Trial Run #2
Apparently I will not be moonlighting as a food photographer. It looks much better in person.
My mom cooks. She loves a culinary challenge. So, the impending arrival of Baby A, has inspired her to practice cooking African recipes. A month or two ago she told me she made a stew for her and my dad. I heard about it for weeks - they both loved it. Since then, I've made a couple versions. In fact, I remember making a tofu one many years ago, during the vegetarian period, or as I now consider it - the decade that justifies present and future gluttony.
The women in my family do not follow recipes. This is one of the recipes I read, I sort of followed it. It came from http://www.123easyaspie.com/recipes/2802/Senegalese+Chicken+Soup some of my adjustments are italicized.
Senegalese Chicken Soup
- 4 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic (chopped )
- 6 tablespoon curry powder
- 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoon coriander (ground )
- 5 cup chicken ( broth)
- 2 cup tomato ( puree)
- 2 cup tomato (crushed plum )
- (Salt and pepper; to taste)
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth )
- 1 pound chicken ( white meat; diced)
- 1 cup green onion (thinly sliced )
- (Chopped peanuts and cilantro; for garnish)
Cook onions in olive oil until soft and translucent. Add garlic and cook two minutes. Add curry powder, cayenne and coriander and fry for an additional two minutes. If dry, add a small quantity of olive oil until moist (or chicken broth). Add chicken broth and scrape bottom very well with wooden spoon. Add tomato puree, crushed plum tomatoes, salt and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes. Stir often and scrape bottom every few minutes. Do not boil. Combine peanut butter and 1/2 of soup in blender or food processor and puree, adding small quantities of broth as necessary if too thick. I didn't do this because it seemed like a hassle – I had a chunkier soup. When smooth, add puree to remaining soup and stir well. If soup seems too thick, add broth to taste. Cook chicken in boiling water until done (I cooked it in the chicken broth earlier)(about 15 to 20 minutes). Drain and add to soup. Add green onions to soup, cook 5 minutes more and serve. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and cilantro for garnish.
In my first try, I cubed a couple of sweet potatoes, that was really good.
I am tempted to add coconut milk sometime soon.
Makes 6 Servings




