As it is well known, cooking can be a form of meditation, a healing process for both the cook, creating healthy energy, and the recipient, to whom the food is being prepared for. An amazing gift to offer each other. Often when preparing a large fruit salad, I try envisage feeding the poor hungry children all over the under developed world, and it feels great! As the old gurus already taught, it is essential to be grateful for the food we receive from the Universe, and if we concentrate in positive thinking while preparing our meals, trying to follow up where those specific food items came from, who planted and later distributed them to the market where they were bought, etc, the dish will definitely taste better and folks who eat it will somehow notice the difference. Yes there are some basic nutrition facts and cooking rules in all cultures of the Globe, but they are also made to be broken sometimes, so I try to get creative while preparing food and experiment with all kinds of combinations, either fresh or left overs, mixing spices, you name it. The delicious and nutritious end product, beautiful presentation and good vibes is what counts. Wishing you a good appetite hoping that you'll enjoy the following dishes that I have specially shared with you!
Grilled calamari
Simply fried calamari steak in olive oil for a few minutes with butter and garlic. Adding white wine and lemon juice to make a sauce, and served with roast potatoes, carrots and peppers. Fresh, light and delicious!
Prawn & mushroom curry is one of our favourite dishes, served with Basmati coconut rice and thin slices of cucumber, tomato and onions.
Grilled Chicken piri-piri
Chicken piri-piri grilled on hot coals is a typical dish from Mozambique. We usually add potatoes, gem squash and onions to complement the delicious meal, served with a fresh green salad of lettuce, tomato and onion.
Grilled sword fish
Sword fish grilled with a marinade of lemon juice, garlic and olive oil, braised on hot coals, accompanied by roast potatoes, carrots and zucchini. Served with a butter, garlic, white wine and lemon sauce and sprinkled with parsley. It's a pure meal from heaven for those who really appreciates a good fish dish!
Feijoada with corn meal
Feijoada is a dish based on beans, preferably sugar or black beans, sometimes including small pieces of chorisso, a special sausage often used in Portuguese culinary. The beans are soaked overnight and then cooked until they are soft. Then we fry small pieces of onions with lots of fresh coriander in olive oil and add tomato paste. Afterwards we add the cooked beans and cover with enough water, letting it cook on a low heat until the dish acquires the desired taste. As Mwana is from Mozambique he also serves it with shima (corn meal) always with a fresh salad of tomatoes, peppers and onions. The salad dressing would of course be olive oil & vinegar, salt & pepper.
Baked chicken drum sticks
Oven baked chicken drum sticks with garlic, fresh carrots and green peas. Served with spinach fried with onions.
Refreshing Tropical fruit salad
Tropical Fruit Salad a la Makuti! Pineapple, banana, papaya, apple, orange, mango, passion fruit, mixed with fresh tangerine juice, brown sugar, sherry and vodka. Delicious and refreshing on a hot day in Africa, enjoy!