Boiled Yam

Now, I want to state clearly, I am not Nigerian nor am I Ghanian. 

A couple of weeks ago, we had the pleasure of hosting some Ghanians at our home. These Ghanian gentlemen decided they have to cook for us and didn't they do a job and a half. Who knew Ghanian men (fathers mind you) could cook like this. They cooked for us a full meal but for the purpose of the blog, I will focus on boiled yam.

I have heard of yam from western Africa for as long as I can remember, but it was always made in the form of pounded yam.So the first time I ate yam, I ate boiled yam and it was yuuummm.
    Yam in its raw form.


BOILED YAM RECIPE

• Peel the yam
• Cut into cubes according to size that best suits you.
•  Boil water and make sure to salt it.
• Place the cubed yam into the salted boiled water and let it cook
• When ready, remove form the water and serve while its hot.

Boiled yam goes  with a side of beef stew or  fish or whatever you desire. 

                       

So the next time you feel a like enjoying something new travel to Ghana with your taste buds and enjoy some boiled yam.
 

Rat mshikaki

This is a common Malawian meal .Living in one of worlds poorest countries the people had to survive the way they can .So they are confronted with the choice of eating rats or starving to death .

Ingredients

• 1 rodent[rat]
• salt
• pepper

 Procedure

*After the harvest season of corn ,young children chase the tasty critters through the corn fields.This is the time when the mice are nice and fat.
*To easily catch the kapuku [the most edible mice species] locals set up traps throughout the corn fields.
*They fill large clay vats with water and smear them with field corn husks.
*As the rats fight for the husks ,some of them fall in the draw.
*The mice are cooked ,salted or dried then stung on sticks and sold as delicacies.

ZEGE

                
 This is most probably the most simplest meal to prepare. Zege, also known as chips mayai in Swahili is one of the most common dishes in Tanzania. It is a simple potato-egg omelet. Here is how zege is prepared.

PREPARATION
Ingredients

• 5 Irish Potatoes

• 2 Eggs

• 1 tablespoon of salt

• Cooking oil

Procedure

• Peel the Irish potatoes and slice them into a size convenient for frying. 

• Wash them and allow them to dry while you heat oil in a casserole. 

• Fry the potatoes in the hot oil until they are cooked.

• Place the fried potatoes in a medium sized frying pan that's heated.

• Beat the eggs well, put enough salt while you beat the eggs. 

•  Pour the eggs over the fried potatoes.

• Fry both sides well  while flipping to ensure enough heat is supplied and it is well cooked.

Can be served with kachumbari, mshikaki or vegetable salads.



                                                                                                                       

Rolex

1)      Apologies dear readers its been a while since our last post! But this week we’ve made up for it in this very yummy late night snack entitled ‘the Rolex’ which originates from the streets of Kampala, Uganda sold between  600UGX to 1500UGX (20KES – 50KES)

I Cannot exactly pin point how it got its name but I will certainly admit that this fried delicacy is the best post partying snack and will lead you into a beautiful slumber, whatever happens in the morning I cannot account for!

Whether you buy it on the street or you want to make it at home (Which is even better!) I will list down the simple and easy steps and ingredients for your own general knowledge

INGREDIENTS

·         Chapati (already cooked and prepared)

·         Fried omelette (1 or 2 eggs)

·         Cabbage (A handful, shredded )

·         A raw Tomato (3 or 4 thin slices)

·         Chopped Onion (handful)

·         Chopped Green Pepper (handful)

·         A pinch of Black Pepper

·         A pinch of Salt

DIRECTIONS

2)      With your chapatti already prepared and your omelette still in the frying pan, lift the omelette and slide the chapatti underneath so they may warm together

3)      In the centre of the omelette You may now sprinkle the shredded cabbage, the tomatoes, onions, green pepper and Aromat or whatever flavouring suits you but do not cook for long! If you must you can remove the omelette and chapatti from the sauce pan before adding these final touches

4)       After you’ve laid this almost finished master piece on a plate remember to sprinkle a pinch of salt and black pepper and now here’s the tricky part Roll. (First fold the right side not covered in toppings to cover toppings, then fold along center axis, and then wrap remainder around outside.

5)      TADA! You may pack it the African way and put it in a clear polythene plastic bag to avoid dripping!

You may accompany this fine snack with ketchup or chilli but that’s all up to you!