Chez Fadi
Cameroonian and West African cuisine reinterpreted
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Cameroonian recipes

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meatballs
appetizer

Boulettes de boeuf | Beef meatballs

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Although beef meatballs used to be one of my favorite snacks, I just realized I haven't even published a recipe for them on my blog yet… Since there are so many delicious things you can try every day, it's easy to forget the good old recipes. You'd practically need a thousand lifetimes to experience even a fraction of all the culinary delights this world has to offer. Well, there's a reason they say YOLO (you only live once)! I can remember the very first time I ate meatballs. I was about seven, eight at the most… Maybe they weren't even my first, but I can say with certainty that they were the best. Back then, I spent my school holidays with my grandmother in Foumbot, my mother's birthplace. One of my aunts earned her living by making meatballs…

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tropical fruit
fruit

Salade de fruits tropicaux | Tropical fruit salad

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The temperatures of the last few days have been truly tropical and strongly reminded me of my hometown, Douala. Anyone who's ever been to Douala knows exactly what I'm talking about. During my numerous family visits back home, I always experience the same scenario: as soon as the plane lands in Douala and the doors open, you're immediately greeted by a thick, humid blast of air. I always say, "Welcome to Douala!" To match the tropical temperatures of the last few days, I have a refreshing recipe for you. Today, the kitchen stays cold – instead, there's a fresh fruit salad with delicious tropical fruits. If you already feel like you're in Douala, you should at least reinforce that impression with a suitable snack. In this humidity, there's hardly anything better. Try it! For this fruity salad, I used only fruits that can be found on every corner in Douala and are grown there…

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Sea bream
Fish dishes

Dorade à la Camerounaise | Cameroon-style sea bream

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The last few days have been very summery and give a hint of what the coming days will hopefully be like: hot. Summer here often reminds me of my homeland, Cameroon. I always get a little melancholic there, especially during the first hot days of the year. This is intensified when the smell of grilled food wafts from everywhere. Summertime is, of course, also grilling season in Germany. In Cameroon, on the other hand, grilling is a daily occurrence, whether at the many suya stands or with poisson braisé at the woman's house around the corner. You're offered something grilled all year round. What's the best remedy for this melancholy? Cooking, of course! At least that's the case for me. Others will probably think: "But you're always cooking anyway!" Yes, that's true. But there's always a…

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saladed avocados
appetizer

Salade d'avocats à la Camerounaise | Cameroonian avocado salad

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Although this recipe was a constant companion throughout my childhood and into my teens, I unfortunately made it far too infrequently. While I have published several new interpretations of this recipe on my blog, such as avocado salad with pomegranate seeds or another version with shrimp, I've sadly always forgotten the original from my homeland of Cameroon. I really must put an end to this! Avocados come in all shapes and sizes in Cameroon, catering to every taste. The best, however, are those from Mbouda, especially the Avocats-beurre variety, which translates to "butter avocado." They are so named because their consistency is as smooth as butter, making them incredibly spreadable, and their flavor is exceptionally aromatic. For this reason, they are simply the dream of a delicious avocado. For as long as I can remember, we've always had…

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mafé poulet
sauces

Mafé Poulet | West African peanut sauce with chicken

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Mafé is a popular West African peanut sauce traditionally served with meat, vegetables, and rice. Originally from Mali, it has spread to many West African countries, including Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea. This rich sauce is based on peanut butter, tomatoes, onions, and aromatic spices, giving it a savory, slightly nutty flavor. Depending on the region and personal preference, it is combined with chicken, beef, or fish, but it can also be prepared in a vegetarian or vegan version. I developed this recipe specifically for my first Cameroonian/West African cooking class, which I recently held in cooperation with the Ludwigsburg Adult Education Center. Mafé is particularly well-suited for novice cooks because it is easy to prepare and develops an intense flavor with just a few ingredients. What's special about my version is that it has been adapted to appeal to vegetarians, vegans, and meat lovers alike – so everyone could truly enjoy the dish to the fullest

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mafépoisson
Fish dishes

Mafé Poisson frit | West African peanut sauce with fried fish

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Mafé oder in Kamerun genannt Sauce Arachides bzw. Groundnutsoup ist die westafrikanische Art, Erdnusssauce zuzubereiten. Westafrikanisch deshalb, weil die asiatischen Küche ebenfalls eine Erdnusssauce kennt. Diese wird aber etwas anders zubereitet. In Kamerun wird die Sauce arachides fast immer mit Fisch oder Fleisch serviert. In der heutigen Zeit mit vielfältige Ernährungsmöglichkeiten ist es auch möglich, die Sauce vegetarisch oder sogar vegan zu kochen. Zu dem Thema habe ich übrigens bereits einen Beitrag über Erdnussauce Veggie verfasst. Anstatt Fisch und Fleisch kamen damals frische Champignons zum Einsatz. Erdnusssauce gehört zu den Lebensmitteln, bei welchen der Unterschied der “normalen” zur Veggie-Variante geschmacklich kaum spürbar ist, bedingt durch ihren von Natur aus sehr nussigen und intensiven Geschmack. Daher braucht es wirklich keine tierische Zusatzprodukte, um gut zu schmecken. Eine andere Variante, welche ich sehr mag, ist die Zubereitung mit Rindfleisch und Karotten. Die Karottenstücke in der Erdnusssauce finde ich besonders ansehnlich. Schließlich soll…

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chuem
Leafy greens

Pehn Chuem | Fufu with pumpkin leaf sauce

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African cuisine in general, and West African cuisine in particular, is very rich in leafy greens, which, if prepared correctly, not only provide valuable nutrients but are also incredibly delicious. The list is probably longer than I can possibly present, but I simply want to illustrate how important and frequently leafy greens appear in West African cuisine. A selection of leafy greens from West African cuisine: Let's start with Ndolè, which is the queen of leafy greens in Cameroon. Next comes Eru, which is very popular in the Northwest and Southwest provinces of Cameroon. Then there's Folong, also known as BitekuTeku in other African countries, a type of spinach that is very easy to digest. Then there are the leaves of the versatile cassava plant: Kpwem, which is simply loved by everyone, not least because of its valuable contribution to West African cuisine. Next is Njapche, also known as Njama Njama, a type of wild spinach that is used in…

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chicken sauce tomatoes
sauces

Chicken in Spicy Tomato Sauce | Chicken in Spicy Tomato Sauce

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Tomatoes. I simply can't imagine cooking permanently without tomatoes. While tomatoes aren't used in every dish, they're essential in many of my favorites. Let's start with sauces: Is it even conceivable to make peanut sauce or peperoncini without tomatoes? It's probably possible, but would they actually taste good? Let's move on to stews like Jollof Rice. Tomatoes are absolutely essential in this dish. It practically lives and breathes tomatoes, just like many other dishes. Tomatoes give them that special umami flavor that tantalizes the taste buds. I've certainly made it abundantly clear that tomato sauce holds a very high place on my list of favorite dishes. Besides, when we were little, tomato sauce was always something really special. Especially when it was…

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Griesfufu
Side dishes

Couscous Corn Semolina | Fufu made from a mixture of cornmeal and wheat semolina

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It's been a while since I last published a recipe, as I spent the last few weeks before the end of the year writing about some important spices in Cameroonian cuisine. I really enjoyed it and was delighted by all the feedback I've received from you. Now it's finally time to publish a new recipe again. To be honest, this time it was really difficult to choose a dish or recipe to write about first. Then I suddenly remembered that I'd received a lot of questions about fufu after posting the following video on my Instagram this week. That's how I decided on fufu. [See this post on Instagram: A post shared by Fadi N. (@chez.fadi) Trend food: Fufu? I need fufu…]

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plantains malaxé
stews

Plantains Malaxés | Plantains stew with beef

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Autumn was a long time coming this year. But it's finally here, there's no denying it. Some days are warmer than usual for this time of year, but the short days and the constant feeling of being cold bring us back to reality: it's autumn. For months, the media has been talking about the energy crisis. Given the global energy crisis, we need to use resources more sparingly. This means, among other things, turning on the heating in our homes as late as possible. But to avoid getting cold despite all the energy-saving measures, many people have discovered a few tricks. Me too, of course. For me, it's all about hot tea or other drinks, hot, savory soups and stews. Like this Platains Malaxés, one of my favorites. Prepared with delicious pieces of beef, comforting spices and herbs… The aroma alone, which fills the room while it's cooking…

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