Cookbook

Crocodile Cookbook Available for Download

Over thirty years ago, the International Women's Club in Kaduna put together a cookbook called Recipes from the Crocodiles, “Kaduna” being the Hausa word for “Crocodiles.” Probably all expats in Northern Nigeria, at least those who cook, have seen or heard of this book, but most of our copies are falling apart. I've recently scanned the book and put it into a PDF file which you can download.

It's a great book with hundreds of recipes in all categories, all of which have been tweaked for use in Nigeria. The contents also include substitute ingredients for those not available here, British-to-American equivalents, Hausa words for foods, useful tips for cooking and the home, and so on.

There is a similar book “Wild Boar on the Kitchen Floor” which you can download here at Sparkling Adventures. This one was put together over several years by Peace Corps volunteers in Niger.

Red pepper and peanuts give this pasta side dish a little pizzaz and hint of Africa.

2 Tbsp corn oil
3 Tbsp sesame oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp soy sauce
8 ounces angel hair or Capellini, uncooked
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro
¼ cup sliced green onion
1 cup peanuts, chopped
1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds

Heat pepper in oils over medium hi heat for 2-3 minutes. Don't overcook! Cool oils; add honey and soy sauce. Cook pasta. Drain. Pour sauce over noodles. Add cilantro and onions. Refrigerate 24 hours. Before serving, add chopped peanuts and toasted sesame seeds.

Servings: 5

Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Inactive Time: 24 hours
Total Time: 24 hours

Rhubarb Custard Pie

If you like rhubarb, check Robyn Dettmar's Rhubarb Cake also.

1 9-inch double-crust pastry
3 medium egg
2 Tablespoons milk
1 ½ cups sugar
¼ cup flour
½ teaspoon nutmeg
4 cups rhubarb, sliced
1 Tablespoon margarine or butter

1. Slice rhubarb into ½ inch pieces.

2. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Prepare pastry. In large bowl, beat eggs slightly; add milk. Stir in sugar, flour and nutmeg (½ to ¾ ;tsp); mix well. Stir in rhubarb.

3. Pour into pastry-lined pan. Dot with margarine. Cover top with Lattice Crust; seal and flute edge. Bake at 400 degrees F for 50-60 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm

Rajam - Red Kidney Beans

This recipe is taken from a recipe on allrecipes.com  with a few personal adjustments. Originally submitted by Manisha


Enjoy this Indian recipe for Rajma (red kidney beans) with white or brown rice if it's available. You can buy the kidney beans in the market, have your kitchen helper wash and clean them, soak overnight, boil and then freeze in 2 cup portions for the equivalent of 1 can. They are handy to have around if you find yourself with unexpected company and you need to add a little more protein to your meal or soup.
  • ¼ cup and 2 tablespoons soy oil
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cardamon
  • 2 TBS curry powder
  • 2 bay leaf
  • 4 onions, chopped
  • 12 roma (plum) tomatoes, chopped
  • 8 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 TBS minced fresh ginger root
  • 2 teaspoons powdered red pepper or dried Cajun pepper (optional)
  • 2 (15 ounce) cans kidney beans, drained (4 cups)
  • salt to taste
  • water
  • 12 sprigs cilantro, minced
DIRECTIONS:
Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Stir in black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, curry powder and bay leaf. Let heat for 1 minute.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the sliced onions. Saute until the onions are soft and almost translucent. Mix in the tomatoes and saute well. (For a great taste, saute until almost dry.)
Raise the stovetop's temperature to a medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in the chili powder, red kidney beans and salt; mix well. Slowly add water a small amount at a time. You are adding water to create a gravy, only add water until the gravy has reached the consistency that you would like. For a smoother gravy, cool and blend the sauteed mixture before adding the red kidney beans. Garnish with cilantro.

Nutrition facts (per serving)
Calories (kcal) 484
Protein 15.4g
Cals from Protein 12%
Total Fat 23.1g
Cals from Fat 40%
Carbohydrates 59.6g
Cals from Carbohydrates 46%
Fiber 20.6g
Sodium 751mg

No Boil Lasagne

NO BOIL LASAGNE

1 tbsp veg oil
1 med onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 lb ground beef
3 ½ cups  spagetti sauce
1 10 oz can sliced mushrooms
½ c water
1 tsp oregano
1 ¼ c yogurt
1/3 c grated parmesan cheese
1/3 c dried or fresh parsley
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tbsp veg oil
1 tsp salt
6 oz sliced or grated mozzorella cheese
½ package lasagne, uncooked

Saute onion and garlic in oil.
Add meat and brown.  Remove excess fat.
Stir in spaghetti sauce, mushrooms with juice, water, and oregano.  [You want to end up with 4 cups of liquid that is the consistency and flavour of spaghetti sauce.  You can do this by using tomato paste, homemade tomato sauce or fresh tomatoes to which you have added your regular seasons for spaghetti sauce.  I use the mix from Sam's Warehouse.]   Bring to a boil and remove from heat.
Combine yogurt, egg, oil, parmesan cheese, parsley and salt.
Place ingredients in 9/13 baking dish in this order:
    sauce                                                   
    noodles
    sauce
    noodles
    yogurt
    noodles
    sauce
    cheese
Cover with foil paper and bake at 375° for 45 min.
Uncover, bake for 15 min.
Serves eight

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