Elegant Made Effortless
A Traditional Plantain Side Dish from Congo
If you’ve never tried lituma, you’re about to fall in love.
Lituma is a traditional Congolese plantain recipe made from boiled and mashed plantains, shaped into a soft dough and served alongside stews, fish, or leafy greens. It’s simple. It’s comforting. And it plays a role in Congolese cuisine similar to what fufu does across West and Central Africa.
[Read more…] about How to Make Lituma (Authentic Congolese Plantain Recipe) UpdatedIf you’ve ever wondered how far you can take fufu beyond the classic pairings, this Red Fufu with Lamb Chops and Sautéed Spinach might just change the way you think about this beloved African comfort food. It’s a dish that feels both familiar and exciting — rich, colorful, and soulful. When I first made this, I wasn’t even sure it would work. But once it came together, I couldn’t stop smiling.
This is one of those meals that brings people around the table — laughter, conversation, the clinking of plates, and that satisfied pause after the last bite.
[Read more…] about Red fufu with lamb chops and sautéed spinach (Updated)If there’s one dish that instantly feels like home, it’s chicken with peanut butter sauce. This is the kind of meal that simmers gently on the stove, filling your kitchen with warmth, comfort, and the unmistakable aroma of African home cooking. Rich, nutty, slightly savory, and deeply satisfying, this African peanut butter chicken recipe is one of those dishes that doesn’t rush you—it invites you to slow down.
[Read more…] about Chicken with Peanut Butter Sauce (Easy African Peanut Chicken Recipe) revisedIf you’ve ever wondered what are sour sour leaves, or how to turn them into something fresh, vibrant, and unexpectedly comforting, this sour leaves recipe is for you. This sorrel (also known as ngayi ngayi) salad is not your typical summer salad — and that’s exactly why I love it.
It’s bright without being sharp. Bold without being heavy. And deeply rooted in the flavors I grew up with, even though it shows up here in a completely different form.
[Read more…] about Sour Leaves Recipe: Sorrel (Ngayi Ngayi) Salad with Mustard DressingIf you’re looking for a spicy rice recipe made with fresh lemongrass, full of aroma and warmth, this dish deserves a spot on your table. This African food–inspired rice is bold without being overwhelming, fragrant without being heavy, and comforting in the same way jollof rice is — yet different enough to feel exciting and new.
[Read more…] about Spicy Rice with Fresh Lemongrass (An African Rice Dish Similar to Jollof Rice)RevisedIf you’ve ever picked up a box of pale, perfectly flat madeleines from the store and thought, “Is this really what everyone is excited about?” — let me gently say… those should not be your reference point.
This Orange Zest Madeleines Recipe is everything those packaged versions are not: spongy, tender, lightly citrusy, and crowned with that iconic bump that tells you this was made properly. And yes, that bump matters.
[Read more…] about Orange Zest Madeleines Recipe (revised)
