Food&Recipes‐KenyaJune2011

KenyanCuisine

Kenyancuisinewasinfluencedbysuchfar‐flungcountriesasPortugal,China,IndiaandBritain."WhenthePortuguesearrivedin1496onthecoastofKenya,theyintroducedfoodsfromnewlydiscoveredBrazil,includingmaize,bananas,pineapple,chilies,peppers,sweetpotatoes,andcassava.ThePortuguesealsobroughtoranges,lemons,andlimesfromChinaandIndia,aswellaspigs.

"Pastoralism(caIleherding)hasalonghistoryinKenya.AroundA.D.1000,aclanfromNorthAfricacalledtheHimaintroducedcaIleherding.Bythe1600s,groupsliketheMasaiandTurkanaatebeefexclusively.CaIleprovidedmeat,milk,buIer,andblood.

“WhentheEuropeansarrivedattheshoresofKenya,theybroughtwiththemwhitepotatoes,cucumbers,andtomatoes.TheBriUshimportedthousandsofIndiansforlabor,andcurries(spicydishesmadewithcurryspice),chapa%s(aflat,disk‐shapedbreadmadeofwheatflour,water,andsalt)andchutneys(arelishmadeofspices,herbs,and/orfruit)becameatradiUonalSundaylunchformanyKenyans.

“TheKikuyuandGikuyugrowcorn,beans,potatoes,andgreens.Theymashallofthesevegetablestogethertomakeirio.Theyrolliriointoballsanddipthemintomeatorvegetablestews.

InwesternKenya,thepeoplelivingnearLakeVictoria(thesecond‐largestfreshwaterlakeintheworld)mainlypreparefishstews,vegetabledishes,andrice."ExcerptedfromFoodbyCountry.org‐hIp://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan‐to‐South‐Africa/Kenya.html

InThisMonth’sRecipes:

♀ KenyanEUqueIe,Customs&Cuisine♀Menu&RecipesfromKenya

KenyanRecipesOurthankstoCarolynMayersforprovidingmostofthefollowingrecipes.Ques<onsaboutthefollowingrecipes?e‐mailCarolynatcrmayers@mac.com

Note:ifyouwouldlikeabroaderselecUonofrecipesthanIhaveprovidedhere,IhighlyrecommendyoucheckouttheonesfromthelastUmewewereinKenyasupporUngTheBomaFund:hIp://diningforwomen.org/sites/default/files/documents/BOMAFFTNov2010v3.pdf

ColdAvocadoSoupAdaptedfromTheCongoCookbook

AvocadosgroweverywhereinKenya.Smoothandcreamyandrich,thissouprecipefrom2009whenweweresupporUnganotherprograminKenyabecauseitisSOgoodIwantedtomakesureyoudidn’tmissit!AbeauUfulwaytostartyourKenyanmeal.

Serves6

2

KenyanEKqueMe

• BeveragesarenotusuallyservedwithmealssinceKenyansthinkitisimpolitetoeatanddrinkatthesameUme.TheyaregenerallyservedatthecompleUonofthemeal.

• MeeKngsseldomhavescheduledendingKmessincewhatmaIersisfinishingthemeeUnginasaUsfactorymannertoallconcerned.Infact,KenyansareamusedattheconceptofanendingUme.

• TakeoffyourshoesbeforeenteringKenyanhomes.

• Donotleavethemealareaunlessinvitedtodoso.AsmallburpsignifiessaKsfacKon.

• Eatwithyourrighthand.Ifofferedaspoonorfork,holdtheminyourrighthand.

‐‐Excerptedfromwww.eUqueIescholar.com&www.kwintessenUal.co.uk

Menu

• ColdAvocadoSoup• M’bazi(PeaBeans,NairobiStyle)• KenyanCurriedCabbage• ChickenTikka• KariokorNyamayaKuchoma(BarbecuedMeat)

• SukumaWiki(KenyanStyleKaleTomatoes)• Ugali• BrandySnaps

AfarmerinKenyasellsherhotpepperstoalocalfoodcompanyforprocessingandexporttoEurope.

1Tvegetableoil1smallonion,chopped1Tgroundcorianderseed1Tflour3cchickenstock10asparagusspears,cutinto1inchpieces(opUonal)2veryripeavocados,piIed,peeledandchoppedjustbeforeaddingsaltandpeppertotaste(Ialsoaddedapinchofcayenne)3Theavycream(opUonal)Choppedchivesandpaprikaforgarnish

Heatoilinamediumsaucepanovermediumheat.AddchoppedonionandsautéunUlonionisverysoj,reducingheatifnecessarytopreventtheonionfrombrowning.Addthecorianderandflour.SUrandsautébriefly.Addstock,sUrringandbringtoaboil.Addasparagus,ifusing,andgentlyboilforabout5minutes,sUrringoccasionally,unUlasparagusistender.YoucouldsaveafewUpsforgarnishingifyoulike.Ifnotusingasparagus,thenjustgentlyboilthestockforabout5minutes,sUrringonceortwice.Removefromheatandallowtocooltoavoidburningyourselfwhileblending.PuttheavocadofleshintheboIomofablender,addthestockandasparagusandblendunUlsmooth.Addmorestockifitseemstoothick.Addsaltandpepper,andcayenneifusing,totaste.BlendunUlcombined.PoursoupintobowlorservingcontainerandsUrinheavycream,ifusing.Chill.Toserve,garnisheachbowlwithasprinkleofpaprikaandchoppedchives,andanyasparagusUpsyouhavesetaside.Servecold.

M’bazi(PeaBeans,NairobiStyle)AdaptedfromhIp://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch‐recipe.php?%20rid=misc‐m‐bazi

ThisisservedtradiUonallyasanappeUzer,cold,inleIucecups,garnishedwithwedgesoftomatoandchoppedparsley.ItwasacoldrainydaywhenItriedthisrecipesowedecidedtohaveithotwithrice.Tomhadsomeforbreakfastcoldthenextdayandpronouncedittobe“edible”(hiswordfor“Canyoumakethisagain?”)coldaswell.Eitherway,itisdelicious,andcouldalsoserveasalovelyvegetarianmaincourse.Serves4.

½cdriedbeans(black‐eyedpeasaretheclosesttopeabeans),rinsedandsoakedfor6hours2Tvegetableoil1smallonion,minced1smallgreenpepper(Iusedacubanelle),minced¼tredpepperflakes½to¾ccoconutmilk,fullfatrecommended¼to½tsaltGroundblackpeppertotasteTomatowedges(opUonal)Choppedparsley(opUonal)

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Placethesoakedbeansinamediumheavysaucepanandaddwatertocoverbyaboutaninch.Bringtoaboil,reduceheattoMedium‐lowandsimmerparUallycoveredforabout20minutesorunUltenderbutnotmushy.Drainandsetaside.Inaskilletlargeenoughtoholdeverythinginthisrecipe,heattheoilovermediumheatandaddtheonion.Sauteforabout3minutesandaddthepepperandpepperflakes.Cook,sUrring,foranother3minutes.Addthecookedbeansandsaltandblackpeppertotasteandcookanother5minutes,sUrringtopreventsUcking.AddthecoconutmilkandsUrwell.Reduceheattomedium‐lowandcook,sUrringperiodically,unUlthemixtureisthickened,addingmorecoconutmilkasnecessary.Ifservinghot,servewithcookedrice.Ifservingcold,allowtocoolandserveonindividualplatesinleIucecups,garnishedwithtomatoesandparsley.

KenyanCurriedCabbageAdaptedfromhIp://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Kenyan_Curried_Cabbage

Sortoflikewarmcurriedcoleslaw,onlybeIerthanthatsounds.Creamy,tastyandpreIy,thisworkswellwithanymaincourse.Serves6

2Tvegetableoil1smallonionminced2clovesgarlic,minced1tcurrypowder1mediumsmallheadcabbage,shredded¼‐½tsaltortotaste1cshreddedcarrots¼ccoconutmilk(ormoreiftoodry)GroundblackpeppertotasteChoppedparsley

Heatoilinlargeskilletorwokovermediumheat.Addonionandsautéfor4minutes.Addgarlicandcurrypowderandcook2moreminutes,sUrring.Addcabbage,abitofsaltand1tablespoonofwaterandsUrwell.Increaseheattomedium‐high,coverandcookabout3minutes.Uncoverpanandaddcarrotsandanothertablespoonofwaterifthepanisdry,andsUrwell.Coverandcook4minutes.SUrincoconutmilkandblackpepperandcook,uncovered,aminuteortwo.Itwillprobablyneedmoresaltatthispointasthecarrotsmakeitsweet.Servewarmorhot.

ChickenTikkaAdaptedfromhIp://recipes.wikia.com/wiki/Chicken_Tikka_II

ThisisadeliciousexampleofIndianinfluenceonKenyancooking.Somerecipescalledforyogurtorcreaminthemarinade,butonerecipepointedoutthatmostAfricansarelactoseintolerantsoIomiIeditwithnolossofflavor.AwonderfuladdiUontoyourgrillingrepertoire,itcanalsobecookedintheovenifyoulike.

Serves6

4

2lbs.chickenparts(Iusedskinlessthighs),scoredwithaknifetofacilitatethemarinadepenetraUngthemeat3Tvegetableoil3Tlemonand/orlimejuice2Tfreshginger,minced3largeclovesgarlic,minced1tgroundcorianderseed1tgarammasala(Indianspiceblend)½tredpepperflakes¼‐½tsalt½tsugar

Whiskallthemarinadeingredientstogetherexceptthechickenpieces.Placechickenpiecesinalarge,leakproofplasUcbagandaddmarinade.ClosethebagsecurelyandsmooshthechickenaroundunUlitiscompletelycoveredwiththespices.Placeintherefrigeratorinabowltocatchanysneakyleaks,andallowtomarinateovernightoratleast6hours.Ifyouaregoingtobakethechicken,preheatovento375.Placechickeninbroilerpanandcoverwithfoil.Cookintheoverfor20minutes.Uncoverthechicken,turnthepiecesandcook,uncovered,foranother20minutesorso,orunUlthejuicesrunclearwhenpokedwithafork.Ifgrilling,preheatgrill.Cookchickenpieces,turningonceajer20minutes,overmediumheat,indirect,approximately35‐45minutes,orunUlnicelybrownedandcookedthrough.

KariokorNyamayaKuchoma(BarbecuedMeatasintheNairobiMarket)AdaptedfromhIp://www.celtnet.org.uk/recipes/miscellaneous/fetch‐recipe.php?rid=misc‐kariokor‐nyama‐kuchoma

WithanamelikethathowcouldInotcookthisone?Streetfoodatitsbest,thisissimilartoanotherclassicKenyanbarbecuedmeatstreetfoodcalled“MeatonaSUck”.GoIaloveit.Spicy,saltyandsweet.Ifyoudon’tlikeheataddlesspepper.Serves4

1¼‐1½lbs.meatofanykind,cutinto1½‐inchpieces(Iusedlamb)1tsalt½tgroundblackpepper1tredpepperflakes,orusesomechipotle(about½tforasmokierflavor)2Tsugar1Tfreshginger,minced4clovesgarlic,minced1Tvegetableoil

Mixallspices,salt,pepperandsugartogetherwiththeoiltoformapaste.Smearthepasteonthecubes ofmeat.Youcandothiseitherbeforeorajeryouhavethreadedthecubesontoskewersbuteitherway,itisamessyjob.PlaceskewersofseasonedmeatonaplateandcoverwithplasUcwrap.Putin

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refrigeratorandallowtomarinateforonehour.Preheatgrilltomedium‐high.Cookmeatonskewersforapproximately4minutespersideformedium‐rare.Servewarm.

AddiKonalRecipes

SukumaWiki(KenyanStyleKaleTomatoes)AdaptedfromWholeFoodsMarkethIp://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2010/06/kenyan‐style‐kale‐tomatoes/

“ThenameSukamaWikitranslatesroughlyto‘pushtheweek,’implyingtheingredient’sstellarabilitytostretchmeals,makingthemlasttotheendoftheweek.Throughoutthecountry,thepopulardishiseatenwithoututensils,withchapaU(avarietyofflatbread)orugali(atypeofcornmealmush)usedtoscoopupbitesinstead.”‐‐WholePlanetFoundaUon.Serves4.

2teaspoonscanolaoil1yellowonion,chopped1jalapeño,stemmed,seededandfinelychopped(opUonal)3ripebutfirmtomatoes,coredandchopped2buncheskaleorcollardgreens(about1poundtotal),ribsremoved,leavesthinlysliced1/2cupwater2tablespoonslemonjuice1/4teaspoonseasalt1/4teaspoonfreshlygroundblackpepper

Heatoilinalargepotovermediumheat.Addonionandjalapeño(ifusing)andcook,sUrringojen,unUlsojenedandgoldenbrown,7to8minutes.AddtomatoesandcookunUlcollapsedandjuicy,about10minutesmore.Addkale,water,lemonjuice,saltandpepper,tossonceortwice,coverandsimmer,sUrringoccasionally,unUlkaleistenderandflavorshavecometogether,10to15minutes.Spoonintobowlsandserve.

UgaliAdaptedfromhIp://www.whats4eats.com/grains/ugali‐recipe

KnownasugaliinKenyaandTanzania,thisisapolenta‐likesidedish.Yield:4to6servings

4cupswater2teaspoonssalt2cupswhitecornmeal,finelyground

Bringthewaterandsalttoaboilinaheavy‐boIomedsaucepan.

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SUrinthecornmealslowly,lezngitfallthoughthefingersofyourhand.Reduceheattomedium‐lowandconUnuesUrringregularly,smashinganylumpswithaspoon,unUlthemushpullsawayfromthesidesofthepotandbecomesverythick,about10minutes.Removefromheatandallowtocoolsomewhat.Placetheugaliintoalargeservingbowl.Wetyourhandswithwater,formintoaballandserve.

BrandySnapsAdaptedfrom:BeaSandler.TheAfricanCookbook.Diane&LeoDillon.NewYork:CarolPublishingGroup,1993.

BrandySnapsaresensaUonalcookiesservedinKenya,originallyintroducedbytheBriUsh.Yield:25brandysnaps

4oz.buTer1/2cupsugar1/2cupcornsyrup1/2tsp(ormore,totaste)groundginger1/3cupall‐purposeflour3Tablespoonsbrandy1pintwhippedcream

InapotcombineBUTTER,SUGAR,CORNSYRUP,GROUNDGINGER.S<roverheatun<lwellmixed.Coolfor10minutes.AddFLOURandblendintomixture.Pourmixturebyspoonfulsintoflatgreasedpan3to4inchesapart.Bakeat350Fun<lsnapsflaTen.Removecarefullywithspatulaand,whenslightlycooled.Rollupintoatube.Combine:BRANDYwithWHIPPEDCREAM.Stufftubeswithwhippedcreamusingapastrybag.

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