This is an absolutely delicious Nigerian stew made usually with beef or tripe and a kind of green called ẹ̀fọ́ tẹ̀tẹ̀ (hence the name) but unfortunately we made do with what we have so mine is made in the same spirit but with spinach and kale and some chicken thighs. This is a great week night meal because it comes together very quickly and is delicious and filling. Do not skip the scotch bonnets they give this stew a really distinct and lovely flavor and heat. They are hot but you can adjust how much you use to taste.
Continue readingCategory: gluten free
Recipe: Chicken with Lentils (Poulet aux Lentilles)
This is one of those recipes I really hesitate to post because it seems so simple that no one really need a recipe for it but it was just so delicious that it’s worth sharing. I always think of French food as this completely over the top cooking experience that is frustrating to make and challenging to eat but this French inspired food is so simple and so delicious. I served this with a crusty homemade loaf of bread and it made a wonderful date night meal but this is actually easy enough that it could be made on a weeknight if you were feeling a little adventurous.
Continue readingRecipe: Chickpea-Potato Curry
I’ve tried a couple of chickpea curries and a few potato curries before but they never really hit the spot and I guess the missing piece was to make them at the same time because this curry is really delicious, super filling, and nicely spiced. I served this with some nice fluffy rice but it would also be great with naan or rotis instead. This is a great meal to throw together on a week night and can easily be doubled for leftovers for the rest of the week.
Continue readingRecipe: Tex Mex Casserole
This is a really great and easy meal that is very customizable. What really took this casserole over the top was adding some crushed nachos on top for a great texture difference and a nice little pop of salt but you could put anything on top to change the texture and taste. This is also surprisingly good the next day so it might be better as a make ahead meal where you just heat it up and place extra toppings on it before serving.
Continue readingRecipe: Spicy Peanut Noodle Bowls
This dinner is great because it comes together so quickly and you can pretty much put whatever vegetables or proteins or nuts that you have on hand inside of it. Since I used very thin vermicelli noodles you don’t even have to run the stove, I simply heat up water in my kettle and pour it over the noodles. Perfect for a too hot summer day or a quick pick up meal.
Continue readingRecipe: Masa Harina Waffles
If you’re looking for a savory twist on waffles this is a great and super easy to achieve it. I served these with some salsa and a runny fried egg and they were a super not too difficult weekend breakfast meal. The masa harina gives the waffles a chewy but not too dense texture. These would probably be good with a runny queso as well.
Continue readingRecipe: Oven Baked Chana Pulao
I love a good pulao. It’s basically a mixed rice dish with whatever you want in it and this one takes pulao to even higher heights with it’s set it and forget method in the oven and frozen vegetables. This is my favorite type of meal because the only thing you really have to do is chop an onion which I know is a big ask for some people but for me personally, is a 30 second task. This dish is super flavorful, very filling on its own and can easily can scaled up for a crowd plus it’s vegan! Feel free to add whatever types of vegetables you like or have on hand and play around with the spices.
Continue readingRecipe: Thai Basil Chicken
This extremely simple one pot recipe is fantastic for a really hearty lunch or dinner. It all cooks in one skillet and it reminded me that I should make coconut rice more often because it’s such a lovely addition to this dish. You can add in whatever vegetables you have on hand and if you don’t have Thai basil, then using regular basil will give you a slightly different but still delicious dish. I served this in lettuce cups but it’s fine on its own too.
Continue readingRecipe: Enfrijoladas
For my first attempt I didn’t quite get the sauce as smooth as I wanted it but it still came out really delicious. This isn’t authentic at all, and I can’t get many of the leaves, seasonings, chilies, and exact cheeses here in Estonia but I like to think it’s got the spirit of enfrijoladas. In an ideal world you would soak beans from scratch and cook them in a big pot yourself but I often can’t get dried black beans here either, just the cooked one. I might try a different bean or different fillings in the future but it’s always good to get a baseline for your food first I think.
Continue readingRecipe: Tom Yum Tofu
This is absolutely the opposite of authentic Thai food but I was able to find some really great tom yum soup base. I would tell you the brand but it’s literally only in Thai on the label and unfortunately I don’t read Thai. However, you can use whatever ready tom yum soup base you’re able to find though they do all taste different. This comes together pretty quickly and would be great with lots of extra vegetables especially corn or bamboo shoots and greens of any type.
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