The African Gourmet

There are more exciting spices in your food life than just salt and pepper. Let’s embark on a culinary spice tour of Africa from Ethiopia’s fiery spices, South African aromatic seasoning blends, Morocco’s infinite fragrant spices to Uganda’s flavorsome barbecue. Ja! There are more exciting spices in your food life than just salt and pepper. Make ordinary meals exciting with African herb and spice blends. Add an exciting taste to your everyday vegetables, poultry, lamb, beef, pork, desserts, jams, jellies and chutney’s.

Recipe
Fiery Curry Powder
Senegal
Yield about 1/4 cup
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
1 tablespoon red pepper flake
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
Directions:
Mix all ingredients well and store in airtight container away from light and heat.

Not much is known about Africa and indigenous sweet treats. You will find that “sweet is sweet” no matter what continent you happen to live on. The thought of Africa’s sweet culinary inclinations may raise your eyebrows at first but as you read and prepare the recipes, the tastes are familiar and delicious. The initial unfamiliarity with Africa’s sweet delicacies will become familiar. My goal is to introduce simple and satisfying African sweets into kitchens across the world and introduce recipes that are sure to become family favorites. We begin the introduction of African sweets with a classic east African treat, mango fool. Visit http://www.theafricangourmet.com/ for more information.

Recipe

Mango Fool

Cote d’Ivoire (formerly the Ivory Coast)

Yields 4 servings

1 cup mango puree

1 teaspoon cardamom

1/4 teaspoon cloves

2 cups whipped topping

Directions:
In a small bowl mix well mango puree, cardamom and cloves.

Then carefully fold mango puree mixture into the whipped topping.

Chill at least 4 hours before serving.
For a pretty presentation serve fool in wine glasses and top with a sprig of fresh mint dark and white chocolate shavings.

Note- How to fold: use a rubber spatula to gently slice through the mixture working in a circular motion while turning the bowl slowly. Folding gives the final product a light and airy texture while stirring will deflate your fool.

“Do good because of tomorrow”
-West African Proverb

African proverbs articulate the aged wisdom of African people. Proverbs are the means to the understanding life and African living in ancient times and the present. People are believed to possess wisdom, and the African people tell wisdom in an interesting way though use of proverbs that have circulated the globe. You will find African proverbs express the timeless wisdom of African people. Wise sayings in the lingo of proverbs have been passed down for generations in African culture.

Add a new aroma to your food life. Ja means eat in the African language Southern Sotho (soh-toh) or Sesotho (se-soh-toh) spoken in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia, and it is the national language of the Kingdom of Lesotho. There are about 2000 languages spoken on the African continent, with perhaps as many as 8000 dialects. Africa represents about a third of the living languages of the world. As expected, some African words do not translate into English. However, the word eat, “Ja!” resonates with every human being. Enjoy this everyday African snack and Ja with the entire family tonight!

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Tatale

Ghana
Yields about 10 to 12 fritters
Ingredients:
2 overly ripe yellow plantains
¼ cup onion finely chopped
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons self rising flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
½-1 teaspoon red pepper flake
Directions:
In a large deep frying pan, heat 3 inches of vegetable oil on medium or use a deep fryer set to medium heat. Peel and mash the plantains until it resembles a thick paste. Add remaining ingredients. Drop by teaspoonfuls into the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 1 ½ -2 minutes on each side. Remove fritter from oil and drain on a paper towel.

The goal of The African Gourmet is to introduce lip-smacking uncomplicated African foods into kitchens across the world. Together we will prepare recipes that are sure to become family favorites and help shed light on African cuisine taking a giant leap ahead into new culinary experiences. Savor African flavors and add a new aroma to your food life. Ja!