Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Stewing and Baking African Food Recipes

Learn about stewing and baking African recipes.


Stewing means food that is cooked by simmering or boiling very slowly. Different kinds of vegetables and meats are added to a pot. 

Cooking methods such as stewing may stem from African cooking traditions. Stewing involves making food that requires long-simmering periods of vegetables and sometimes meat. 

Africans stewed vegetables by laying thick slices of salty meat on top. Stewing is suitable for the least tender cuts of meat that become tender and juicy with the slow moist heat method. 

Frying is not ingenious to African cooking, Native Americans taught frying techniques to the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806. 


Stewing food on a wooden stove in Southern Africa.
Stewing food on a wooden stove


Spicy Ostrich Stew Recipe

South Africa
Yield 6-8 servings 

Ingredients
4 cloves garlic crushed
2 cups peeled yam cut into 1 ″ cubes
3 cups fresh green beans
1 ½ pounds cleaned ostrich
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 medium onion, sliced
2 teaspoons coriander
2 tablespoons red pepper flake
2 cups beef stock
1 cup whole stewed tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
In a large pot on medium heat, add oil then sauté garlic one minute. Add remaining ingredients. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Serve warm.


Baking is the technique of prolonged cooking of food such as breads and meats by dry heat usually in an oven.
Baking bread

Baking is the technique of prolonged cooking of food such as breads and meats by dry heat usually in an oven. Baking is an art, the skill of bread baking throughout the African continent is a traditional talent filled with pride. 

From Kenyan Chapati flatbread to Egyptian Eesh Baladi the most delicious breads begin with proper ingredients and mixing. 

The method of mixing is important when several ingredients are combined when making dough for African breads and fritters. Mixing is a universal term that includes stirring, beating, blending, sifting, creaming, cutting in and folding. 


Eesh Baladi Egyptian Bread 

Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour or all-purpose
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup of warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Stir warm water, honey, and yeast in a large bowl let stand about 5 minutes. Add flour and salt dough sound is slightly sticky when you are done mixing. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand. You can also use a mixer with a hook attachment. Roll dough into small balls then flatten. Cover with a cloth let rise in a warm place about 2 hours. Place dough on a light colored lightly greased baking pan and bake until golden about 20 minutes. 


More easy breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again.

  1. Curried Tanzanian Coconut Okra Recipe
  2. Ethiopian Scrambled Egg Breakfast
  3. Senegalese Chicken Vermicelli
  4. Chadian Steamed Honey Cassava Buns
  5. Nigerian Breakfast Fried Akara and Ogi

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

More Articles to Read from Chic African Culture

Show more

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Cuban Military Presence in Angola

Image
The Cuban military had a long-lasting presence in Angola, with thousands of troops stationed there during a political conflict. The Cuban intervention in Angola had significant international implications and was seen as part of the broader Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.  Angola, a former Portuguese colony in southern Africa, was in the midst of a struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. This war for independence lasted from the early 1960s until 1974, when the Portuguese Carnation Revolution led to the decolonization of Portuguese Africa. When Portugal withdrew from Angola in 1975, it left a significant hole in the political landscape in the country. This withdrawal marked the end of decades of colonial rule and set the stage for the country's transition to independence. However, it also created a political void, as there was no clear, unified government to take control. In the absence of Portuguese colonial rule, many Angolan polit
Read the Article

Sand Traveling from the Shores of Ghana to New England

Image
The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, is an important reminder of the interconnectedness of all existence.  It serves as a reminder that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant elements of our world are subject to the grand tapestry of natural processes and the relentless passage of time.  It also invites us to reflect on the intricate web of relationships that underlie our existence and the profound implications of our actions on the global scale. The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, shows how interconnected our world is despite vast distances. Sand grains on the shores of Ghana, like those on coastlines worldwide, are constantly subject to natural processes such as erosion. Waves, tides, and weathering gradually break down rocks and minerals, producing sand. The Atlantic Ocean separates Ghana from the eastern United States. Ocean currents, including the North Atlantic Drift and the Gulf Stream, are c
Read the Article

Sofala: A Key Stop on Covilhã's African Odyssey

Image
Sofala, historically known as a significant trading town, holds a special place in the history of Eastern Africa. Located on the eastern coast of Africa, in what is modern-day Mozambique, Sofala was a bustling and strategic port during the late medieval period and the Age of Exploration. Navigating the waters around Sofala was no small feat. The Indian Ocean currents and shifting sandbars made the approach to the Sofala coast treacherous. Pêro de Covilhã's successful navigation of these waters demonstrated his seafaring prowess and furthered Portugal's ambitions to dominate maritime trade routes. To Portuguese explorers, Sofala was not merely a geographical destination but a vibrant crossroads of cultures and trade during the late 15th century. The Age of Exploration in the late 15th century was a transformative era in African human history. It was a time when intrepid European explorers set out on perilous journeys to chart unknown territories, establish trade routes, and unco
Read the Article

Top 20 Largest Countries in Africa

Image
African Country by Size List. Africa Which are the top twenty largest, smallest, and territorial country in Africa by land area? 1. The continent of Africa is the world’s second largest based on land area and population just after Asia. 2. Top five largest countries of Africa are Algeria, Congo Democratic Republic of the, Sudan, Libya and Chad. 3. Top five smallest African countries and territories are Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Saint Helena and Mayotte. African Country from largest to smallest Area sq mile Area sq km Algeria 919,595 2,381,740 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) 905,568 2,345,410 Sudan 718,723 1,861,484 Libya 679,362 1,759,540 Chad 495,755 1,284,000 Niger 489,191 1,267,000 Angola 481,354 1,246,700 Mali 478,767 1,240,000 South Africa 471,011 1,219,912 Ethiopia 435,186 1,127,127 Mauritania 397,95
Read the Article