African Food and Art

This blog explores the wisdom of African proverbs, the depth of folklore, the beauty of art, the stories of history, and the flavors of timeless African food recipes.

Bambara Bean Soup Recipe

Healthy Bambara beans are pulses that are eaten as a snack or a soup, such as in this recipe. Bambara beans are indigenous to West Africa.

Pulses are used for anything from soups and main dishes to beverages and desserts.

What is a pulse you might ask? Simply pulses are a sub-group of legumes that are harvested for their dry seeds. Beans, lentils and peas are commonly known pulses.

Bambara, pigeon peas, lentils, cowpeas, chocho, faba beans to chickpeas, pulses are an inexpensive source of protein in Africa. Planet-wise, pulses are good for soil health, and many are also drought resistant and climate-resilient, their genetic diversity helping them adapt to changes in climate.

Pulses are edible dry seeds of plants belonging to the Leguminosae family. They are consumed in the form of whole seed, split grain, dehulled split grain and flour.

Selling bambara beans in West Africa

In Ancient Egypt, beans were vital for protein and are thought to be depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics. Even today, pulses are a part of everyday cooking.

Pulses have been an essential part of the human diet for centuries but people don't eat alot of pulses and the average level of consumption of pulses is low.

Asia is the major producer of many pulses. Saharan Africa accounted for 24 percent of global production of dry bean.

Bambara Bean Soup Recipe.

Bambara beans, also known as Bambara groundnuts, are indigenous to West Africa. In fact, the name Bambara comes from the region’s Bambara people and language.

Pulses haven’t traditionally been a large part of western African cuisine. However, some countries, like Mali, have become increasingly interested in the potential of pulses to meet the challenges of climate change, desertification, water scarcity and malnutrition. Mali has in fact increased its production of pulses over the last decade.

The Bambara bean is extremely tolerant of poor-quality soils and drought and can yield a crop even in conditions where other legume crops would fail. Bambara beans can be eaten as a snack or a soup, such as in this recipe.

Bambara Bean Soup Recipe.

Ingredients

1 cup dry bambara beans

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 large red onion, diced

1 large green bell pepper, diced

1 Maggie cube

1 teaspoon salt

5 cups of coconut milk

1 cup brown rice


Directions

Add all ingredients except rice and 2 cups of coconut milk into a large pot and simmer 3 hours. In the same pot add rice and remaining coconut milk and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with fresh buttered bread.


Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

Week’s Best African Culture Posts

Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition

Image
Dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia: the newly chosen Fine Boy is temporarily celebrated with fanfare and pleasure. Kru Tribe Fine Boy Tradition Fascinating stories emerged during the Pepper Coast's glory days. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders established outposts along the Liberian coastline, drawn by its wealth of humans, spices, and other commodities.  Centuries later, in the 19th century, the American Colonization Society (ACS) founded settlements in Liberia and began journalling native stories.  Among these tales is a dream-nightmare story from the Kru people of Liberia, a story so intriguing it almost seems too good to be true because, in some ways, it is.   The Kru women periodically held elections to select a young, handsome man as their “Fine Boy.” The announcement of his selection was celebrated with a vibrant procession featuring music, singing, and dancing.  The newly chosen Fine Boy was placed at the front of the para...
Read the full post here

What is the difference between ugali and fufu

Image
How to make the popular African recipes Ugali and Fufu and what is the difference.  Ugali is a starch dish in Kenya and Tanzania made of fine cornmeal cooked in boiling water into a soft dough. Fufu is a thick, dough-like West African food made by boiling then pounding a starchy vegetable such as yam, plantain, or cassava or a mixture of starchy vegetables. The main difference between fufu and ugali is fufu is boiled first then pounded while ugali is simply boiled. Ugali recipe. Easy Ugali Recipe Prep time 5 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Total time 30 minutes Ingredients 4 cups finely ground cornmeal 8 cups water Directions Heat water to boiling in a saucepan. Slowly pour cornmeal into boiling water stirring continuously. Add more cornmeal if necessary until it is thick as soft bread dough. Serve immediately with vegetables, stew, or any dish you would use a spoon with to soak up the sauce, ugali is purposely bland tasting on its own. What is the difference between ugali ...
Read the full post here

Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe

Image
Berbere Spice North African Popcorn Topping Recipe The best African spice for fresh popped popcorn is Berbere, a flavorful and aromatic bold spice blend from North Africa you buy at the local supermarket or online. Berbere is known for its bold mix of spices, often including chili peppers, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, and cloves.  Berbere brings a balance of heat, sweetness, and earthy depth to any dish including fresh popped popcorn. The spice mix symbolizes community and hospitality, often prepared at home with slight variations to suit family preferences. Its fiery yet balanced flavor profile mirrors the complex and vibrant food of North African culture . In cities across Africa, popcorn is a common street snack and is often sold in cinemas, at markets, and by roadside vendors.  Berbere Spice Popcorn Topping Recipe Ingredients ½ cup poped popcorn kernels  2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 teaspoon Berbere spice blend   1 teaspoon salt ...
Read the full post here

Keto Moroccan Dinner Cooked Slowly

Image
Slow Cooked Moroccan Kefta Lamb Meatballs   Keto Tagine Morocco is at the geographic and cultural crossroads between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.   In Morocco, the term tagine refers to a slow cooked stew as well as the pot the stew is made in. Kefta Tagine Kefta Tagine is a keto-friendly Moroccan lamb meatball food dish fitted for your low-carb lifestyle. The slow cooking of the meatballs allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a fragrant, hearty keto meal. The star of the Kefta Tagine dish is lamb, symbolizing the richness of Moroccan hospitality. Lamb meat has been a staple in North African cuisine for centuries, with lamb being central to celebrations and religious festivals.  Ground lamb meat is spiced and shaped into small balls, known as kefta, a preparation that dates back to ancient Berber traditions.  The kefta are seasoned with cumin, paprika, and coriander, spices that have shaped Morocco’s history in the global trading of spices whi...
Read the full post here