Author: Kaluhi (Page 11 of 65)

Mahamri

May 27, 2020 / Kaluhi / 25 Comments

Lamu remains one of my favorite places to visit in Kenya. This slow, sleepy and stunningly beautiful island is a place I love to escape to when I want to unwind and relax be it with company or alone. I was last in Lamu in 2017 and I have been planning to go back since. I miss the warm & genuinely kind people. I miss white sand in my toes during a dawn beach stroll. I miss watching sunset while sailing a dhow. I miss humid nights and falling asleep to the sound of waves crashing outside my window. I miss the billions of cats & donkeys that wonder on the narrow streets lol! I miss everything about Lamu and of course, I especially miss the food! We all know that Swahili cuisine is freaking amazing! Today I am particularly missing mahamri, and that is what we are going to make today and enjoy during this current Lock-Down period. But best believe, once this is all over and it is safe to travel, I can’t wait to have my braids smell like sea water again!

Let’s get into today’s recipe.

Chocolate Swiss Roll with Rum Whipped Cream Filling

May 14, 2020 / Kaluhi / 9 Comments

My sisters’ and I usual snack during breaktime in Primary School was either a mandazi or a fruit or some biscuits with some juice. It was just a small snack 10 o’clock to keep us kinda full as we waited for lunch a little later at 12.45. We just carried whatever we could find at home, and we always had something to have- which was such a blessing. Once in a while, dad would buy us swiss rolls to carry for break and we loooooooved it so much. When Langata Uchumi Hyper was in it’s prime, their bakery was the world!! Literally everything they made was excellent! Don’t even get me started on their delicious power sandwiches *wipes excess drool*. Dad would bring the swiss roll log home and we would slice it and share among ourselves. It often didn’t make it to the next day, but when it did, it made snacking during breaktime so damn good!

For today, I am taking my childhood favorite and putting a twist of my own. Listen, you will fall head over heels in love with my chocolate swiss rolls with the richest rum whipped cream filling!

Curry & Coconut Cream Njahi

May 6, 2020 / Kaluhi / 31 Comments

I totally get and respect the fact that we all like different things because we are different people. But aki you guys – especially my twitter family- huwa mnaongea mbaya sana juu ya njahi lol! It’s actually not many people who talk smack, it is just a few people who are loud about their dislike; so it seems like the whole world hates njahi. The likening of njahi to soil, to a mattress, to rocks, to sweat; are really hilarious to be honest, but it kinda breaks my heart too that some people are actually living life without having ever tasted delicious njahi. In my book, anything and everything can be made delicious. If you match up your ingredients well and play up on fresh herbs, anything -including njahi- can be tasty!

If you have been looking for a perfect njahi recipe, this one is for you. If you already love njahi, here is another recipe to make you fall inlove with it once again!

Ukwaju Juice

March 25, 2020 / Kaluhi / 46 Comments

I love making my own juices at home. Not only is it waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper, but also, unlike box juice, you get to control the amount of sugar you add and it is also preservative free. I love mango juice. I love the juice combo of mango and passion fruit. I loooove pineapple and mint. I love just passion fruit juice on it’s own. I love orange juice, though it making it freshly squeezed is quite the work out lol! Another one I love and I have come to enjoy making at home is some ukwaju juice! So refreshing! So delicious! And one you too will enjoy having at home!

Creamy Cumin Chicken Linguine

March 18, 2020 / Kaluhi / 43 Comments

I am a pasta slave! In any and every shape it comes in, I will totally and willfully bow at it’s glory. There are over 350 types of pasta in existence, about 30 being most common, and in this country, Spaghetti is the most common pasta type. Some people say all types of pasta taste the same, but the real ones know each type does taste different and they all bring something different to the table. Each type of pasta tastes different because they carry sauce differently, pair different with specific sauces, must be cooked a certain way for a specific time and the starchiness breaks down different in a mouthful. My top three favorite types of pasta are penne, lasagna and linguine. And for today, I am letting my queen linguine shine!! I gave you a sneak peak of this on twitter in January and the day is finally here that you too get to indulge in this beauty.

It is saucy, it is creamy, it is rich, it is meaty and it is unforgettable!!

Coconut OatMeal with Cinnamon Zinzagaya (cape gooseberry) Compote

March 11, 2020 / Kaluhi / 22 Comments

I love oats as a quick breakfast. I personally don’t find them bland- I love their simple flavor when I make them with just milk on a busy morning and also deeply enjoy how well they take up flavor of other ingredients I decide to pair them with. I love my oats with a fruity element- often a compote- and today I made one with what we the Maragoli call Zinzagaya (cape gooseberries).

I ran this past you guys on Twitter and I got to learn they are pretty common throughout Kenyan tribes, not just mine. The Kikuyu call them Naathi, the Kalenjin call then Cheloliit and the Kisii call them Chinsobosobo. So regardless of the part of the country you are reading this from, you will totally fall inlove with this breakfast beauty!

Mala Marinated Kuku Choma with a Mango Habanero BBQ Sauce

March 4, 2020 / Kaluhi / 25 Comments

Picture yourself hosting friends for a delicious lunch. It is a potluck lunch and everyone is bringing something. You made sure you book chicken as the dish you would be making. You have the perfect recipe, and you are not only excited to show off the magic you are about to put together, but equally excited to feed your friends some great food. They arrive on time. The food is laid out. The wine is corked open. Some amazing music is playing. The sun is out. Laughter cracks across the room and the vibe is right. The chicken you made is the first thing to be cleared, and everyone is asking for the recipe you used. You take all the compliments, and you tell them “The recipe I used is Kaluhi’s Mala marinated kuku choma with a mango habanero bbq sauce. Get on it!!!”. You send them the link of this blog post and the video, and this recipe becomes the signature dish you guys make each time you link up. You own delicious tradition!

This is kuku choma recipe is without doubt so easy. But as always, one you will fall head over heals inlove with!