Spicing Things Up - Experience Culture Through Cuisine
Spicing things up with an African flavor and flair
Have you ever wondered what unique cuisines other cultures experience? More importantly, the meaning and connection food have for them?
We begin the journey of exploring traditional African cuisine together with breaking down what makes up the food that most of the continent consumes. Like the main food groups of the average diet, it consists of grains, vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy.
Given the size of Africa, a large continent with various regions and countries with unique climates and resources, staples may differ slightly.
Grains consist of millet, wheat (more specifically wheat bread, which is popular in Libya), sorghum, corn, and rice. These grains are typically used as cereals, bases for meat dishes, and to be eaten with beans. Commonly paired with these dishes are root vegetables such as yam and cassava. Other vegetables may include okra, eggplant, onions, pumpkins and leafy greens.
Common fruits in northern Africa are lemons, oranges, dates, and figs, which are typically used to enhance flavor in dishes.
A significant difference compared to the Western diet can be found in the selection of meats. Central Africa was introduced to salt fish during the East African Slave Trade in the late 17th century but also have their traditional meats including chicken and beef and more non-conventional such as crocodile, antelope and warthog.
A typical dish is a stew made with tomato, peppers, onions, and peanut butter with grilled meat or fish. Other meats that may appear in African cuisine are goat, lamb, and pigeon in Morocco, used in pigeon pie.
Dairy can also come from various animals like camels, sheep, goats, and cows. From this brief introduction to the wonders of African cuisine, it is clear that some foods are familiar to most and some not so conventional, but of course, all delicious!
Experiencing another culture's food can be a great way of understanding their history and pique one’s interest in wanting to learn more about why and how a people eat the foods they do.
We encourage you to try out some African recipes and, of course the best way to avoid clothing shrinkage is not to pull away from these amazing culinary delights but to care for your pieces. To learn more about how to achieve this with success, click here.
Looking to delight your dinner guests with some African recipes? Learn more about the delicious variety of mouth-watering dishes @kitchenbutterfly @sisiyemmie
