African Cuisine

Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Total time: 50 minutes Servings: 6 servings (makes 12-15 sambos) Country of Origin Madagascar Description Crispy, triangular fried pastries stuffed with spiced ground beef, garlic, scallions, and warm aromatic spices. Presentation & How It's Eaten Served hot as popular street snacks or appetizers alongside lemon wedges and fiery sakay hot sauce. Ingredients 1 lb lean ground beef 1 yellow onion, finely diced 4 green onions, finely ch

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 2 hours 15 minutes Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes Servings: 4 servings Country of Origin Madagascar Description Slow-braised beef roast seasoned simply with salt and garlic, pulled into delicate strands and pan-fried until crisped. Presentation & How It's Eaten Served hot over plain boiled rice alongside a small bowl of spicy tomato-ginger relish. Ingredients 2 lbs beef chuck roast or brisket 5 cloves garlic, crushed 2 tbsp vegetable oil or la

Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes Total time: 2 hours Servings: 8 servings Country of Origin Madagascar Description A dense, sweet traditional street treat made from mashed bananas, ground roasted peanuts, and rice flour wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Presentation & How It's Eaten Unwrapped from banana leaves, sliced into thick rounds, and eaten warm or at room temperature as a snack or dessert. Ingredients 4 ripe bananas, thoroughly mashed 1.5 cups ro

Prep time: 20 minutes (plus 2 hours marinade time) Cook time: 10 minutes Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes Servings: 4 servings Country of Origin: Madagascar Description Street-food beef skewers marinated in garlic, ginger, and citrus before being grilled over open charcoal flames. Presentation & How It's Eaten Served piping hot on wooden skewers as street food or appetizers, served alongside spicy achard or tomato relish. Ingredients 1.5 lbs beef flank or sirloin, cut into 3/4-

Prep time: 15 minutes (plus 8 hours ferment time) Cook time: 15 minutes Total time: 8 hours 30 minutes Servings: 6 servings Country of Origin Madagascar Description Sweet, yeasted rice flour cakes cooked in a specialized griddle until golden crisp on the outside and spongy on the inside. Presentation & How It's Eaten Served hot for breakfast, usually paired with a hot cup of Malagasy coffee or sweet tea. Ingredients 2 cups rice flour 1/2 cup sweet condensed milk or coconut mi

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 0 minutes Total time: 15 minutes Servings: 4 servings Country of Origin Madagascar Description A crisp, zesty uncooked salad condiment made from diced ripe tomatoes, onions, scallions, and fresh lime juice. Presentation & How It's Eaten Served cold or at room temperature as an essential side accompaniment to virtually every Malagasy rice dish or grilled meat. Ingredients 4 large ripe Roma tomatoes, finely diced 1 small red or white onion, fine

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 35 minutes Total time: 50 minutes Servings: 4 servings Country of Origin Madagascar Description A fragrant home-style chicken stew dominated by warm, pungent fresh ginger, crushed garlic, and sweet tomatoes. Presentation & How It's Eaten Served hot family-style in a bowl alongside sticky or steamed white rice and fresh cucumber slices. Ingredients 2 lbs chicken thighs and drumsticks, bone-in 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and julienned 4 cl

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes Servings: 6 servings Country of Origin Madagascar Description The national dish of Madagascar, featuring tender stewed beef and pork combined with indigenous leafy greens (anamalaho) that impart a unique, mild numbing sensation. Presentation & How It's Eaten Served hot in deep bowls over a large mound of plain white rice, accompanied by spicy sakay chili paste on the side. Ingredients 1.5 lbs beef chuck, cu

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 0 minutes Total time: 10 minutes Servings: 4–6 servings Country of Origin Sudan Description Salatat Dakwa is an iconic, deeply popular Sudanese peanut salad that balances rich, nutty flavors with bright, acidic highlights. It centers around dakwa (traditional Sudanese peanut paste), which is such a cornerstone of the local diet that peanuts are colloquially known across much of the Arabic-speaking world as "Sudanese beans." Presentation & How