Curry Rice

Curried Vegetable Rice

Serves  8 people Prep Time 15 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes  Total time 45 minutes The Devine Smell of Curried Rice We’ve been fortunate that great cooks have married into our family. Two of my brothers remained on the compound after they got married, and their wives brought a whole new flavor profile to our food repertoire. Coming from different lineages in town, their families had heirloom recipes they held

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Buttermilk Corn Cakes

Serves 20-24 Cakes Prep time 10 minutes Cooking time 5  minutes Total time 15 minutes Corn, originating from the indigenous communities of southern Mexico, underwent a transformative journey as European explorers and traders introduced it to the wider world upon their return to Europe. Its adaptability to various climates facilitated its global dissemination, rendering it a dietary cornerstone across diverse regions. In Mexican cuisine, corn reigns supreme, intricately woven into

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White Melon Seed Seafood Bisque

Prep Time  20 minutes Cook Time  50 minutes Total Time  1 hour 10  minutes Serves 6 people  “Sara-nan,” also known as Egusi stew in other West African countries, derives its name from the fusion of two elements: “Sara” representing melon seed and “Nan” signifying sauce in Dioula, my native language. The traditional preparation and presentation of this dish carry unique nuances. In my homeland, it’s customary to incorporate smoked cow’s

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Salmon Textures

Navigating the complexities of traveling back home as an immigrant in America is akin to threading a needle. The logistical challenges—infrequent flights to Ivory Coast from Washington, DC, coupled with the precarious balance of vacation hours and job security—loom like daunting obstacles. Even with accrued vacation time, the demands of the restaurant industry often complicate matters further. The prospect of leaving a position unfilled for an extended period is a

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Attieke

Crispy Attieke Salad

Prep Time  15 minutes Cook Time  10  minutes Total Time  25  minutes Serves 4 people Attieke, perhaps the most emblematic dish of Côte d’Ivoire, holds a special place in my memories of growing up. Whenever we ventured into a bustling maquis (street-side outdoor restaurant), it was the go-to choice on the menu. This versatile dish can be prepared in various ways, each offering a unique culinary experience. Among the most

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Chipotle Shrimp

Prep Time  30 minutes Cook Time  10 minutes Total Time  40  minutes Serves 5 people My journey into the culinary world began with my first job in the United States, a humble position as a dishwasher at I’ricchi restaurant. It was through the connection of my brother, who worked as a cook there, that I landed this opportunity while pursuing my computer science degree in Washington, DC. However, after two

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Vodka infused Salmon Pasta Sauce

Ready in 20 minutes Serves4 people280 calories In the realm of entrepreneurship, the virtues of persistence and patience are often extolled as paramount. Yet, after a decade of stewardship over Kora, we learned firsthand that the journey is far from straightforward. While unwavering determination and the ability to weather storms undoubtedly play pivotal roles in a business’s success, they are but pieces of a larger puzzle. Upon acquiring Kora, touted

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Pico de gallo

Pico de Gallo

Ready in 15 minutes Makes 3 cups   Pico de gallo holds a beloved spot in Mexican cuisine, intriguingly named ‘beak of rooster’. This moniker sparks curiosity, with some suggesting it originates from the traditional way of enjoying this chunky salsa – pinching a morsel between the thumb and fingers, mimicking a rooster’s beak. Known for its vibrant freshness, pico de gallo is also referred to as salsa fresca (fresh

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Poblano Pesto

Poblano Pesto

Prep Time  20 minutes Cook Time  5 minutes Total Time  25 minutes Makes 1.5 to 2 cups Pesto, the quintessential uncooked sauce hailing from Genoa in Italy’s northern reaches, is a culinary masterpiece steeped in tradition. Its roots are entwined with the rich tapestry of Italian cuisine, where the simple act of crushing garlic, basil, and pine nuts, then blending them with Parmesan cheese and olive oil, transcends the ordinary. The

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White Mint “Caviar”

Prep time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Makes 1 cup As I delved deeper into the realm of professional cooking, I couldn’t help but notice a curious trend: whenever lamb graced the table, requests for mint jelly often followed suit. This peculiar pairing left me intrigued. Growing up in Africa, where savory and sweet seldom crossed paths in our culinary repertoire, I found myself perplexed by the connection. The

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Salmon “Shank”

Prep Time  30 minutes Cook Time  45 minutes Total Time  1 hour 15  minutes Serves 4 people Ingredients For the Spring Rolls ½ pound jumbo lump crabmeat 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise 1 Tablespoon tamarind paste 1 Serrano chili, seeded and finely minced 1 sprig scallion, chopped 1 Tablespoon cilantro, chopped ½ cup white cabbage, finely shredded Salt 4 spring roll wrappers, 7 inches square 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten For the

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Vanilla Butter Poached Lobster

Prep Time  1 hour 30 minutes Cook Time  45 minutes Total Time  2 hour 15  minutes Serves 4 people In 2004, when Art Culinaire approached me for their upcoming “pulverized” issue, I found myself momentarily perplexed—I wasn’t even familiar with the term and had to look it up. Back in those days, armed with a BlackBerry, turning to Google wasn’t my immediate reflex. Upon understanding what “pulverized” meant, a realization

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Gluten and Sugar Free Banana Bread

Prep Time  10 minutes Cook Time  1 hour Total Time  1 hour 10  minutes Serves 10 Slices My mother was gifted a modest plot of land within our family compound, a canvas on which she could cultivate a variety of vegetables or raise any animal she desired. She chose to grow manioc, okra, tomatoes, and peppers, and to keep a few hens. Additionally, she decided to have a traditional clay

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Morou by Dixie Vareen