Joojeh Kabobs (Persian Chicken Saffron Kabobs)
These kabobs are super simple, but I know a lot of people are put off by the saffron because it’s so expensive. The thing is, it’s only expensive in the grocery store ~ you can find good quality cooking-grade Persian…
Doro Wot (Ethiopian Spicy Chicken Stew)
This one is is definitely a labor of love. Count on 2.5-3 hours start to finish, but soooo worth it. Rich spices built up on a slightly sweet onion base in layers and layers crowned with chicken and a marinated…
Afghan Gosht Korma
So, the kid only had one request for his birthday dinner ~ goat. But it turns out that the local Afghan markets don’t carry it, so I tracked down a local butcher. The most common cut appears to be cubed,…
Misir Wot (Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew)
So misir wot is a lentil stew, but consistency-wise it’s a lot more like a porridge, and that’s important to the recipe. It doesn’t seem to taste right otherwise. The spiced butter gives it a little earthy undertone, and the…
Chapli Kabob Burgers
Chapli kabobs are a popular street food in Pakistan. Disc-shaped and fried, they make for a great walk-around food. Pomegranate seeds are usually added for a little extra zip, but they’re not 100% required to make a tasty kabob. Somewhere…
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…