![Bowl with red lines on the rim containing twisty (rotini) pasta with tomato sauce on top](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/PXL_20240602_021508120-150x150.jpg)
Silsi, an Eritrean pasta sauce
What is now Eritrea was once art of the Ethiopian Empire until the Italians came ’round. Because of that, there’s a fair amount of influence in the local cuisine. Silsi is basically a regional spicy pasta sauce that leans on…
![In a white bowl with a red ring around the rim is a combination of rice, meat, and tomatoes with a little cilantro leaves on top](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/PXL_20230714_224238496-150x150.jpg)
Keema Chawal ~ Pakistani Mince and Rice
Sometimes referred to as “keema rice”, which is actually a number of variations including this one. It’s kinda similar to a keema pulau or biryiani, but the latter two generally cook the rice in the curry. Instead, we use leftover…
![On a white background is a bowl with a red stripe around the rim. Inside the bowl are chicken and potato pieces in a reddish gravy and topped with a small pile of cilantro](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/murgh_aloo-150x150.jpg)
Murghi Aloo ka Salan (Pakistani Chicken and Potato Curry)
I love Pakistani foods. They tend to combine the best of Indian sub-continent flavors with western (Arabic) influences. And heat (at least not for heat’s sake) is much more manageable for the Western palate. At home, it seems Kat lost…
![White bowl with a red stripe full of mushy lentil soup with some fried onions as a garnish](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/PXL_20230325_220326020-150x150.jpg)
Red Lentil Soup (hasa adas)
Lentil soup (حساء عدس) is a staple across the Arabic world, and there about as many variations as there are families. Some go plain, some add potatoes, or sweet potatoes, stock of some kind, or not. This list goes on…
![White bowl with a red stripe full of redish-brown creamy korma with chinks of chicken and tomatoes](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/PXL_20230221_024039594-150x150.jpg)
Afghani Chicken Korma
This recipe is derived from my red meat (gosht) korma, The main differences are in cooking, and primarily fewer tomatoes. I might do a version down the road that’s wholly tomato-less, but I find the tomatoes add a nice flavor…
![White plate with slightly charred chicken thigh. To the left is a small amount of carrot salad.](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/fried_chicken.resized-150x150.jpg)
Libyan Inspired Fried Chicken (Dajaj Maghli)
Fried chicken has become popular in Libya since the fall of the Ghadaffi regime, much of it in the American (KFC) style ~ King Chicken, Uncle Kentaki, etc ~ that had been banned before. I pieced this recipe together partially…
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,…
![Bowl of kik alicha](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PXL_20210809_041022260-150x150.jpg)
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…
![Casserole dish with noodles, sauce, and bechamel layers](https://nomdujour.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/PXL_20210730_042202596-150x150.jpg)
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….
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…