Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Bonbons miel

Classic French-style honey bonbons: a glossy, hard candy cooked from honey, sugar, and water, brightened with lemon and vanilla, and rounded with a touch of butter and salt.

🇷🇪 Reunion$$

Nshima

Nshima is a staple Zambian stiff maize porridge made by simmering maize meal in water and whisking to a smooth, firm dough. Mild in flavor, it’s traditionally served with relishes, stews, or sautéed greens and eaten by hand.

🇿🇲 Zambia$

Pamir Apricots in Saffron Syrup

Fragrant dried Pamir apricots gently poached in a saffron–cardamom syrup, brightened with lemon and rose water, and finished with a sprinkle of pistachios. A lush, floral dessert that’s elegant yet simple.

🇹🇯 Tajikistan$$

Cocada Moçambicana

A classic Mozambican coconut confection: chewy, fragrant cocada enriched with egg, butter, vanilla, lemon zest, cinnamon, and studded with crunchy cashews. Sweet, tropical, and lightly spiced, it sets into bite-size bars perfect for sharing.

🇲🇿 Mozambique$$

Poleada Salvadoreña

Poleada Salvadoreña is a silky Salvadoran cornstarch custard infused with cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon peel, often finished with raisins and a dusting of ground cinnamon. Comforting, aromatic, and traditional, it can be served warm or chilled.

🇸🇻 El Salvador$

Pakhlava

A rich, layered nut-and-honey dessert made with delicate phyllo, fragrant spices, and a glossy lemon-honey syrup. Crisp on top, tender within, and deeply aromatic with cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla.

🇦🇲 Armenia$$$

Dulce de Ajonjolí

Dulce de Ajonjolí is a traditional sesame candy cooked with piloncillo and sugar in creamy coconut milk, perfumed with cinnamon, vanilla, and lemon zest. It sets into chewy, aromatic bites with a gentle nutty crunch and buttery finish.

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic$

Gesztenyepüré

A classic Hungarian dessert of sweetened chestnut purée scented with vanilla and dark rum, pressed into delicate strands and topped with billowy whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Rich, creamy, and elegant yet comforting.

🇭🇺 Hungary$$

Jamaican Orchid Custard

Silky-smooth Jamaican Orchid Custard infused with vanilla bean, dark rum, warm allspice and nutmeg, brightened by lime zest and finished with a crunchy toasted coconut topping.

🇯🇲 Jamaica$$

Polvoron de Clavo

A crumbly Spanish shortbread cookie scented with clove and cinnamon, enriched with lard and toasted almonds, and brightened by orange zest.

🇵🇭 Philippines$$

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