Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Melktert

A classic South African milk tart (melktert) featuring a tender buttery crust and silky vanilla custard, lightly dusted with cinnamon and nutmeg.

🇿🇦 South Africa$

Degue

Degue (thiakry) is a creamy West African millet couscous dessert, folded into tangy yogurt and milk, sweetened with condensed milk and sugar, and perfumed with vanilla, warm spices, raisins, coconut, and a splash of orange blossom water.

🇲🇱 Mali$$

Mukeke

A Burundian/East African preparation of mukeke (Lake Tanganyika fish) seasoned with lemon, garlic, onion, tomato, and chili, then wrapped in banana leaf and steamed or grilled. Traditionally served with cassava, plantain, or rice.

🇧🇮 Burundi$$

Amiwo et Poulet en Sauce

A traditional Beninese dish: savory tomato-infused maize dough (amiwo) served with tender chicken simmered in a rich tomato–palm oil sauce.

🇧🇯 Benin$$

Poisson Braisé de Conakry

Poisson Braisé de Conakry is a Guinean-style charcoal-braised tilapia marinated with garlic, ginger, citrus, and hot pepper, then fire-grilled and smothered in a tomato-onion-bell pepper relish. Served with steamed rice and caramelized plantains for a smoky, spicy, and zesty plate.

🇬🇳 Guinea$$

Nkatie Cake

Nkatie Cake is a classic Ghanaian peanut brittle-style candy: crunchy, nutty, and lightly spiced with ginger, with a hint of lemon to brighten the caramel.

🇬🇭 Ghana$

Mtori

Mtori is a comforting Tanzanian plantain-and-beef soup, simmered until silky and gently spiced with ginger, garlic, black pepper, and cardamom.

🇹🇿 Tanzania$$

Palm Butter Soup

A rich, savory West African palm butter soup brimming with beef, chicken, smoked fish, and shrimp, simmered with aromatics, peppers, and greens. Traditionally served over rice, it’s hearty, spicy, and deeply flavorful.

🇱🇷 Liberia$$

Kabalagala

Kabalagala are Ugandan banana–cassava fritters: lightly sweet, warmly spiced with cardamom, and crisp outside with a tender, chewy center—perfect with tea or coffee.

🇺🇬 Uganda$

Akpeteshie Kelewele

Akpeteshie Kelewele is a Ghanaian street-food classic: ripe plantains marinated with ginger, garlic, cayenne, warm spices, lime, and a splash of akpeteshie, then fried until caramelized and crisp at the edges. Finished with roasted peanuts for crunch and aroma.

🇬🇭 Ghana$

I've been...

Melktert

Degue

Mukeke

Amiwo et Poulet en Sauce

Poisson Braisé de Conakry

Nkatie Cake

Mtori

Palm Butter Soup

Kabalagala

Akpeteshie Kelewele

I've been...

Melktert

Degue

Mukeke

Amiwo et Poulet en Sauce

Poisson Braisé de Conakry

Nkatie Cake

Mtori

Palm Butter Soup

Kabalagala

Akpeteshie Kelewele