The Authentic Taste of West Africa: Constance’s Peanut Butter Sauce I’ll never forget the first time I tasted real West African peanut butter sauce. I was volunteering at a community kitchen, and a woman named Constance, with eyes as warm as the African sun, was stirring a pot of something that smelled absolutely divine. The … Read more
Smoked Herring With Tomato and Greens (Kentumere) The first time I tasted something remotely like this Kentumere dish, I was backpacking through coastal Ghana. A tiny roadside stall, more of a shack really, was serving up steaming bowls of something that smelled intensely of the sea and warm spices. Curiosity, and the rumbling of my … Read more
Kansiyé: A Taste of Guinean Home Cooking The first time I encountered Kansiyé, I was volunteering at a community kitchen in my city. The aroma was intoxicating – a rich, savory perfume that hinted at faraway lands and family kitchens. A woman named Aminata, a Guinean immigrant, was stirring a large pot, her face alight … Read more
Vegetarian Kansiyé: A Hearty Lentil Stew from Guinea The first time I tasted Kansiyé, I was volunteering at a community kitchen. The aroma alone was intoxicating – earthy lentils mingling with warm spices and a hint of peanut. I remember being struck by the depth of flavor, a savory hug in a bowl. I knew … Read more