![On Beniseed [Sesame] Seeds](https://www.kitchenbutterfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/sesameseeds.jpg "sesameseeds")
Because beniseed [sesame] seeds have their DNA and birthplace in Africa. In this post, I use beniseed, benne and sesame seed interchangeably – forgive me. Sesame seeds are the seeds of the tropical annual Sesamum indicum. The species has a long history of cultivation – first for its rich oil but also for wine! The English...
‘Nigerian Seasonal Produce’ is a monthly column published on the last Saturday of each month to celebrate Nigerian fruits & vegetables, and personal stories. In this column, a writer explores a specific seasonal fruit, vegetable or leafy green assigned by the editors of Kitchen Butterfly and based on the Nigerian Seasonal Produce Calendar. This month of September, we’re celebrating...
‘Nigerian Seasonal Produce’ is a monthly column published on the last Saturday of each month (except when your host decides to mess up and you’re forced to find your own solutions and make it happen – bluehost, our relationship shall come to an end – soon! A huge thanks to Sanusi – super hero extraordinaire for helping me...
Now that mangoes are in season properly, we’re enjoying them in all sorts of ways, one of which is in sauces. This version features fresh mango flesh, tamarind ‘water’, cilantro – my favourite ever herb and mazarkwaila, sugar cane sugar! Now sugar cane is one of my favourite things ever and I’d never come across it...
Nigerian cuisine is aromatic and pungent, full of umami, smoky, spicy, bitter and sour flavours which produce complex tasting dishes. In many dishes, the depth of flavour is provided by smoked, fishy and fermented elements. In many ways, the predominant flavours in our dishes – umami, smoky, spicy – are different from those in other cuisines. To...
You’ll never hear the last of it – how taken I was, still am with East Africa. All of it. At least all the parts I’ve visited – Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. Where I had some of the most amazing drinks in my life Freshly juiced passion fruit, Zanzibar Like freshly juiced passion fruit....
If you ever want to know what’s in season in Nigeria, look at the streets. You’ll see the colours set before you of all that’s fresh and gorgeous and right now, it’s a really long list: Tiger nuts This are my fruits/ nuts/ tubers of the season – I can see manyyyyyy explorations already, from drinks to...
Last night was lit. This morning, my eyes are somehow but I’m thankful I have a lot to be thankful for. For family and friends, for health, for God, for my children, for food. I had a few friends round last night – damn, so much love and laughter. Sooooooooooo much. The menu was pretty...
Updated, excitedly… I can’t decide if to make plantain rolls or plantain flat breads. I think I might go with Turmeric & Plantain rolls. Or flatbreads. Urghhh, so confused 🙂 The pumpkin sauce for the Jollof and for the ‘sauce’/ gravy is ready. I’ve cooked down some pumpkin puree with grated ginger, green chilies, garlic,...