meal with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. We all need recipes away from the mundane weeknight chicken recipes. Chicken with peanut sauce will delight the entire family and soon this dish will be a family favorite.

Chicken with Peanut Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken breast
One 6 ounce can tomato paste
4 large tomatoes, cubed
1 small onion, diced
4 teaspoons minced garlic cloves
2 teaspoons red pepper flake 
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
One 10 1/2 ounce can chicken broth
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:
Saute onion, hot pepper, garlic and spices in oil about 2 minutes
Add chicken and brown
Stir in tomato paste, chicken broth and peanut butter
Reduce heat and simmer 20 mintues and serve over rice or couscous

The initial unfamiliarity with Africa’s delicacies will soon become familiar. As you begin to read the recipe blogs and discover familiar ingredients Africa’s interesting gastronomic dishes will become everyday meals. The goal of The African Gourmet is to introduce uncomplicated and enjoyable African foods into kitchens across the world and establish recipes that are sure to become family favorites. Have fun creating African meals for everyday meals, holiday parties, after school treats, bake sales, fundraisers, bake offs, get-togethers etc…Shed light on African cuisine and take a step ahead to new culinary experiences.

Recipe:
Sweet & Easy Baklava

North Africa
Yields 12 to 14 servings

Ingredients:

One 16 ounce package phyllo dough

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups chopped walnuts

1 cup melted butter

Baklava Syrup:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup water

½ cup orange blossom honey

¼ teaspoon orange blossom water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Butter a 9×13 inch baking dish. Mix cinnamon and walnuts in a medium bowl, set aside. Unroll phyllo cut into two equal halves. Cover phyllo with a slightly moist cloth while assembling to keep from drying out. Place 2 sheets of phyllo in the bottom of the prepared dish, brush liberally with butter, and sprinkle 3 tablespoons of cinnamon and walnut mixture on top. Repeat layers. Cut baklava into desired serving sizes bake 45-50 minutes. Meanwhile combine remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low. Finally, when the baklava is removed from the oven immediately evenly pour syrup over the finished pastry. Allow cooling before serving. Store uncovered.

Morocco is located in Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara. Morocco is slightly larger than the U.S. state of California. It’s climate is Mediterranean, with more extreme heat in the interior of the country. It’s terrain has northern coast and the interior is mountainous subject to earthquakes, periodic droughts but with rich coastal plains. Morocco languages are as follows;Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French which is often the language of business, government, and diplomacy. Main agriculture products are barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives and livestock. One such recipe for preserved lemons is a kitchen stable for most Moroccans.
 

Easy Preserved Lemons

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sea salt

4 large lemons

Directions:

Cut 4 slits on equal sides into the lemons, but do not slice all the way threw. Pack the sea salt into the lemon segments and pack the lemons as tightly as possible into a quart size mason jar. Seal jar according to time tested canning techniques/according to manufactures directions. Let sit for at least one month before use. Great seasoning for stews and soups.

The beautiful thing about food is that it is never boring. The diversity of spices tickles the senses and awakens the food pallet. There are more exciting spices in your food life than just salt and pepper. Spices bring the flavor of Africa right to your front door. What makes African food different from American cuisine? The spices of course! Spices have a major affect on how flavorful your food will taste. Spices add zing and zest to food, improve the flavor and delight the senses.

Recipe
Coconut Relish
South Africa
Yield 6 servings
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh coconut (substitute coconut flakes)
1 tablespoon red pepper flake
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon lime juice
1 cup plain yogurt
 

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator at least 2 hours before serving.

Photo USAID