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Spiced Crab Custard from Benin | Crabe Beninoise

Serves 4 This crab dish contains a classic Beninese combination: onion, pepper, and tomato. Please use fresh tomatoes… I only had canned and the flavor of the can totally takes over (in a bad way). I know, I know. I should have my blog taken away from me for doing it, but I forgot to buy fresh at the store. Just proof that I’m human 🙂 Ingredients: 1-2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 cup onion, minced 1/2 cup diced tomato (I didn’t have fresh on hand so I had to use canned. I just chopped them a little finer) 1/2 serrano chili, minced (1 Tbsp of more mild jalepeno or even milder poblano can be substituted) 1/2 lb fresh lump crabmeat 3 medium eggs salt & pepper about 1/2 cup bread crumbs or gari Method: 1. Preheat oven to 350F. Add garlic, onion, tomato, chili pepper, crabmeat, egg, salt, and pepper to a medium bowl. 2. Spoon into 4 ramekins (these hold 3/4 cup ) (or clean crab shells, if you have access to them). 3. Sprinkle evenly with bread …

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Fish and leeks in Hot Mustard Sauce | Sorse Bata Diya Maach

Serves 4 We made this flavorful dish with salmon which became incredibly tender after an overnight marinade and gentle steaming. Although not very spicy, the mustard sauce reminds me of wasabi. Ingredients: About 1 1/2 lbs of fish pieces or 4 fish filets (salmon or trout are ideal) 1 large leek, cleaned and sliced thin (only white and medium green, not dark green parts) 4 green onions, sliced thin For the sauce: 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1 1/2 inch fresh ginger, grated (about 1 Tbsp) 2-6 green chilis (4 = Medium Hot) 1 tsp cracked mustard seed (Rai Kuria) 1 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp cumin 1 tsp garam masala 1/2 tsp salt 1 15oz can diced tomatoes 1 Tbsp mustard oil Method: For the sauce: 1. Put all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor. Puree. (or use an immersion blender). 2. Add sauce and fish to a casserole. Sink fish into the mixture and cover completely. Let marinate overnight in the refrigerator. 3. Heat a little mustard oil in …

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Potato Curry | Aloor Dom/Aloo Dum

Serves 4 The curry sauce is fire-hot (I was sweating while eating), however the potatoes do not absorb the heat so you can easily control how much chili you get in a bite. To make this dish more mild, adjust the amount of chili powder (or remove this spice completely). NOTE: This recipe makes a LOT of curry sauce, so you could freeze half of it and save for another dish if you wanted to – unless you think you’ll sop it all up. Ingredients: 20 baby red potatoes For the curry: 1 small onion, chopped 1 cup chopped tomatoes 1 tsp grated fresh ginger 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp cumin powder 1/8 tsp ground clove 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp red chili powder (Lanka guro) (this is VERY hot, adjust according to your tolerance) 1/2 tsp Garam Masala 1 tsp salt Aromatics: 2 Tbsp mustard oil 1/2 tsp cumin seeds 2 bay leaves 1 cinnamon stick 4 cardamom pods 2 cups water Method: 1.  Boil potatoes in salted water until almost cooked. Drain. …

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Macaroni Pie | Island Macaroni & Cheese

Serves 8-10 This grown-up Mac & Cheese gets its kick from cayenne pepper. Substitute paprika for the cayenne if you prefer non-spicy food. Ingredients: 1 lb elbow macaroni 2 eggs 2 tbsp. butter 1 cup onion, minced 1/2 cup green pepper, minced 1 – 1 1/2 tsp cayenne (mild-hot) 1 lb grated cheddar cheese 1 12 oz can evaporated milk 1/2 tsp salt Method: 1 Boil elbow macaroni for about 5 minutes, or until al dente. Drain and return to pot. 2. Stir in cheddar, pepper, and onion. 3. In a small bowl or measuring cup stir together eggs, cayenne, evaporated milk, and salt. Pour over macaroni and stir to combine. 4. Pour into a greased lasagna pan, spreading evenly with spatula. Dot with butter. NOTE: At this point I refrigerated the macaroni until shortly before I needed it. 5. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes. Let cool about 10 minutes and slice into squares. Serve hot.   Macaroni Pie | Island Macaroni & Cheese Votes: 1 Rating: 5 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe …

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Spicy Mango and Avocado Salad

Serves: 4-6 My husband said he would never order this on a menu but when he tried it, he bacame a believer. Sweet mango, buttery avocado, tart lime juice, and spicy jalepeno make a wonderful summertime salad. Make sure your fruit is juicy and ripe! Ingredients: 2 large mango, cubed 2 large avocado, cubed 2 limes, juiced 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion 1-2 Tbsp minced jalepeno (mild-hot) salt pepper Method: 1. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients together. Season with salt and pepper. Serve room temperature or slightly chilled – the flavors are more intense at room temperature. Spicy Mango and Avocado Salad Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe My husband said he would never order this on a menu but when he tried it, he became a believer. Sweet mango, buttery avocado, tart lime juice, and spicy jalapeno make a wonderful summertime salad. Make sure your fruit is juicy and ripe! CourseSides & Salads Lifestyle5-ingredients or less, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian Food TypeFruit, Sasha’s Favorite Recipes, Spicy, Vegetables Servings 4-6 people Servings 4-6 …

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Grilled Prawns with Peppers | Camarao Grelhado Piri Piri

Serves 4 Prawns are a real treat, especially on the grill! For this Angolan appetizer we thawed frozen prawns in some of the marinade overnight (in the refrigerator). This simple step saved us time on meal day. I’m honored that this recipe was featured in Penzy’s Spices’ 2012 early summer catalog. Ingredients: 4-8 prawns 4 cloves garlic, crushed 4 green onions, chopped 1/8 tsp minced habanero 1 tsp cumin 1/8 tsp salt 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1/4 cup water Method: 1. In a small food processor, combine all ingredients except prawns. Pulse until mixture forms a loose paste. NOTE: This step may be done the day before, just cover and refrigerate. The habanero will get stronger overnight as its hot oils mix more with the other ingredients. Depending on the habanero, this recipe is fairly mild. 2. Brush prawns with about 1/3 of the marinade, reserving the rest for dipping. If prawns are frozen, thaw completely. 3. Grill prawns about 3 minutes per side or until no longer translucent. Serve immediately with dipping sauce on the side. Grilled Prawns with Peppers | Camarao Grelhado Piri …

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Hot Algerian Lasagna

Serves 8 Hot Algerian Lasagna blends traditional Italian lasagna with chickpeas, potatoes, ground lamb, and a healthy dose of cayenne pepper. Make this unusual dish once and you will crave the flavors for life. NOTE: Cayenne pepper’s heat is rated in “heat units.” This recipe was made with a 35,000 cayenne, which is on the low-end of the scale. If you have a 90,000 cayenne, you only need 1/3 of the cayenne pepper for the same kick. The label on your spice jar should give you this information. Ingredients: 1 pound ground lamb or chicken 1/2 cup olive oil 1 medium onion, diced salt and pepper 1 Tbsp harissa 1 clove garlic, crushed 2 tsp cayenne pepper (or 1 tsp to make it mild) 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/4 tsp ground caraway 1 Tbsp tomato paste 2 cups tomato puree, plus a half cup 1 can drained, rinsed chickpeas 1 cup water 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced (about 1 lb) 1 lb no-boil lasagna sheets 15 oz ricotta 2 eggs 2 cups shredded mozzarella 2 cups shredded Gruyère Method: 1. In a large …

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Spicy Chickpea Soup | Hummus bi’l Kammun

Serves 2-4 Hummus bi’l Kammun is velvety smooth. The smoky blend of cumin, paprika, harissa, and garlic make this soup a wintertime treat. As a special bonus, this soup is vegan. NOTE: Much like chili, our soup benefits from a day of rest while the flavors deepen. When reheating, thin to desired consistency with a little water. Ingredients: 2 15 oz cans drained and rinsed chickpeas (or 3 cups prepared, dried chickpeas) 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp paprika 1 tsp harissa (or more to taste) 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 quart cooking water salt pepper Method: 1.     In a large pot over medium heat, add garlic, olive oil, cumin, paprika, harissa, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add water and chickpeas (reserve ¼ cup chickpeas for garnish if using shallow bowls). Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. 2.     Use an immersion blender to make a coarse puree. Simmer gently, uncovered, for an hour. Stir occasionally. 3.     Puree again, this time getting the soup perfectly smooth (you may also use a …

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Harissa Chili Paste

Harissa (also Harisa) is chili paste used to flavor many north african dishes, specifically in Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, and western Sicily. The condiment can be made mild, medium, or hot. For those who don’t feel like making Harissa from scratch, middle eastern markets sell the paste in cans. Whole Foods sells Harissa in the spice aisle (you just add water and olive oil to make the dry mix into a paste). The main components of Harissa: 2 ounces dried Guajillo chili peppers, soaked for 30 minutes, seeded and stemmed 2 ounces dried Anaheim chili peppers, mild, soaked for 30 minutes, seeded and stemmed 5 Garlic cloves, peeled 2 Tbsp water 2 Tbsp Olive Oil, plus extra 1/2 tsp ground caraway 1/2 tsp ground coriander 1 1/2 tsp salt 1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until mixture creates a paste. 2. Cover with extra olive oil and store in the refrigerator. Adapted from A Mediterranean Feast, Clifford Wright Harissa Chili Paste Votes: 0 Rating: 0 You: Rate this recipe! Print Recipe Harissa (also Harisa) is a chili paste used …

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Spicy Braised Eggplant | Burani Bonjon

This Afghan braised eggplant dish is best served at room temperature. The cayenne gives the eggplant an enjoyable kick, while the turmeric gives it a golden glow. Serve with Seer Moss (Garlic Yogurt Sauce). Ingredients: 1 large eggplant (about 8″ long) 1/2 can diced tomatoes 4 cloves garlic, crushed or minced 4-6 Tbs vegetable oil 1 Tbs dried cilantro (use fresh for garnish if you have it) 1 tsp turmeric 1/8 tsp (or up to 1 tsp) cayenne pepper (mild or death-by-cayenne) Salt & Pepper, to taste Method: 1. Slice eggplant lengthwise 1/4 inch thick. Salt liberally on both sides and lay on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet for about an hour. The salt will draw out bitterness. Rinse the salt off of the eggplant and pat dry. 2. Saute crushed garlic in olive oil until fragrant in a large, heavy bottomed skillet. Set aside garlic in a small container. 3. Add  vegetable oil to the skillet and heat on medium-high. Add eggplant and brown, cooking in batches if necessary. The eggplant should be relatively soft when done. …

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