Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Ota Ika

Ota Ika is Tonga’s coconut–citrus ceviche: tender fresh fish briefly cured in lime and lemon juice, enriched with creamy coconut milk, and tossed with crisp vegetables, chili, and herbs. Bright, cooling, and perfect for warm weather.

🇳🇺 Niue$$

Or Lam

Or Lam is a fragrant Lao beef stew with lemongrass, galangal, eggplant, and mushrooms, thickened with toasted sticky rice powder and finished with dill and holy basil. Traditionally served with sticky rice.

🇱🇦 Laos$$

Kuih Keria

Kuih Keria is a Malaysian sweet potato doughnut that’s deep-fried and glazed with fragrant gula melaka, yielding a crisp exterior and tender, chewy center.

🇲🇾 Malaysia$

Yuca hervida

Cuban-style yuca hervida with garlicky citrus mojo: tender boiled cassava finished with olive oil, lime, garlic, onion, and herbs.

🇨🇷 Costa Rica$

Pargo de La Libertad

A coastal-style red snapper from La Libertad: pargo marinated in lime, garlic, achiote, cumin, and oregano, then cooked with onions, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Served with rice, boiled yuca, and fried plantain, finished with fresh cilantro.

🇸🇻 El Salvador$$

Salade de chouchoute

A bright, crunchy Réunion-style chayote (chouchoute) salad with carrot, onion, herbs, a zesty lime-vinegar–mustard dressing, a hint of chili heat, and nutty sesame seeds.

🇵🇫 French Polynesia$

Croquant de Dakar

A classic Senegalese peanut–sesame brittle scented with lemon and vanilla, with a touch of coconut for aroma and crunch. Crisp, glossy shards that balance caramel sweetness with toasty nuts and seeds.

🇸🇳 Senegal$

Khao Lam Bites

Chewy, aromatic Thai street-dessert bites of coconut-sweetened sticky rice with black beans, steamed/roasted in banana leaf or bamboo. Finished with shredded coconut and toasted sesame for a nutty, caramelized flavor.

🇱🇦 Laos$$

Qurut

Qurut is a tangy, savory yogurt-based sauce/drink inspired by Central Asian dried yogurt (qurut), thinned with water and scented with garlic and mint. Refreshing on its own, or served as a dip or drizzle for breads, vegetables, and grilled meats.

🇦🇫 Afghanistan$

Seyðasuppa

Seyðasuppa is a traditional Icelandic lamb soup brimming with tender lamb, root vegetables, and rolled oats, seasoned simply with thyme, bay leaf, and parsley. It’s hearty, aromatic, and perfect for a comforting, nourishing meal.

🇫🇴 Faroe Islands$$

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