AFRICAN COOKING

You might also want to learn how to prepare African dishes. Food throughout much of East Africa is similar and whenever a dish has a Swahili name, it invariably contains coconut and/or bananas. There is coconut milk and curry (made with home-grown curry, differing from the Madras types of curry in its flavor and bright orange color), coconut milk in soups, vegetables, egg dishes, fish, meat and poultry, as well as in dessert dishes. The bananas are used in meat stews as well as with fish and poultry. Ugali, the perennial cornmeal porridge, is the major staple. Rice is also frequently eaten.

A cooking lesson can be organized with our chef, who will teach you how to prepare some favorite African foods: chapatis, mandazis, pillau, nayama (soup), mchuzi wa kima (meat dish). Our cook will be delighted to welcome you to his kitchen.

Vegetables on the market

Here is just one example of a Tanzanian recipe:

TANZANIAN SALT COD CURRY

INGREDIENTS

1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless salt cod
Water for boiling + 1/2 cup
2 tbsp peanut oil
1 onion, finely sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 waxy potatoes (about 3/4 lb/350 g total), peeled, cut in 1/2-inch dice
2 small tomatoes (about 1/2 lb/225 g total), peeled, seeded, coarsely chopped
1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 tbsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp cayenne

DIRECTIONS

Put cod in large pot. Cover generously with cold water. Cover and refrigerate. Soak at least 1 day or until just pleasantly salty, changing water several times.
Drain cod. Slice thicker sections in half. Cut cod into 1-inch pieces. Place in large pan and cover with water. Bring to boil on high heat. Immediately cover, remove from heat and let sit 5 minutes. Drain well. 

In same pan, heat oil on medium. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes, tomatoes, green pepper, 1/2 cup water, coriander, cardamom, turmeric and cayenne. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are just tender, about 15 minutes. 

Stir in cod. Turn heat to medium-low. Simmer 5 minutes. 

Makes 4 servings.