Chez Fadi
Cameroonian and West African cuisine reinterpreted
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chili
spice mix

Chez Fadi's Kitchen Helpers Part 3: Spicy Chili Paste

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Das Jahr 2021 neigt sich langsam dem Ende, Nur noch ein paar Stunden. Es war wieder ein Jahr voller Freude und Leid, Lachen und Weinen, vor allem war es ein Jahr voller Hoffnung. Hoffnung auf das Ende der fast schon zwei Jahre andauernde Pandemie. Ich bin dankbar dafür, dass meiner Familie, Freunde und mir bis jetzt trotz allen den Umständen entsprechend gut geht. Das hoffe ich für Euch und Eueren Liebsten ebenfalls! In diesen Sinnen wünsche Ich einen guten und gesunden Rutsch ins neue Jahr! In einem Jahr voller Hoffnung! In Liebe Fadi Passend zum Jahresende, komme ich zum Abschluss meiner Küchenhelfer-Serie: heute eine weitere Sauce/Paste. Chili-Paste oder wie wir sie in Kamerun nennen Piment oder Purée de piment. Diese Paste findet man bei uns fast in allen Haushalten. Die Kamerunische bzw. Westafrikanische Küche ist sehr würzig und leicht pikant bis scharf. Jede Person hat aber eine andere Schärfeempfinden. Daher…

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Garlic-ginger
Spices

Chez Fadi's Kitchen Helpers Part 2: Garlic-Ginger Paste

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My homemade garlic and onion paste was the first on my kitchen helper list. The series continues with another kitchen helper: garlic and ginger paste. This mixture is indispensable for my dishes. I use it in many dishes that could benefit not only from a garlic flavor but also from a touch of ginger. Garlic and ginger harmonize wonderfully together. Especially in curry dishes, these two spices are essential. This paste is, of course, available ready-made in many "exotic" food stores. But in my experience, it's worth making the paste yourself and keeping it on hand. You don't need much besides garlic; this time, instead of white onions as in the garlic and onion paste, you use ginger. Add lemon juice and cooking oil. The preparation is (almost) child's play. Most of the work is in peeling the garlic. When it comes to ginger, I make sure it's organic so I can use it with the skin on without any worries. The peeled…

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knobbi
Spices

Chez Fadi's Kitchen Helpers Part 1: Garlic and Onion Paste

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Magic Sauce was just the beginning… As a full-time working mother who still wants to offer her family home-cooked meals, good organization is essential. I absolutely love to cook, no question! But when I'm cooking, things often need to be quick, especially in the evenings after work. To make this work smoothly during the week, I've picked up a few tricks over the years. I've perfected them over time. One of them is Magic Sauce. I don't even need to introduce Magic Sauce here. Anyone who follows my blog knows it. It comes in many variations. I've already posted three of them (The Origin, Reloaded, and Spicy) here on the blog and use them in most of my dishes. But Magic Sauce isn't the only trick in my bag of tricks. First up today: My Chez Fadi's Garlic and Onion Paste. You need onions and garlic…

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achu
Main course

Achu Soup & Taro | Cameroonian yellow sauce with pounded taro

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Achu soup with taro is a traditional Cameroonian dish from western and northwestern Cameroon. Achu soup refers to the yellow sauce, and taro is the cooked and pounded taro root. Achu soup, also known as Sauce Taro or Sauce Jaune, gets its yellow color from a mixture of yellow palm oil, achu spices, and rock salt. This creates a yellow, spicy, and delicious emulsion: Achu soup. Achu spices, or épices taro as it's called in the Francophone region, is a special spice blend for Achu soup. This blend can be found in almost every market in Cameroon. In other countries, it can be purchased in online shops specializing in African food or in many African grocery stores. Achu soup/Sauce Jaune is always served with pounded taro/achu. Therefore, the term "taro" often refers to the entire dish, consisting of pounded taro and its yellow sauce. Taro is a very special dish in Cameroonian tradition. Therefore, it is…

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egusi
Meat dishes

Pistachio Sauce with Chicken | Pumpkin Seed Sauce with Chicken

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Egusi is wonderfully suited to a vegan diet thanks to its high content of valuable oils and proteins. For those unfamiliar, egusi is the seed of certain types of gourds that grow primarily in tropical West Africa. The sauce made from egusi is often called egusi soup, although I prefer the term egusi stew, as the consistency is much closer to that of a sauce than a soup. Egusi stew is a sauce made from ground egusi. It's a popular dish in West Africa with significant local variations. For my recipe, I've chosen chicken this time. I usually use beef or fish instead. The chicken is thoroughly washed and then soaked for a few minutes in water with lemon juice. This absorbs…

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ndole
Leafy greens

Ndolè goes Veggie | Cameroonian Ndolè without anything

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Ndolè is often described as the quintessential Cameroonian national dish. So, anyone with Cameroonian friends has surely heard of Ndolè, or even better, tasted it. Ndolè is delicious, but fully appreciating it requires time, care, and patience. I can assure you, it's all worth it in the end. In my opinion, the difficulty lies in the cleaning process of the Ndolè leaves. I remember what it was like when I was a child. It felt like it took a whole day until we were finished with the preparation. So, we always prepared larger quantities at once and froze or dried them so that all the effort would be worthwhile for several meals. First, the leaves have to be carefully picked out individually from the stalks. Then, they are finely chopped. After that, they go into a pot with hot water and rock salt. The leaves are then boiled until they are soft…

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peanut sauce
sauces

Mafé | Peanut sauce with beef

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Ich habe hier von ein paar Monaten schon mal ein Rezept von Erdnusssauce auf Anfrage einer Freundin von mir, die Vegetarierin ist gepostet. Damals eine Vegetarische Variante mit Champignons. Sie war total glücklich darüber und das Rezept hat sie sofort ausprobiert und war begeistert. Traditionell wird die Erdnusssauce ohne Gemüse zubereitet. Zumindest kenne ich es so von Zuhause. Ich muss zugeben, dass ich schon als Kind Erdnussmuse geliebt habe, aber mir wurde nach dem Essen immer schlecht. Erst von ein paar Jahren wurde bei mir eine Erdnuss Allergie diagnostiziert und ich war so was von down. Ich als Westafrikanerin mit einer Erdnuss Allergie? Unfassbar! Ich habe beim experimentieren entdeckt, dass ich die Erdnüsse nur sehr lange kochen brauche und dann kann ich sie besser vertragen. Natürlich aber im Maßen. Nun teile ich mir Dir, wie ich meine Erdnusssauce mit Rindfleisch und Karotten zubereite. Viel Spaß beim Nachkochen! Die Zutaten 4…

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Beignets

Beignets | Cameroonian doughnuts

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Beignets-Haricots – the star of Cameroonian cuisine. Anyone familiar with Cameroon knows them: Beignets-Haricots (BH), pronounced "B-Ash," or the more elaborate version, BHB with bouilli. This delicious combination is a staple of Cameroonian gastronomy and goes with every meal – whether for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a snack. The freshly fried dough balls, straight from the hot oil, are especially popular, served with spicy bean stew, fried fish, or chicken. Every family has its own Mami Makala, known for her incomparable dough. Beignets remain a popular snack in the West African diaspora under names like Makala, Puff Puff, or Mikaté. Everyone has their own recipe – often with a secret ingredient that makes the dough special. Intrigued? Then try it yourself – you might just have the knack for it! Have fun cooking! Watch the video. See this post on Instagram. Shared this post…

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dg
Main course

Chicken DG | Cameroonian Chicken GD

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Poulet DG is a Cameroonian delicacy with a unique history. DG stands for Directeur Général, which means "Director General" in French. Therefore, Poulet DG is often translated as "Chicken Director General"—a dish once considered a meal for high-ranking individuals such as CEOs, directors, and wealthy businesspeople. In Cameroon, this dish was traditionally served primarily to well-to-do guests. Due to its elaborate preparation and high-quality ingredients, it was a rare luxury for many ordinary people. It was often found in upscale restaurants or exclusive "circuits" where businesspeople, politicians, and other influential figures gathered. Having Poulet DG on the table was a sign of wealth and refined taste. Over time, however, the dish became more popular and accessible to many households. Today, the ingredients are readily available, and modern kitchen appliances make preparation much easier. One thing, however, has remained unchanged—its deliciousness. Poulet…

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suya
Snack

Suya – Cameroonian/West African street food

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Wer schon mal in Kamerun war, hat es schon gesehen oder gerochen. Wer es schon gesehen hat hat es probieren wollen. Wer es schon probiert, hat liebt es – Suya. Suya ist ein typisch westafrikanisches Street food mit Sucht Potential. Diese Spieße werden am Straßenrand gegrillt und verkauft. Jeder Suya Barbecue Meister hat seine eigene Rezeptur für sein Kankan. Die Hauptzutaten der Suya Gewürzmischung -Kankan- sind: geröstete Erdnüsse | Pfeffer | Piment Pulver | Die Suya werden oft mit gegrillte Kochbananen, fein gehackte Zwiebeln und für diejenige die mehr schärfe vertragen können noch ein Hauch (oder mehr) Piment Pulver. Um das ganze abzurunden wird eine Flasche Erfrischungsgetränk wie Djindja (für die gaaaanz Harten), Foléré oder einfach frisches Wasser dazu. Wer Suya aber noch nie probiert hat? Kein Problem hier findest Du ein einfaches Rezept mit dem Du Zuhause leckere Suya Spieße zaubern kannst und somit ein Stückchen Westamerikanische Street food Flair in Deiner Küche holst. Viel Spaß beim Spießen!…

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