Category: Main (Page 13 of 13)

Cumin Infused Potato cakes

October 21, 2014 / Kaluhi / 8 Comments

Starch ingredients are so versatile in the kitchen because they can be transformed into so many dishes, each one having its very own character and unique taste. One of my favourite starches to cook with are potatoes because you can make nearly anything with them in a relatively short amount of time.

I have made potato cakes, which I was a bit nervous to make since it was my first time. Heaven shined on me and they turned out perfectly! The potatoes were boiled with whole cumin seeds, and their taste really comes through. The exterior is crunchy because of the bread crumbs, while the interior is nice and soft. This is super easy to make and I hope you will give this a try.

Ginger and Garlic Marinated Liver

October 14, 2014 / Kaluhi / 14 Comments

Liver is one of my absolute favorite organ meats. It is soft, has a rich taste and takes a relatively short time to cook. Sometime ago on facebook, I asked which which you cannot stand. I was surprised to see that many people do not like liver. Some stated it was because of it’s smell that does not go away even after cooking. For others, it is because they just could not figure out how to add more flavor.

Today I made fried liver, that had marinated in ginger, garlic, milk and green onion prior to frying it. This made that “raw-meat-smell” to go away and more importantly, added a lot more flavor to the liver. More so, I believe to have great tasting liver, you need to cook it with plenty of red onion and plenty of bell pepper, which I added while frying. This is so simple to do, yet produces really tasty liver. I hope you enjoy it too 🙂

Potato, Corn & Tomato Chowder

October 7, 2014 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

If you are a cartoon and animation lover like myself, you probably know this cartoon called chowder. Chowder was and still is one of my all time favorite cartoons. I thoroughly enjoy the silliness and the old-school humor which I feel majority of cartoons these days are lacking. I then accidentally discovered that all the characters, including the main character, chowder, are all actually named after a certain dish. This was very intriguing and facinating to me, so much so that I had to research into those dishes.
In honor of my favorite cartoon, today I made a heart warming potato, corn and tomato chowder.

Butternut and Dhania Chapati

October 3, 2014 / Kaluhi / 30 Comments

I still hear our squeaky little voices, our bodies bursting through the gate after an entire day of playing. With small dusty feet and tangles in our hair, my sisters and I would rush to the chair where our mom sat watching TV next to daddy or to her room where she would be “resting her eyes.”

“What’s for supper? ” We would ask.

This is the question we have asked and she has answered most. Her answer could either make us not really look forward to supper (ugali and sukumawiki) or it would make us rush to the table and have some already (chapati and meatballs).
Chapati is a flat bread, which has Indian origin, but has been tightly woven into Kenyan culture. It makes a perfect accompaniment to many stews and soups. This dish is the corner stone of any Kenyan celebration; be it Christmas, a birthday, weddings or graduation party. I made super soft chapatis but,as usual, with a little twist. My elder sister, Cheredi, put butternut in hers and I decided to follow the same route. The only difference is that I added dhania (coriander) for extra color and nutrients. If you are ready for crazy soft, beautifull tasty chapati, read on!

Chicken Biryani

September 23, 2014 / Kaluhi / 13 Comments

One of my closest friends while I was growing up was a beautiful girl called Sakina. We were very close and played at each other’s homes all the time. Our parents too were very close because ours was a relatively close knit neighborhood. Like nearly every African country, one home’s celebration is the entire neighborhood’s celebration. So whenever there was a party or celebration at Sakina’s place, it was the entire neighborhood’s celebration. I absolutely loved to go to their place because Sakina’s mum always whipped up the most decadent and exotic meals I would have in a long time. Served in generous portions, she made sure that all guests had their tummies full. The parties at Sakina’s home were not to be missed. Period! The very first time I had biryani was at their home, and it really blew my breath away. Today, I relived those fantastic memories and made this unforgettable chicken biryani. This recipe is so fantastic, it will make people want to move in with you.

Dreamy Dill Mashed Potatoes

September 20, 2014 / Kaluhi / 4 Comments

We all have those meals we turn to when we want to break the monotony of the week. In our house, everyone is crazy about mashed potatoes. They are not only delicious, but they are very easy to make and can be make within the week without huge levels of stress. Potatoes are an amazing starch because they are like a blank canvas that can enable you to incorporate different components to enhance or even transform them. In our house, mashed potatoes go beyond just taking potatoes and pounding them, but we add coconut cream to make them aromatic, milk to remove all lumps ,cheddar cheese to make them creamy and dill to make them more nutritious.
These dreamy dill mashed potatoes are so light, yet so filling and without doubt, you will enjoy this too.

Curry and Coconut Cream Githeri

September 16, 2014 / Kaluhi / 33 Comments

Githeri is a bean and maize casserole of sorts and it is served throughout Kenya. It is a very popular meal because it is healthy and also because it makes it easy to include all food groups in one meal. In my country, this is one meal that all boarding schools have in common. Before I joined boarding school, I would hear tales from my elder sisters, Cheredi and Sieva, about how hard the maize in their school githeri was. I quietly thought to myself that it really couldn’t be THAT hard! That was until my first Wednesday evening when our supper was githeri. The maize was indeed hard, and for the first time, that hot January evening, I really missed home food. But I put on my big girl pants and had my meal, appreciating the fact that at least I had something to put in my tummy that day.
The githeri I made today has the softest maize though. Traditionally, it is made with only onions and tomatoes, however my twist on this Kenyan delicacy is adding the richness of coconut cream & curry powder, and using cumin and mustard seeds, whose oils play up the githeri flavor. This is the best githeri you will ever have without doubt!

Coal Grilled Fish Fillet

September 9, 2014 / Kaluhi / 8 Comments

I have spent the better part of my life in one of the most vibrant suburbs in Nairobi – Lang’ata. Besides the fact that you can literally find everything at your door step (something I absolutely miss), Lang’ata seemed to come alive in the evenings. At dusk, these suburb streets filled with people rushing from work, clicks of youth lazily strolling, school children in their school uniforms and music-blasting matatus making their rounds. Street food vendors would erect their stands, prepare their food and serve the awaiting customers. The aromas that filled the cool evening air were those of roast maize, mutura, mshikaki and bhajia. I fondly remember the ladies who sold fried fish. With their wide grins and eager eyes, it was almost impossible to pass them by without buying some fish for yourself. These were the memories playing in my mind as I made this coal grilled tilapia fish fillet. It soaked in a rich marinade before cooking and this played up its flavor.
If you love fish, you will fall head over heels with this recipe that I got from one of my favorite chefs, Ina Garten. And if you do not like fish, I will make you a believer!

Cumin Bhajia with Tatziki

September 2, 2014 / Kaluhi / 9 Comments

In my primary school, we used to wash our classrooms every Friday afternoon before heading home for the weekend. This not only instilled a sense of responsibility and cleanliness in us but made our learning environment a lot more conducive. We would wash our classroom as fast as we possibly could so that we could proceed to play for the rest of the afternoon. When we were released to go home on Friday, my friends and I would walk home instead of taking public matatu transportation. We would indulge in our silly girly musings and pass by some shops not too far from school to buy bhajias. I always made sure to save my 5 shillings so that I did not miss out. To us, this signaled the end of the school week and we ushered in the weekend with the tastiest snacks which were very popular with school going children. The bhajias we bought from the neighbourhood shops were usually served with some chilli powder and/or salt. Today, I went down memory lane and made my bhajia with a cumin infused batter together with the creamiest tatziki dip that’s both easy to make and tasty to have.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Coconut Milk Stewed Matoke

August 30, 2014 / Kaluhi / 16 Comments

Think about your childhood for a moment… If you were like most kids, there was always that meal you never liked to eat, despite it being healthy for you. Be it pumpkin, broccoli, peas or fish, there must have been something that you could not get down your throat. For me it was Matoke. I just found it absolutely unappealing, yet a month would not go by without my mum preparing it for us. With time, however, I really grew to like it and today it is one of my favourite Kenyan dishes.
One of my readers asked how she can prepare a meal without the use of spices and still make it tasty. My answer was simple: use the original source of the spice. For instance, instead of using ground garlic, use freshly pounded garlic cloves. I always cook with spices so I took this as a challenge and decided to make one of my favourite dishes, without spices. And let me tell you, it turned out better than I could have ever imagined.
From my heart to yours, I hope you enjoy this coconut milk stewed matoke as much as I did.

Outback Sandwich

August 26, 2014 / Kaluhi / 17 Comments

During the weekends, I usually unwind while watching a nice movie or series or immersing myself in a novel. When I engage in either of these activities, I usually like to have a snack by my side. Most of the time I just have a fruit but sometimes I like have something richer and with diverse flavors.
One of my favourite snacks is my mouthwatering Outback Sandwich. I made it once as I was playing around with different ingredients and lucky for me, the first time I made it it turned out fantastic and I have not made a single change to the recipe.
The sweet and sour sauce of this sandwich is the highlight and it marries all the other ingredients with the ham so beautifully. The best part of it all, as usual, is that you can make this at home. Believe me, one bite of this sandwich will give you some serious intergalactic taste bud euphoria!!!

Whether you are watching an EPL match, binging on your favourite series or snacking after your hike, this is the sandwich that you should be biting into!

Matata Meatballs

August 16, 2014 / Kaluhi / 29 Comments

Sometimes during a busy work week, all I think about is getting back to bed. I get so exhausted that alI think about be it during a break, in my fantasies, while in traffic, is that glorious moment I will finally sink into my cosy bed. I kid you not! With all that fatigue, it usually is difficult to whip up a saucy and memorable meal, hence I settle for whatever is left over, have my dinner and jump to bed.

During the weekends however, I try to break the monotony of the “weekday” meals with something exciting and tantalizing. This week I made my Matata meatballs that usher in the weekend in the most grand scale. Matata is a swahili word meaning disturbance. I named these meatballs ‘Matata Meatballs” because they sure do shake things up but in the most amazing way yet!

Trust me, you will have to eat this three days in a row before you get satisfied!

Sweet Corn Fried Rice

August 12, 2014 / Kaluhi / 25 Comments

One of the most comforting smells to date is the same one that filled mum’s kitchen- starchy steam rising out of a sufuria of pishori rice. As we grew older and started helping out in the preparation of our meals, my mum always insisted on two things: Rice should never be sticky and it should always have some oil and salt. Second to ugali, rice is almost always present in the Adagala household. Besides pilau, we use rice that is already cooked to make sweet corn fried rice. It is not only delicious, but it makes a statement and it can be made in less than an hour. So anytime you have impromptu guests visiting your home, surprise them with this delectable rice dish!

Rosemary Fries & White Wine Tomato Sauce

August 7, 2014 / Kaluhi / 9 Comments

“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to great perfection, and it offers a great range for enjoyment and appreciation than, possibly, any other purely sensory thing”

– Ernest Hemingway

I couldn’t agree more!!!

I absolutely enjoy girls night in with my closest buddies, and such occasions are never complete without a nice movie, warm socks, some hearty laughs ,and to top it all off, some good wine. We all try to imitate Olivia Pope sipping her wine after her intense gladiator-white-hat-wearing work days and decide who makes the best imitation.I know, we have a problem. But its the crazy things that make life fun, right? I find it strange that we all love wine, but then again, birds of a feather flock together.

Wine is not only one of my favourite drinks, but it also makes a fabulous ingredient to cook with. I occasionally add it to my food to infuse deeper flavors but also to make our everyday food more special, because I believe wine makes everything magical!

I was craving some fries and I decided to make some at home and fry them in oil that has rosemary and coriander infused in it. To make it more savory, I made this show stopping white wine tomato sauce that made every bite rich and memorable. If you are yearning for a meal that will give your taste buds one grand party and you have 30 minutes to spare, this is what you need to make!

Spice and Crunch Tender Chicken Wings

August 4, 2014 / Kaluhi / 14 Comments

Kenyans are fast getting affiliated to fast food. With the opening of global giant KFC in our country a while back, city dwellers have gone crazy over their fried chicken because it offered something slightly different to what we were used to. However when you feel like you want some chicken that’s tender on the inside but crunchy on the outside, you do not have to go out and get some. You can make it at home and the best part about it is, you can add more delectable ingredients to tantalize your taste buds!

You are going to go wild with my Spice & Crunch Tender Chicken Wings!