Serves 4 Is your air conditioner busted? No problem – you’ll be cool as a cucumber as you sip on chilled Bulgarian cucumber & yogurt soup (Tarator). Heck, take a bath in it. All that yogurt and cucumber has to be good for the skin. Right? Although many people enjoy this soup with little pieces of cucumbers, I liked it extra vevelty smooth. If you would like the texture, reserve half a cucumber and thinly slice it. I’d do half moons, or even smaller. Ingredients 2 small cucumbers, peeled, diced, salted & drained 3 cups Bulgarian yogurt 1 Tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, crushed 2-3 cups ice water (optional) dill for garnish Method: 1. Place all ingredients (except water and dill), into a blender. Removing the bitter skin of the cucumber makes the soup smooth and light. Salt draws out any lingering bitterness in the flesh of the cucumber. Let the juices drain out for about 30 minutes. You can skip this step if your cucumber tastes sweet. Here’s the best part of the …
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Feijoada is Brazil’s stew of choice for lazy Saturdays and potluck Sundays. At it’s absolute best, Feijoada is a massive pool of black beans piled high with a glorious assortment of meat. One plateful will provide enough slow-burning energy for a marathon, although you won’t be able to run after eating it! This is definitely a meal for elastic pants. Originally, Feijoada was made with pig ears, tails, and feet. Today, this hearty dish is typically made with dried beef (carne seca) and pork meats – usually sausages, like paio, and ribs. According to my Brazilian classmate from high school, “cow tongue is also super popular (and yummy).” Like chili in the USA or Beef Bourguignon in France, there are as many recipes as there are mammas (and papas) cooking. Serve Feijoada with farofa (manioc flour pan-toasted in butter), sweet orange slices, and white rice. Sauteed kale is a popular side dish too. Although this green is bitter, you’ll be glad you made it because feijoada sends diners begging for veggies to balance out the beans …
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Serves 4 Bolivian peanut soup is a delightful way to serve up good old fashioned meat and potatoes. Cook this soup gentle and slow. If you do, the beef will be moist and tender and the potatoes will bursting with the flavor of their juices. The most unusual part of this soup is biting into the occasional crunchy peanut. Serve with Bolivian Hot Sauce. Ingredients: olive oil (or peanut oil) 1 large onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp cumin 1 lb beef, cubed 1 quart stock (beef, or chicken, depending on the meat you chose – even water works in a pinch) 4 medium potatoes 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts 1/4 cup white rice 1/2 cup frozen peas 1 cup milk parsley, to taste salt pepper Method: 1. Add some oil to a large pot and heat over medium. Cook onion and garlic with oregano and cumin. When onions are softened, add beef, stock, potato, and peanuts. Simmer gently until potatoes are just tender. I cooked this soup on super low …
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Serves 2-4 Ema Datshi is considered the national dish of Bhutan and it’s traditionally screaming hot! Use whatever chili peppers you like, from mild poblano, to scorching thai bird chilies. My blend of Anaheim and Serrano chilies is very hot, but you can reduce the heat by leaving out the seeds. In Bhutan they serve Ema Datshi over rice (pictured here with cracked red rice). My husband likes dipping corn chips into the cheesy goodness. I’d like to tell you he’s a fool but, really, the combination was excellent. Traditionally served with cracked red rice. Ingredients: 2 anaheim pepper 1 serrano chili 1/4 cup farmer’s cheese 2 cups grated monterey jack water as needed Method: 1. Slice peppers into strips, removing seeds if desired. 2. Cook in oil over medium heat until soft. (Cover your pot) NOTE: You must cover the pot or you will be smoked out. The spicy fumes as they fried in the oil literally sent daggers into our eyes and throats. Ava actually woke up from her nap, three rooms away, …
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Serves 2-4 Although there are many variations on Stew Chicken, most traditional recipes keep it simple – just chicken, red recado, onion, and water. I added bell pepper, Habanero, and lime juice because this variation seems a little more lively. Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken (I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs because I didn’t want all the work of a whole chicken this time) 1/2 cup red recado (see recipe) 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 Habanero, optional a splash fresh lime juice or vinegar to taste Method: 1. Marinate chicken in red recado overnight (or for at least 1 hour) 2. Heat up oil in a pot over medium. Add chicken and brown in batches as necessary. 3. Remove chicken and add bell pepper and onion and cook until soft. 4. Return chicken to the pot. Toss in optional Habanero (whole for mild spice, or cut up for an intense heat). Cover chicken with water. 5. Stew chicken until meat is falling apart (or off the bones, if you use bone-in meat). Add …
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Serves 2-4 (on a bed of French fries) Stoofvlees is a typical stew in that there are as many variations as there are people making it. Depending where you live in Belgium, Stoofvlees might have more or less vinegar, slightly different spices, and a textural range from soupy to thick and sludgy. My thick, hearty version sits well on fries, but if you want it more “soupy,” feel free to add more beef stock. Ingredients: For the marinade 1 pound stew beef, cubed 1 onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 rosemary sprig 1/2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp dried thyme 1/4 tsp pepper 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 1 tbsp coarse mustard 2 tbsp oil For the stew vegetable oil 2 tbsp all-purpose flour 1/2 cup Belgian beer 1 – 1 1/2 cups beef broth 2 bay leaves 1 Tbsp molasses salt pepper Method: 1. Add meat to a small casserole with lid (or plastic bag). Combine marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Pour over meat and squish around to combine. Refrigerate for at least an …
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Serves 6 This soup is popular all over eastern Europe, specifically in the Ukraine. This version hails from Belarus where they add big chunks of potatoes. The longer it cooks, the happier this Borshch tastes. Ingredients: 1 large onion, chopped 1-2 large russet potatoes, as desired 2 Tbsp vegetable oil 2 beets, diced 2 carrots, sliced 2 turnips, diced 1/2 a green cabbage, sliced thinly 6 oz can of tomato paste 1 Tbsp sugar 2 Tbsp vinegar salt and pepper 32 oz beef stock water as needed sour cream, for garnish (optional, leave out for vegan) Method: 1. In a large pot, cook onion in vegetable oil until soft and slightly golden. Add the rest of the ingredients, except sour cream. Add water as needed to “cover” all the veggies. NOTE: I added the beets after the cabbage had some time to cook down, making room in the pot. 3. Bring to a low simmer and cook for at least an hour. I simmered mine for a couple of hours and the flavor was wonderful. Here it …
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Serve 6-8 Bahamian Conch Chowder is light and brothy, not creamy like the famous New England version. Leftovers thicken slightly, due to the starches that leach out of the potatoes. I might actually prefer this chowder the next day. Ingredients: 1 large onion, diced 2 garlic cloves, sliced 1 green pepper, diced 1 Anaheim pepper, diced 1 ham bone (I used a smoked ham shank) 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes 4 Tbsp tomato paste 2 carrots, sliced into half-moons 4-5 potatoes, cubed 1 cup clam stock 1 lb conch, diced 1/2 tsp dried thyme 3 bay leaves water, to cover everything Method: 1. In a large pot, sauté onion, garlic, green pepper, and Anaheim pepper, over medium heat until softened. Add ham bone, tomatoes, paste, carrots, potatoes, clam stock, conch, thyme, bay leaves, and water to cover. 2. Bring mixture to a simmer. Simmer covered for at least 2.5 hours, or until conch breaks down and gets tender. I simmered my chowder for 5 hours and all the flavors had melded wonderfully. NOTE: If you try to serve this …
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Serves 4 Muamba de Galinha gets its unique flavor from Red Palm Oil. This spicy stew tastes great with yuca, or serve over rice. Ingredients: 1 lemon, juiced 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp chili powder 1 chicken cut into quarters 1/2 cup red palm oil 3 onions, diced 1 whole chili pepper 3 tomatoes, quartered 1 lb pumpkin cut into 1.5″ cubes 1 cup chicken broth 1/2 lb frozen okra Method: 1. Mix lemon juice, 2 garlic cloves, salt, and chili powder and rub on the chicken and marinate for one hour (or up to one night). 2. In a large pot heat oil. Brown chicken on all sides. Avoid crowding. Do this is in several batches if you have to. 3. Add onions, remaining garlic, chili pepper, and tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cover. 5. Cook on low for about 1 hour, or until chicken is tender. 6. Add squash, chicken stock and okra. Cook for 15 minutes or until everything is tender. Serve hot. Angolan Chicken Stew | Muamba de Galinha Votes: 1 Rating: 4 You: …
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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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