Kik Alicha (Ethiopian Split-pea Porridge)
Well, I call it ‘porridge’ anyway. It’s textured more like split pea soup, but it’s thick and served over rice. Flavor-wise, it’s rich and creamy but on the subtle side, so the peas and rice are free to do their…
Macarona Bechamel (Pasta with Bechamel)
I’ll start with the warning that this recipe serves about eight, and I’ve cut it in half versus a lot of the variations out there. With that out of the way, here’s a nice casserole that’s like a stripped-down lasagna….
Skoudehkaris (Djibouti Lamb and Rice)
Yay! Another one-pot meal. This one’s from Djibouti, a small country right where the Gulf of Aden meets the Red Sea. It was a French colony by treaty from 1883-1977, so there’s a fair amount of influence on the food. …
Siga Tibs (Ethiopian Beef Stew)
Despite what restaurant menus say, Ethiopians don’t eat a ton of meat ~ mostly legumes and the like. So, this would be a special dish ~ New Years, birthdays, etc. As such, it’s part stir-fry, part stew, and even with…
Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Magic Butter)
Niter kibbeh is a staple in Ethiopian cuisine, where if the recipe says “butter”, they probably mean this. It’s basically clarified butter with onions and a bunch of aromatic stuff in it. This recipe makes a fair amount, but I…
Pad Gra Prow (Thai Beef and Basil)
I like Thai food, and I like basil, but I don’t like dried coconut, so any time I find a recipe it makes Kat happy. It also helps that we have a ridiculous amount of basil in the pots this…
Lybian Mahshi (Stuffed Vegetables)
So “mahshi” means “stuffed” in Arabic. You can stuff a lot of vegetables like zucchini or eggplant if you really want to. I don’t want to, so I’m sticking with green peppers. At 48, I’m allowed to make these choices….
Macroona Imbakaka (Libyan Chicken and Pasta)
Seems like most people say “this is Libya’s quintessential dish” which usually means “I can’t tell you mom’s recipe under penalty of death”, but here we are, and it’s not my mom. So… Call it North African/Italian fusion in a…
Libyan Bzaar Spice Mix
Okidoki, so I’ve scavenged the internets and despite how often bzaar pops up in recipes, it’s nearly impossible to find. Basically, this UK shop where I bought mine: https://oea-libya.com/products/bzaar-spice (if you’re in the US, shipping is pretty steep). So I…
Keema Matar – Mincemeat and Peas Curry
So, Kat says this one is a 13/10 and the kid agrees, so I guess that’s an endorsement. This is mostly a ground meat and tomatoes dish, where the peas add a little something extra. And, like some of my…