The India-Africa Cooking Connection

For me, a hearty stew has always been the ultimate family-style comfort food. Prepare a big pot, fill the bowls of family, friends and honored guests, break bread, and chow down!! Such a meal can unite family and friends, make strangers feel welcome, and connect countries.

Indians love curry. Africans like peanuts. This tidbit of info gleaned from researching world cuisine, global flavors, and food history . 


* Michael Tracey is another one of my discoveries.

He hails from Johannesburg, South Africa , publishes a newsletter called "THE TASTE OF AFRICA", and is the author of "AFRICAN RECIPES", an ethnic cookbook .

The link below is to a Tanzanian recipe that links the #cultures of India and #Africa in every delicious spoonful.

♦ CURRIED SPINACH AND PEANUT BUTTER STEW

(FYI: This is NOT an affiliate referral or commercial advertisement. The recipe is one of 260 recipes published in the cookbook which the author made available online. No purchase is required.)


This content first appeared on Aug 5, 2015 at Persona Paper

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Indian cuisine South Africa style blends Indian and African foods

Indian cuisine South Africa style blends Indian and African foods

South African Indian diaspora cuisine is deliciously distinct from that found in India itself. South Africans of Indian origin are generally descended either from South Indian people who arrived in the 1860s to work on the KwaZulu-Natal sugar plantations or from subsequent businessmen who came to service the retail needs of the farm workers.

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Africa's 20 most popular foods: Biltong, fufu, injera, couscous, ugali anyone?

Africa's 20 most popular foods: Biltong, fufu, injera, couscous, ugali anyone?

African cuisine is as diverse as the hundreds of different cultures and groups that inhabit the continent. This diversity is reflected in the many local culinary traditions in terms of choice of ingredients, style of preparation and cooking techniques.

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Indian Food - Myth or Fact

Do you like Indian food? I do! Although must admit, had to acquire a taste for it. My first time trying a so-called authentic Indian dish was at one of those American mall-type food courts, where there are all kinds of restaurants for you to choose from. That probably wasn't the best place for me to get my first taste. Was taken aback by some sort of flavor or spice that my palette was clearly not expecting. It threw me off!

Later on, when cooking channels became so popular on television, started learning how to prepare Indian dishes. There was the one lady who referred to herself as a “spice goddess”.  Because really it comes to cooking, Indians do know their spices.  No argument.  Her recipes always seemed so simple, easy to prepare, and she explained the herbs and spices she used for flavoring and showed you how to incorporate them into the recipes.  Crush these seeds.  Warm this spice in the pan.  Sprinkle these herbs.  Decided to try Indian food again and was very pleased with the tasting tests.

Below is a link to a blog post that eliminates common myths about Indian food. Didn't know there were myths but good to know they can be ignored. What were some of the myths?

• All Indian food is spicy.
• All Indian food is vegetarian.
• All Indian food is overloaded with curry.

Discover the Truth behind the Indian Food Myths

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Content first published Mar 21, 2015 via Persona Paper

5 Things You Thought You Knew about Indian Food

5 Things You Thought You Knew about Indian Food

By Petrina Verma Sarkar Come on, be honest. What are the first things that come to your mind when you think of Indian food? Hot, spicy, oily, rich, fatty, bad for you, difficult and time-consuming to cook, curry powder....

15 Interesting Facts Related To Indian Food You Should Know

15 Interesting Facts Related To Indian Food You Should Know

Facts that will blow your taste buds

20 unbelievable facts about Indian food

20 unbelievable facts about Indian food

Before it turned into an art that involved culinary expertise, food in India was about rasas and doshas. Taste or rasa in Sanskrit guides the tongue and it is a balance or misbalance of these rasas that cause or correct the doashas in body.

Known and unknown facts about Indian cooking

Known and unknown facts about Indian cooking

It is about experimenting with different spices and ingredients and to come up with your own secret recipes. Then just go for it, Visit Masala Fry! Enjoy!

Indian ladies: glitter-graphics.com

Food Bloggers Keep on Blogging!

2016 is winding down.  Food Ways was started in November.  Taking the opportunity to spotlight food bloggers who have been actively publishing throughout the year and even in previous years.  Their persistence motivates me.  Sharing a link to their blogs below.  It's my way of wishing them a joyful, healthy and safe holiday season, and continued success and prosperity in the upcoming new year.  

Some shares may not be "typical" of the traditional western Christmas celebration, but I also have an interest in world cuisines and global flavors.  There's no rule that says a traditional menu can't be modified with the addition of new, different and tasty recipes.  After all, when it comes to food and family, we make our own rules and traditions!  Don't we?  Enjoy!

Happy Blogging Food Bloggers!
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Sour Cream Pound Cake Poinsettia Cookies

Sour Cream Pound Cake Poinsettia Cookies

There comes a point every holiday season where you realize you cannot do it all. You cannot make homemade lip balm and vanilla extract for everyone on your list, you cannot stand in a 3-hour line at the post office for Christmas stamps, you cannot be 17 different places on Christmas Eve, you cannot scrub the baseboards before company arrives, and you cannot make homemade cookies and icing when your child tells you he needs cookies the next morning.

  

Sprite and The Refreshing Truth About Korean Food

Sprite and The Refreshing Truth About Korean Food

Traditional Korean cuisine uses fresh ginger, garlic, green onions, sesame oil, chili flakes, soy sauce and fermented chili paste to create bold and distinctive flavors we can't help but crave. Salty, spicy and tangy flavors are often tempered and balanced with sweeter notes.

  

Crispy Spicy Arbi

Crispy Spicy Arbi

This is one of my favourite fries and it can be done quicky , very crispy as well and goes very well with steamed rice or can be had as a starter also....so try this spicy dish....am sure u all will just love this flavourful and yummy dish 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1/2 tsp coriander powder, 2 tbsp oil + oil for shallow frying Pressure cook the arbi till one whistle or till it gets cooked.

  

Cassoulet - The World's Most Complex Simple Recipe

Cassoulet - The World's Most Complex Simple Recipe

There are so many reasons not to make cassoulet. You need lots of ingredients, some of which take effort to find. There are many steps, and even some of the steps have steps. It will also seem like you used every pot and pan in the kitchen, which will be trashed by the time you're done.

  

A Christmas Tree Bento

A Christmas Tree Bento

We're keeping holiday bentos simple right now as we finish unpacking boxes, but that doesn't mean the food can't still be festive! I found my favorite big box of cookie cutters, complete with my very favorite simple Christmas tree cutter.

  

Yalda Night (Winter Solstice) 2015 and Shami Haveej - Carrot Shami Kabab with Sweet & Sour Tomato Sauce

Yalda Night (Winter Solstice) 2015 and Shami Haveej - Carrot Shami Kabab with Sweet & Sour Tomato Sauce

شب چله/شب یلداShab-e Yalda/Shab-e Chelleh, the ancient Persian celebration of the longest night, dates back thousands of years ago to the birth of میترا Mithra the god of light who was born on the eve of yalda (winter solstice).After the longest night of the year the days will gradually become longer symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.

Foodie Friday : Pesto Around the World

Going to take aim at pesto for my foodie Friday topic.  Another wonderful delight for enlivening salads, adorning sandwiches, dressing pasta … you name it! Always sing the praises of salsa. This time, doing a song and dance routine for pesto.

Hear the word pesto and one usually always thinks Italian. Right? But different cultures have their own version of pesto. Africa. Mexico. Australia. This link is an awesome foodie find! Not only does it tell you the main ingredients in everybody's version but it introduced me to a new word. “Permaculture”.

Content first appeared at Persona Paper on July 27, 2015.

Preserving With Pesto – It’s Not Rocket Science

Preserving With Pesto - It's Not Rocket Science

Wheatgrass Pesto Recipe | inSpiral

Wheatgrass Pesto Recipe | inSpiral

Here is a quick recipe for Raw Wheatgrass Pesto, using our premium, organic, raw super food powder. This will m ake your taste buds go wild! Adds a good dose of vitality to any diet. Made in a blender there is virtually any preparation to do! Just the way we like it!

Carrot Greens Pesto Recipe

Mexican Pesto Recipe by emilie_ 1 - Key Ingredient

Mexican Pesto Recipe by emilie_ 1 - Key Ingredient

Place the pumpkin seeds in a food processor or blender; pulse until coarsely chopped.

Thai Basil Pesto

Thai Basil Pesto

This one's for my Thai lovers. But before I even start talking Thai basil pesto, I feel moved to have a little rant about how much I love Thai food. It's like an instant exotic vacation right in my kitchen.

Raw Macadamia Pesto | Vegan Semi-Dried Tomato Pesto | The Blender Girl

Raw Macadamia Pesto | Vegan Semi-Dried Tomato Pesto | The Blender Girl

This raw vegan semi-dried tomato and macadamia pesto is super easy and seriously delicious. Just throw everything into your food processor.

African Blue Basil and Lavender Pesto

African Blue Basil and Lavender Pesto

Combine all ingredients, except cheese, in bowl of food processor. Process, adding additional oil or water, until desired consistency is reached. Stir in cheese. Use immediately or store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. (Tip: pesto can also be frozen in ice cube trays.)

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce - Culinary Envy

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce - Culinary Envy

Chimichurri Pesto Sauce combines Italian parsley, cilantro and basil with jalapeño and parmesan cheese. It is vibrant, nutty and tangy. Perfect for pasta. I will never forget the first time I tried Chimichurri Sauce. It was at my incredibly talented friend Bibi's home. She had me over for dinner and prepared the most mouth-watering steak.

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Amore Pesto Paste - $5.75

Amore Garlic Paste - $5.75

Amore Italian Chili Pepper Paste - $6.15

Amore Italian Herb Paste - $6.75

Home Cooking Presented by Hilda's Touch of Spice

Spotlight on another awesome food blog. This one has been save in my bookmarks for forever! It's called “Hilda's Touch of Spice”. The blog is published by Hilda Mascarenhas. Her recipes include a wonderful sampling of European, Asian and American cuisines, and categories are for holidays, by countries, vegetarian versus non-vegetarian, desserts, side dishes, soups and salads, and more! The best way to describe her blog is using her own words:

"Mouth watering recipes & essential cooking advice, helping you to add the right Touch of Spice to make simple home cooking special!"

That's the description from her Facebook page.  In 2013 her page reached 1,000 Likes.  As of today (2016), it has over 5,000 Likes!  Isn't that marvelous?

Since it's the holiday season you're going to love this share. It's her Christmas Special menu, followed by a few more selected blog posts that I like. Enjoy!

Christmas Special Menu - Hilda's Touch Of Spice

(Click here to view all of Hilda's Christmas recipes.)

Christmas Special Menu

This year Christmas is going to be filled with traditional sweets at our home.

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Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese Cheesecake

Popularly known as "Japanese Cotton Cheesecake" due to its cotton texture this beautiful baked cheesecake is delicately soft. Very famous years ago on the net, you will find several recipes to this delicious cake.

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Steamed Momos

Steamed Momos

The weather in Pune is chilly & cold in the nights.

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Carrot Coconut Ladoos / Gajar Nariyal Ladoos

Carrot Coconut Ladoos / Gajar Nariyal Ladoos

Two of my eternal favorites... Carrots and Coconut. Just can't do without them! 🙂 They bind beautifully to form into gorgeous,sweet and yummy ladoos. A perfect ball of melt in the mouth goodness to satiate that sweet craving.

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Chicken Handi (Murg Handi)

Chicken Handi (Murg Handi)

Rustic and full of flavor this delectable Chicken/Murg Handi is so succulent. Like many who love this dish, we are no exception. There are many good restaurants in Pune who prepare this dish really well. Making an almost authentic, traditional Murg handi at home is an experience to be savored.

Other food bloggers highlighted by Food Ways:

• JovinaCooks Italian.
• CiaoFlorentina ~ Easy Italian Recipes
• Flaming Vegan

How to Cook Italian : Easy Recipes from CiaoFlorentina

Many people love Italian food. Although my husband says he doesn't. Even though he watches and sometimes records the cooking shows of Lidia Bastianich on Create TV. When we subscribed to cable TV, he rarely missed an episode of Giada De Laurentiis on Food Network. (O.o)

I heart most things Italian, with food being at the top of my list. There are so many Italian food bloggers out there. In fact, my third post for this blog shined the spotlight on one of my favorite blogs: JovinaCooks Italian.

Here is another one of my faves: Easy Italian Recipes – CiaoFlorentina.  Cooking advice is provided and many recipes are gluten-free, paleo, and vegetarian. A few selected posts appear below to ignite your curiosity to know more and whet your appetite for some tasty Italian cuisine.

Chocolate Covered Oranges with Red Pepper Flakes * Christmas Recipes

Chocolate Covered Oranges with Red Pepper Flakes *

The ultimate Chocolate Covered Oranges: tangerine and orange slices dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with red pepper flakes for a nice kick . It is that time of year ago, when our orange trees are so loaded the branches started breaking. Which means there are oranges and tangerines all over our kitchen.

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Replace potato chips with a healthier alternative. How to Make Brussel Sprout Chips (Crispy) *

How to Make Brussel Sprout Chips (Crispy) *

Crispy and light baked Brussel sprout chips with just a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Easy to make and loved by all! Who is as excited as me about fall and baking trays upon trays of these Brussel sprout chips ?

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Vegetarian Calzone Recipe *

Vegetarian Calzone Recipe *

Italian vegetarian calzone, pizza pockets stuffed with veggies and cheese and grilled in a cast iron skillet, a vegetarian's dream ! First of all, you absolutely gotta make this vegetarian calzone you guys ! I had them for breakfast and I'm not even ashamed to admit it .

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Do you know your thyme? Thyme Varieties For Cooking *

Thyme Varieties For Cooking *

There are quite a few thyme varieties for cooking out there. Thyme is one of my favorite herbs to cook with and plant in my containers, but in all honesty I stick to 2 maybe 3 varieties in my herb garden.

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Crushed Red Pepper 4 oz - $4.75
from: OliveNation

Related articles

• 7 Essential Kitchen Items For Italian Food: An Infographic
• 
  © Photographer: Macrovector | Agency: Dreamstime.com

To Beet or Not to Beet is No Longer the Question

So here's my sad childhood story. Beets! Growing up, in my house the only person that ever ate beets was my late mother. The thing is … she didn't even try to encourage me or tempt me to taste them. No! SHE JUST ATE THEM ALL! As a kid, there was nothing appealing or appetizing about them. So … like broccoli and figs and other wonderful foods that looked questionable through a child's eyes … I just didn't eat them! Wasn't even curious.

In my adult years, forty plus years ago, I met my husband. Would you believe it? He tells me a similar childhood story, except that both his mom and his dad ate beets. Beets and beets and beets. They just couldn't get enough of em!

Come to find out … beets are good for you! WHAT???!!

Why would our parents keep that a secret? We don't know! So they could have more for themselves?? Seems the only logical explanation!

Nevertheless, we love our parents and thank them for all of the other meaningful secrets of life that they did reveal to us. We'll overlook the best kept beet secret.  :)

Anyway! …. Now that we've learned “the rest of the story”, the question of “To beet or not to beet” has been answered. We just need to figure out a way to incorporate this awesomely nutritious super food into our diet.

Found a treasure trove of beet recipes at Flipboard, a site where I am experimenting with publishing my own food magazine. (The magazine is called My I Like Eating Channel. Yes it's the same name as my curated content topic board on Scoop.it. I know! I'm not very original and I copy myself a lot!)

Sharing a few recipes from the Flipboard collection that look like they might be very tasty. However, the first share below was actually found elsewhere on the web. It's about beet juice. Did you know that it's drink of champions? Well it is!

As a parent myself, I know that no matter how good veggies may be, it's sometimes hard to get your kids (or yourself) to eat them! Thank the Lord for juice and juicers! Sometimes folks who won't EAT their veggies, don't have too much of a problem with DRINKING their veggies. 

Beetroot Juice: The Drink Of Champions | Competitor.com

Beetroot Juice: The Drink Of Champions | Competitor.com

Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad Recipe | SimplyRecipes.com

Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad Recipe | SimplyRecipes.com

You can roast the beets or boil them. Roasting the beets will give them more flavor, but it takes longer and will use more energy than boiling.

SMOKY BEETROOT HUMMUS

SMOKY BEETROOT HUMMUS

My birthday happened at the beginning of the month. I hosted a big seafood feast. I wanted a bunch of my favorite people together at a table and a ton of seafood - Dungeness crab, oysters, a big stew with mussels and clams and fish, etc.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Beets and Siracha Dressing - A Communal Table

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Beets and Siracha Dressing - A Communal Table

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better... Melissas Produce went and introduced NEW produce collections. The newest additions are - Organic Purification Boxes! Melissas graciously sent me the Organic Purification Box B to play with... and play I did!

38 Beet Recipes for Roasting, Frying and More Recipe

38 Beet Recipes for Roasting, Frying and More Recipe

There are a lot of ways to cook beets. So go forth and make it happen!

Where to find more Beets on Flipboard

Beets on Flipboard

By mshedrick | mshedrick created a magazine on Flipboard. "Beets on Flipboard" is available with thousands of other magazines and all the news you care about. Download Flipboard for free and search for "mshedrick".

One last share. Not found via Flipboard, but you'll still like it!  :)


Beet Orange Salad with Honey Vinaigrette

That's it for now my friends! As always thanks for visiting Food Ways and feel free to visit often! Bring your family and friends!  Until the next post … Peace, Love and Happy Beeting (or Eating or Drinking (preferably nonalcoholic beverages).

(Chef image credit.)

Foodie Friday : Experiencing the Joy of Salsa

This week's Foodie Friday focus is on salsa!

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There was once a time when the recipe for fresh salsa was simply diced tomatoes, onions, green bell peppers, lime juice, red pepper or a jalapeno, salt to taste; cilantro, optional. I love salsa!  It's a great way to eat your veggies.  Several years back, moved into a new neighborhood and was at the local grocery store. Walked down an aisle and on the shelves were bottles of every kind of salsa imaginable.

Some of them were made with sweet fruits like mangoes and peaches! Oh the wonder of it all! Had no idea salsa came in that many flavors. Gave me all kinds of foodie ideas. Sharing some recipes .

Why keep all these delicious delights to myself?

• 7 Delicious Salsa Recipes
• Black Eyed Peas and Salsa Cornbread
• Cilantro Lime Grille Chicken with Strawberry Salsa (pic below)

Originally published at Persona Paper on Jul 3, 2015.

Sharing a bit of salsa heaven!  

Recipes found around the web.

Wild Beet Salad Company makes Wild Beet Salsa

ICYMI: check out the new #beet #salsa from @WildBeetSaladCo 😋🌱https://t.co/4sdp9Erk87…#901yum #beets #Youarewhatyoubeet #RecipeOfTheDay

— Stramel PR (@StramelPR) July 23, 2016

Recipe: Roasted Pineapple Salsa (thekitchn .com)

#Recipe: Roasted Pineapple Salsa — Recipes from #TheKitchn https://t.co/uIFEtndKUY pic.twitter.com/0bJCHDwhDv

— Zesty Recipes (@zesty_recipes) May 2, 2016

Blackened Tomatillo Poblano Salsa With Habanero (recipesprep.com)

#Cooking #Friends #recipes https://t.co/IsPd2kqIt7 Blackened Tomatillo Poblano #Salsa With Habanero pic.twitter.com/UKOT7zDxdy

— Recipes Prep (@recipesprep) November 30, 2016

17 Savory Salsa Recipes (sweetsugarblossoms.blogspot.com)
17 Savory Salsa Recipes

Mango Pomegranate & Tender Coconut Salsa (culinaryxpress.com)

Apple Salsa – Spicy, Fresh, Perfect for Fall

Salsa Express
The perfect food gift for those who like sweet, spicy and fiery!

Previous #FoodieFriday posts?  Winter Salad Binging  Banana Brownies - Back for Seconds  Cool Foodies and Food Lovers Celebrating Their “Firsts” on Twitter  Raw Coconut Fig Slice (Reblog)  It's Flipping Foodie Friday!  Spice Spotlight: Cinnamon