Eat your way around the world
Yes, I have a three year old daughter. No, I don't hide a head of cauliflower in her mashed potatoes. I never slip zucchini in her pancakes when she's not looking. And I refuse to bury carrots in her cake. I don't cater to my daughter that way. Don't get me wrong. On any old Monday, Ava can blow through a bowl of cauliflower mashed potatoes. On the weekend, she can annihilate a tower of zucchini pancakes before the early bird has had his breakfast. And, as of today, she loves … [Read more...]
I never thought I'd say it but here goes: "I've spent the large majority of my adulthood pining over meatballs." Not just any meatballs, but Swedish meatballs. We used to eat them for lunch at my small high school in Luxembourg. On those days, I made sure to bring enough money to buy two portions. The bellyache was worth it. When made perfectly, Swedish Meatballs are tender, but do not fall apart, thanks to the perfect balance of breadcrumbs and cream. After a brisk sizzle and shake in … [Read more...]
The next time you walk into your kitchen, walk into the warm, sweet scent of mealie bread. Let a smile curl along your lips as you taste that first, moist bite with your imagination. Then take a moment for real indulgence: spread softened butter across the still-warm bread, only to see it melt into and down the sides of the tender crumb. I've had lots of corn bread before, but never something as rich and flavorful as this Mealie Bread. The main difference between this and ordinary corn … [Read more...]
Introducing Geodangan, your answer to healthy munchies. (Honestly, I'm not sure if there's such a thing as healthy munchies. But if there were, then this is it.) This Asian-style salad that is incredibly popular in Suriname. And for good reason. Don't be shy. Geodangan is everything spring has to offer - crisp green beans, giant cabbages, golden yolked eggs... with the addition of a coconut, lime, yogurt dressing. (The dressing could also be coconut sambal, a spicy shredded coconut … [Read more...]
Combo. It's one of South Sudan's most popular dishes - a thick, wet combination of spinach, peanut butter, tomatoes, and (sometimes) meat. Peanut butter is a common meal component throughout Africa (like Ghana's Groundnut Soup, Sierra Leone's Gluten-free Peanut Bites, Senegal's Cinq Centimes Cookies, and Malawi's Peanut Balls), but Combo stands out as one of the more rustic dishes I've come across. Even still, South Sudanese no longer living in South Sudan make Combo to bring themselves … [Read more...]
The South Sudanese love a good, chopped tomato salad on the side of their meals. Often, it's no more than tomato, onion, and hot, green chili peppers... perhaps a spot of parsley... But other times, a bit of peanut butter and lime juice makes for a grand dressing... and tastes just like home, if you happen to be from South Sudan. When I was deciding which of the two recipes to try, the choice was clear: if peanut butter is involved, the answer is yes. Most definitely, … [Read more...]
I never thought I'd need a cow's brain and a credit card for this lil' ol' Global Table Adventure of ours. The thing is, if I were to make Kisra in the most authentic way - the South Sudanese way - that's exactly what I'd need. Locals would use the cow's brain, which is naturally quite fatty, to grease the pan. I got the tip on good authority; from this amazing South Sudanese food post on Green Shakes in Sudan. There you'll find photos of local women rubbing brain renderings on their … [Read more...]
Under the pulsing noonday sun, Tea Ladies line the streets of Sudan. They soak up what little shade they can find. Water simmers over charcoal stoves. They swirl a mishmash of ingredients through the steam, into the pot. You can pick your combination. Will it be mint? Or what about ginger? The most popular option for many patrons is cinnamon tea, a blend of black tea steeped with cinnamon sticks. Many patrons like to hold a sugar cube between the teeth while drinking to sweeten the … [Read more...]
