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Read and Cook: An African Bite by Chef Mbombi

An African Bite Mbonani Daniel MbombiAbout this book:

(blurb from Exclusive Books)

An African Bite celebrates the simplicity and authenticity of African food for a contemporary cook. Chef Mbombi has a deep connection to his culture, yet he is also a modern man living an urban lifestyle. Recognising that if we don’t keep cooking ‘heritage’ dishes, there is a risk of them being lost forever, he set out to create a cookbook that celebrates the food he was raised on. Traditionally, cooking skills were passed from mother to daughter and there were no written recipes or YouTube videos to refer to. Nowadays, social media can overwhelm us with too many choices and it is hard to know who to trust. An African Bite is Chef Mbombi’s tribute to the women who taught him to cook – from his mother and grandmother to the high-school economics teacher who made him realise he could turn his passion into a career. His uncomplicated, straightforward recipes will encourage even hesitant cooks to attempt dishes like curried tripe, chicken gizzards, goat meat stew, amathambo (meaty beef bones) umleqwa, shisanyama, vegetable sides like imifino (leafy greens) and muboora (pumpkin leaves), and traditional drinks like umqombothi and amahewu.

 

My thoughts:

When I initially read the blurb of this book, I was so keen to get my hands on it.  Who isn’t keen to learn and explore more about what is tasty and delicious?

Here are a few recipes under each section that caught my eye:

  • Chicken – Spicy Chicken Pieces, Chicken Neck Stew
  • Meat – Oxtail and Potato Stew, Lamb and Bacon Stew, Goat Meat Stew (I have never cooked goat meat myself, this looks like the perfect recipe to try!).
  • Fish – Baked Hake with Olives, Tomatoes, Peppadews, Garlic & Chilli. Canned Pilchards in Homemade Tomato Sauce, Braaied Chilli Prawns
  • Street Food at Home – Gizzards, Chicken Dust, Bacon & Sausage Kota,
  • Vegetables – Imbuya, Mashed Potatoes with Green Beans and Mushrooms, Chilli Beans
  • Gogo’s Recipes – Isijingi, Creamy Mushroom Maize Rice, Steamed Mealie Bread, Creamy Samp (in fact, this is my favourite section in the entire book, I want to cook it all!)
  • Salads – Rocket and Halloumi Salad, Pasta Salad with Smoked Chicken and Pesto
  • Drinks – Marula Beer, Amahewu, Ginger Beer

So many delicious recipes to try!

The first recipe I made was the “Canned Pilchards in Homemade Tomato Sauce.”

Do I have to have to tell you how scrumptious it was?  This is a wonderful book that offers the best of both worlds, traditional homestyle cooking and delicious bites!

This book will make a perfect gift, so do check it out!

Published locally by Penguin Random House South Africa

https://www.exclusivebooks.co.za/product/9781432311247 

@roelia_reads South African #HeritageMonth is the perfect opportunity to explore the diverse tastes and flavours of our beautiful country! Check out @Exclusive Books #EBTastyReads22 promotion this month! @Penguin Random House SA #roeliareads #roeliareadsandcooks #bookifyza #southafricanbooktok #southafricantiktok #cookbooktok #southafrica ♬ Ngeke Balunge – Mafikizolo