SOFTEST BROWN BREAD RECIPE EVER

INGREDIENTS 

500g of Wholemeal flour (preferably Organic)

1 levelled teaspoon of Vitamin C powder (Holland & Barrett)

2 tablespoonfuls of natural Yoghurt 

14g of dried Yeast

Half a teaspoon of grated Nutmeg 

1 tablespoonful of Dark Brown Sugar 

1 teaspoonful of Salt

400ml of lukewarm water 

METHOD 

Watch how to prepare this soft Brown Bread recipe below;

Don’t forget to subscribe, try the recipe and share.

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog.

CHOP BAR BEEF LIGHT SOUP (A FUSION OF CULTURES)

The Butcher skilfully diced the boneless Beef into my preferred size whilst I contemplated whether to ask for bones or not. I blurted my question out not realising l was thinking out loud. The Butcher said ‘sure’ as he used his machine to cut the bones into sizeable chunks and added it was ‘free’. 

I quickly said ‘thank you’ with a smile on my face as I headed out of the shop.

My next dilemma was what to cook, Pho or Beef light soup? I decided to prepare the tastiest West African Beef soup recipe using the Vietnamese cooking method of making Pho.

VIETNAM 

My first experience of having Pho was during my visit to Vietnam about 5 years ago. Every street corner had a Pho stand where a broth made from bones and spices will boil for hours. 

The clear broth is then added to rice noodles, your preferred protein with oodles of fresh mixed herbs and chillies. My experience in Vietnam introduced me to charring of Ginger for that slight smoky and intense Ginger flavour.

TOGO

Another experience that influenced this soup was my first visit to Togo during my childhood. 

Mum took me to a local Togolese Chop Bar where we had the most amazing Yam Fufu with Goat Meat light soup. 

I watched as three women using a pestle and mortar (the type we use in Ghana for pounding Palm nut) dip the pestle into water and took turns in pounding the Yam Fufu. 

The Yam Fufu was the silkiest and softest Fufu I’ve had to date coupled with the perfectly spiced and aromatic Goat Meat soup.

With the above experiences under my belt I decided to create a recipe in honour of two different cultures.  I hope you enjoy this dish as much as I did and it makes it to your Christmas menu.

The next recipe is my interpretation of a silky smooth Yam Fufu. Don’t forget to subscribe and click the notification button on my YouTube channel, ‘Ndudu by Fafa’ for when I upload the video.

To start you will need the following;

Ingredients

400g of bones

1kg of diced Beef

3 medium sized salted Beef

4 Grains of Selim (Hwentia)

3 Black Cardamom (Optional)

2 Habanero Chillies 

10 Kasoa Green Chillies (readily available in Ghana) or any Green chillies

2 litres of Water

80g of Tomato paste

100g of Okra/ Garden Eggs/ Aubergine

1 teaspoonful of Salt to taste

Spice blend

40g of Ginger

3 cloves of Garlic

1 large Onion

1 tablespoonful of Aniseed

Salted Beef

200g of fatty Beef 

30g of Salt

2 tablespoonful of Vinegar

5 Grains of Selim and or 4 Black Cardamom (Optional)

4 Schezuan pepper (optional) Alternative: Fennel and Black Peppercorns

1 teaspoon of dried Rosemary

4 Green Cardamon pods (optional)

Method;

Watch how to prepare the most creative soup with a fusion of differing cultural cooking methods below; 

Don't forget to subscribe, try the recipe, leave comments with your feedback and share. 

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog. 

SMOKY AND AROMATIC GRILLED RED MULLET

Imagine bitting into a moist fish with crispy skin and savouring the smoky and aromatic flavour of its marinade. 

A perfect stress free meal to incorporate into your festive menu for those who maintain a Pescatarian diet. Serve with some sticky Coconut rice and your preferred steamed vegetables.

Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

2 medium sized, descaled and gutted Red  Mullet

1 sprig of Rosemary 

1 teaspoonful of smoked Paprika 

4 tablespoonfuls of Olive oil 

Salt and Pepper to taste

HOLY GRAIL SPICE BLEND

30g of Ginger 

1 large Onion

1 tablespoonful of Aniseed 

2 cloves of Garlic 

4 Green chillies

Blend the spice mix together and use 3 tablespoonful for this recipe.

Reserve the rest in an airtight container, cover with Olive oil and reserve it in a fridge for no longer than 10 days. Use as and when a recipe requires it.

You can also serve  this fish with either Yam, Potato or Plantain chips 

Watch how make this quick and flavour packed recipe below;

Don’t forget to subscribe, try the recipe, leave comments with your feedback and share 😘

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog.

HOW TO MAKE COUSCOUS FROM SCRATCH

The time on the clock was 05:30hrs as I sipped my black coffee and started researching about Millet Couscous. The constant request for Brukina (a Ghanaian drink made from Millet and Milk) by my subscribers inspired my early rise.

The outcome of my research meant one had to use CousCous Millet and  not the Millet in its natural form. I could place an order for the Millet Couscous however that will delay my filming for another week.

I had all the ingredients needed to make my own Millet Couscous apart from the Muslin cloth needed for steaming.

During my childhood Mum made a dish known as ‘Korklui’ where the fermented Corn dough was turned into granules using a flat wooden sieve known as ‘Agbadze’ and boiled into a porridge.

I knew  Agbadze (as known in the Ewe language) was  used in Ghana and Togo, however I was curious to know if any other country also used it and it’s local name. My question read…

‘Good morning folks. What would you call this in your local language and in English?  Do you use this in your country? Tell me more.

*Responses*

Elibri

*I guess it can be called Sranui*. ‘Ewe language from the Ho area of Ghana’ as explained by Amadebrah

Qwesi_gentry

*We call it Agbaedzea in Angola and we use it for sieving’

Freda Muyambo (CEO of Tarts & Crumble based in Nigeria).

**Used for winnowing? I guess it is called a winnower or winnow’**

Lyon

**Used by the Ga people for the preparation of Kpokpoi**

Chayilediyie

*It’s called Ukeng in my dialect (Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria)**

Thank you folks for your contribution to my research. In the name of sticking to the recipe for the Millet Couscous  find the list of ingredients below;

680g of Millet flour

227g of Rice flour

200ml of cold water

Jollof

250g of Jollof stew

340g of Millet Couscous

METHOD

Watch how to make your own Gluten free Couscous below;

Don’t forget to subscribe, try the recipe, leave comments with your feedback and share 

 

3 MUST HAVE GHANAIAN CHILLI SAUCES

The 3 main Chilli sauces consumed by most Ghanaian households are the Green Chilli sauce made from Pettie Belle Chillies locally known as KpaKposhito. 
'Shito' translated from the Ga language (spoken by most Ghanaians, particularly by the Ga tribe from Accra, the capital of Ghana) means 'Chilli'. 

In Ewe (language spoken by the Ewe tribe from the Volta region) Chilli is 'Atadi' and the Ashanti's also refer to it as 'Meko'. 

How do you describe 'Chilli' in your language? Please share by leaving comments below. 

 Red Chilli Sauce 
 A spicy Salsa  made from Red Chillies, Onions, Tomatoes and Salt which are grounded (using the Ghanaian earthern clay bowl with internal ridges, known as 'Asanka' and its accompanying wooden pestle) into a textured smooth consistency. 
The inclusion of Garlic and Ginger (apart from their great nutritional content) to the salsa has gently crept into the recipe and its a welcome distraction. 

For that smoky flavour, why not try to char grill your Tomatoes? 

GREEN CHILLI SAUCE
Using the aromatic Green chillies from Ghana (Kasoa Pepper or Kpakposhito)Onion, Garlic, Ginger and salt to taste(which are grounded into a textured consistency) this sauce is cooked to intensify it’s flavours. Most individuals do include Aroma or Shrimp stock to this sauce which is optional for that added flavour. My recipe excludes the aforementioned food enhancers but instead incorporates Green Peppers and Coconut oil for that added flavour. Most Green sauces loose their bright Green colour and instead have an Olive green colour when cooked. I microwave my sauce to ensure I retain the bright Green colour of the sauce.
  This particular sauce is enjoyed with Kenkey, boiled Yam, Banku, Akple etc 

A must try sauce

BLACK CHILLI SAUCE (SHITO)

The ultimate Chilli sauce is the slow cooked Black Chilli sauce popularly known as 'Shito' which is made with Chillies , Spices, Onions, Shrimp powder and Herring Powder. Each household has its own version hence the flavours can be varied. The sauce can have either a smooth or textured consistency depending on each individuals preference. 

I have a few friends who cannot enjoy a meal without incorporating any of the above sauces  to their dish. 

Find the step by step video guide on how to make these 3 incredible sauces below; 

Don't forget to subscribe, like the videos and share. 
All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog. 

THE TASTIEST GOAT MEAT STEW INFUSED WITH PREKESE

PREKESE (Tetrapleura tetraptera)

Native to Western Africa (particularly in Ghana and Nigeria) where it’s readily used, Prekese as known in Ghana or Uhio in Nigeria is part of the Pea plant family.

The fruit has a sweet fragrance that can be lost if not stored properly and doubles up as a spice. Prekese is usually used in making drinks and soup such as (Palm nut soup, Banga soup or Light soup) and it is rather unusual to use it in stews. 

The idea behind this recipe is to create other inspiring ways to using our local spices, create new flavours and recipes.  The inclusion of Prekese to the traditional Tomato based stew in this case was to infuse its sweet flavour to the dish.

 Prekese is rich in protein, lipids, potassium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, and vitamin C hence its inclusion also in stews can only benefit the eater. 

Bulgar Wheat Jollof

I made this recipe for my Mum, portioned it into little containers, froze them which gave her the flexibility of using it as and when a recipe requires it. 

It is a perfect sauce for making something different for Christmas and a must try. 

Be adventurous and use the stew as a base for your Jollof rice. Try using the Ghanaian Brown Rice for that nutty flavoured Jollof rice.

INGREDIENTS

1kg of Goat meat

2 large Onions

10g of Ginger

10 fresh Green Chillies (Any chillies of your choosing)

1 teaspoon of dried Rosemary

1 teaspoon of Cumin seeds (optional)

1 large Prekese

150ml of water (Steam the Goat meat on your lowest setting for 45 minutes)

600g of fresh blended Tomatoes or make your own Passata as shown below;

80g  of Tomato puree

1 stock cube (Optional) This was omitted from the video recipe. 

100 ml of your preferred oil

Salt to taste

Spice blend

1 large Onion

1 tablespoonful of Aniseed

2 cloves of Garlic

30g of Ginger

Do you prefer Lamb? Why not try this recipe below; 

Don't forget to like the videos, try the recipe and share. 

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog. 

EGUSI AND EBA RECIPE (NIGERIA)

Ingredients

500g of Goat Meat cut into sizeable chunks  

Spice Blend
30g of Ginger
1 large Onion
 1 teaspoon of Carom Seeds (optional)
1 teaspoonful of Aniseed (NkitiNkiti)

200g of blended Egusi seeds and 125ml of water

2 Red Peppers, 4 Red Chillies and 150g of Tomatoes

150 ml of Zomi (spiced Palm oil or Palm Oil

2 large Onions

1 tablespoonful of Shrimp powder

Salted dried Fish (Koobi)

Half a teaspoon of Dawadawa powder

400g of Spinach

10 fresh Green Chillies

Salt to taste 

EBA

1 cup of Gari

2 cups of hot water

Salt to taste

METHOD
Watch how to make this tastiest (best kept secret of Nigeria) recipe of Eba and Egusi on my YouTube channel below; 

Don't forget to subscribe, like the videos, try the recipes and leave comments with your feedback. 
All recipes, photos and videos are by the owner of this blog. 

THE HEALTHIEST AND TASTIEST OKRO SOUP RECIPE EVER

Where at thou hot 'Akple' (steamed pliable dumpling made out of Corn)?

That’s the question you will be asking when you make this flavour packed and healthy Okro soup. I used frozen baby Okra that I purchased from Sainsburys and blended the Okra using the lowest setting of my Vitamix blender. This makes for a quick recipe. 

There are various must try Okra recipes on my YouTube channel, ‘Ndudu by Fafa’ below;

INGREDIENTS 

400g of frozen or fresh Okra

150g of steamed Kale or Spinach

2 large Onions

10 green Chillies (The quantity used should suit your personal preference). 

2 packs of slightly smoked Mackerel from Sainsburys 

2 packs of Fish mix (readily available in most supermarkets or Fishmongers)

500ml of Water or Fish stock

50g of smoked dried Herrings or Smoked Fish

50g of smoked dried Prawns / Fresh Prawns

Coconut oil

Salt to taste

Spice blend

1 large Onion

1 leveled tablespoonful of Aniseed

30g of Ginger

3 cloves of Garlic

6 Green Chillies

You can enjoy the soup on its own or with Banku, Gari Piñon, Eba, Kenkey, Rice balls or your preferred carbohydrate.

Watch how to make this soup that has got most tongues wagging and tastebuds heighten

Don’t forget to subscribe, like the videos and share.

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog.

HOW TO COOK THE TASTIEST WREWRE SOUP (MUSKMELON SEEDS)

WreWre (Muskmelon or Cantaloupe seeds) soup is rich in Vitamin A, C, Folic acid potassium to mention but a few nutritional contents..

It has no fat, cholesterol or saturated fat and helps boost one’s immune system especially during the cold months.

Wrewre (as it’s locally known in Ghana) can be used for various recipes and it can be found in some Indian cuisine.

The taste is similar to Groundnut or Peanut soup, however it has a slightly delicate nutty flavour to Peanuts.

Stay tuned for more recipes using this nutrient dense seeds.

For a healthier soup use leaner meat, fish or seafood.

INGREDIENTS

80g of Wild Melon seeds (WreWre seeds) Readily available at most African grocers or online.

4 Lamb shanks

1 tablespoonful of Organic cold pressed Coconut oil

60g of Tomato purée

1 large Tomato

1 large Onion

2 litres of Water

200g of smoked Fish (optional) or 1 teaspoonful of powdered dried Shrimp

2 large Aubergines

10 whole Green Chillies

Salt to taste

SPICE BLEND

30g of Ginger

1 large Onion

3 Green chillies

2 cloves of Garlic

1 teaspoonful of Aniseed

Watch how prepare this flavour packed WreWre soup and more on my YouTube channel, ‘Ndudu by Fafa’, below;

Enjoy this with Rice, Yam, Plantain etc (basically any carbohydrates of your choosing).

Don’t forget to subscribe, like the videos, leave comments with your feedback and share.

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog.

CUMIN RICE (JEERA RICE)

INGREDIENTS

250g of Basmati Rice with a minimum age of 10yrs

30g of butter

3-4 pods of Balck Cardamom

1 Cinnamon stick

3-4 Green Chillies

3 Bay leaves

1 heaped tablespoonful of Cumin seeds

120 ml of water

20g of chopped Parsley to garnish

Salt to taste

METHOD 

Watch how to prepare this fragrant rice on my YouTube channel, ‘Ndudu by Fafa’ below;

Don’t forget to subscribe, like the videos and share.

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog 

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO USING SPICES EP1

Variety they say is the ‘SPICE of life’. With this notion I’m filming a series of how to add spices and new flavours to your everyday dish.

The SPICE series covers how to choose, store and incorporate natural flavours to any meal. The series will also touch on the history, benefits and side effects of spices.

On this first episode I talk about the African Nutmeg (which is an inexpensive alternative to Nutmeg) its benefits, side effects and how to incorporate it into a recipe.

Watch more below;

Don’t forget to subscribe, like the videos and share.

All photos, recipes and videos are by the owner of this blog.

BIRYANI SPICED LAMB KOFTA RECIPE

As quick mid week dishes go, this is a quick recipe that’s ready under 25 minutes. 

I served this dish with Cumin Rice (a recipe that’s also available on my YouTube channel, ‘Ndudu by Fafa’).

INGREDIENTS

2 leveled tablespoons of Biryani Spice mix or Suya Spice

400g of minced Lamb /Goat /Beef

2 large sliced Onions

20g of chopped Coriander

300ml of your preferred unscented oil for frying

250ml of natural Yoghurt

Salt to taste

2 tablespoonful of Extra Virgin Olive oil

Picture below is tagged with the Biryani spice mix recipe. 

BIRYANI SPICE MIX 

Watch how to prepare this dish on my YouTube channel, 'Ndudu by Fafa' below;