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About the Author

Ivy is the researcher and writer behind The African Gourmet, blending African food, history, and cultural storytelling. Her work is cited by universities, Wikipedia, major news outlets, and global food writers.

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Start Here: Explore Africa’s Living Knowledge

Learn Africa through science, stories, recipes, proverbs, history, and geography — interconnected, just as life is.

Making African Food Vegetable Spicy Peanut Sauce

In regions of Zambia, the peanut plays an important role both as income and food crop.


Broccoli and Red Peppers with Spicy Peanut Sauce recipe can be whipped up in an instant
Making African Food Vegetable Spicy Peanut Sauce

Making African Food Vegetable Spicy Peanut Sauce


Ingredients
3 cups broccoli florets
1 thinly sliced red bell pepper
1 chopped hot pepper (optional)
¼ cup vegetable stock
¼ cup water
¼ cup smooth peanut butter
2 teaspoons minced garlic cloves

Directions
Whisk water, peanut butter, and garlic cloves together in bowl. Add broccoli, red bell pepper, and vegetable stock in large pot covered, over high heat until tender, about 5 minutes. Add sauce to pot and simmer over medium-high heat until thickened, about 30 seconds. Return vegetables to pot and cook until well coated, about 30 seconds. Serve warm over rice.

About Peanuts in Africa

Cooking in Zambia Africa
Cooking in Zambia Africa


Despite its beauty, the poverty rate in Zambia is around 27 percent, most people living off $1.25 per day. Zambia is home to seventy various ethnic groups. Small family farms and subsistence farming accounts for around 80 percent of Zambia's agricultural areas.

Pumpkins and peanuts grow abundantly in the African country of Zambia and are an economical source of nutrient-dense food. What is nutrient density? It is a measure of the nutrients provided per calorie of food or the ratio of nutrients to calories.

Foods that supply generous amounts of one or more nutrients compared to the number of calories they supply are called nutrient-dense. Peanuts have a high nutrient density because they provide protein and many vitamins and minerals in a proportion of their calories.

Nutrient-dense foods are full of the nutrients that a body needs to thrive. In Zambia, peanuts are worth more than peanuts in rural farmlands the peanut is an ideal crop to grow, especially for women. Women are increasingly farming fallow lands with drought-tolerant peanut varieties in order to produce products to sell, such as cakes, oils and peanut butter in local markets.

Over half of the peanuts harvested worldwide are crushed for oil; peanuts produced in developing regions of Zambia are sold in local markets to earn a living for their families. Peanuts are a vital income-producing crop to Zambian African women.. Earning higher profits from the nutrient-dense peanut means stronger families for Zambia and ultimately Africa as a whole.

Recipe Alert

Easy peanut butter coconut milk rice porridge recipe deliciously uses healthy peanuts.


African food recipes are easy to make at home.

Prep time: 5 min Cook time: 10 Total time: 15 min

Ingredients

1 cup cooked rice
¼ cup unsalted roasted peanuts, chopped
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
1 cup of coconut milk

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat add milk, honey, and peanut butter mixing well. Stir in rice and peanuts, top with your favorite fruit and serve warm.
Zambia, officially the Republic of Zambia has a population of about 13.5 million people and is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Zambia is located in Eastern Africa and its capital is Lusaka. Zambia and Zimbabwe borders meet at one of the natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls, and one of the largest man-made lakes, Lake Kariba.

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Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Recipes Explain Politics

🍚

🍚 When Rice Recipes Become Revolution

What if your grandmother's rice recipe could explain the Liberian Rice Riots of 1979?

"In Liberia, rice isn't just food—it's life, identity, and sovereignty. When the government proposed raising rice prices in 1979, they weren't just adjusting economics; they were threatening every grandmother's ability to feed her family according to traditions passed down for generations. The riot that followed wasn't about politics—it was about the sacred right to cook your family's rice recipe."

🍲 The Deeper Recipe:

  • Ingredients: Colonial trade patterns + Urbanization + Economic inequality
  • Preparation: Political disconnect from daily survival needs
  • Serving: 40+ deaths, regime destabilization, and a warning about ignoring cultural fundamentals

This is African Gourmet analysis: understanding how the food in grandmother's pot connects to the protests in the streets. The recipes we inherit carry not just flavor, but the entire history of our political and economic struggles.

Understanding Africa through the stories our food tells • Since 2006

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African Gourmet FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Why "The African Gourmet" if you cover more than just food?

Great question! While many associate "gourmet" exclusively with cuisine, its true meaning is "a connoisseur" – someone with refined taste and deep expertise. For over 18 years, I've served as a gourmet of African culture at large, savoring and presenting the continent's rich history, vibrant traditions, timeless wisdom, and contemporary stories with the same discerning palate one would apply to fine food. The name reflects my commitment to curating Africa's cultural wealth with authority and passion.

What makes The African Gourmet different from other culture sites?

With 18 years of consistent publishing, I offer depth and continuity that's rare online. I don't just report on African culture – I contextualize it, connecting traditional wisdom with modern realities, and food with folklore, politics, and daily life. It's a holistic view of Africa's past, present, and future, all through the lens of a seasoned cultural storyteller.

How do you choose what to write about?

My content selection is driven by a desire to showcase Africa's incredible diversity and challenge stereotypes. I balance covering foundational cultural elements (like proverbs and recipes) with timely analysis of current events (like the AGOA trade agreement). The goal is always to educate and illuminate the complex, dynamic realities of the African continent.

Do you focus on specific regions of Africa?

My coverage spans the entire continent – from North to South, East to West. While certain stories may focus on specific countries or regions, my mission is to represent the breathtaking diversity of 54 countries and thousands of cultures. I make a conscious effort to include both well-known and underrepresented cultures in my work.

Can I request a topic or contribute to the site?

I welcome thoughtful topic suggestions from engaged readers! While I maintain editorial control to ensure quality and consistency, I'm always interested in hearing what aspects of African culture you're curious about. Feel free to reach out through my contact page with your ideas.

How can I support The African Gourmet's work?

The greatest support is engaged readership – sharing articles you find valuable, participating in discussions, and helping spread cultural understanding. Following the blog and sharing it with others who would appreciate this unique perspective on Africa helps this 18-year labor of love continue to grow and reach new audiences.