International Cuisine

Exploring the world through food.

Liberian Rice Bread

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Liberian rice bread is very similar to banana bread.  It is made with mashed bananas and cream of rice for a quick and easy snack.  It is delicious straight out of the oven and it stays nice and moist for up to a week.  This is often served with tea or coffee, we enjoyed it as the starter course for our Liberian feast. Enjoy!

Liberian Rice Bread

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Liberian Rice Bread

Course Bread
Cuisine Liberian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 12 pieces
Author International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cream of rice cereal
  • 3 cups mashed ripe bananas
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Put all ingredients together in a large bowl and mix until thoroughly blended.
  3. grease a 8x12 rectangular pan or 9"round cake pan
  4. Pour the mixture into the greased pan
  5. cook for approx 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out dry.
  6. Enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.

 

 

Liberian Pineapple Ginger Beer

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Liberian pineapple ginger beer is a non-alcoholic beverage despite its name. It is light and refreshing perfect for a warm summer day.  It is also made with the skin of a pineapple so next time you are using a pineapple for a dish, you should keep this recipe in mind.  Ginger has wonderful health benefits like vitamin K. B6 and magnesium so not only does it taste good, it is good for you. Enjoy!Liberian pineapple ginger beer

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Liberian Pineapple Ginger Beer

Course Drinks
Cuisine Liberian
Prep Time 8 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 45 minutes
Servings 1 gallon
Author International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs fresh ginger root
  • 1 Cup of Sugar +/- to taste
  • 1 ripe pineapple
  • 14 cups water
  • 1 tsp to 1 Tablespoon whole cloves to taste

Instructions

  1. Wash your ginger root. Use a cutting board and small, sharp knife to cut into half-inch pieces.
  2. Transfer a half of the cut ginger into the blender. Add 2 cups of water. Cover and set blender to high. Blend until ginger is in small pieces and mixed in the water. Transfer this mixture to a big pot at least 8 quarts. Repeat with the rest of the ginger. Add this mixture to the pot.
  3. Wash the pineapple. Use a sharp knife to remove the peeling. You should slice the peeling off so that you also remove a half-inch of pineapple with the skin.
  4. Cut the peeling into one-inch pieces. Transfer a half of the cut pineapple peeling to the blender. Add 2 cups of water and blend on high until pineapple is in small pieces and mixed in the water. Transfer to the pot of ginger. Repeat with the rest of the cut pineapple. Add to the mixture in the pot. Note you are not using most of the fruit of the pineapple so use it for another recipe or just enjoy it while you are making you ginger beer.
  5. Add 10 more cups of water to the pot. Add cloves try just one teaspoon to start and add to taste.
  6. Bring to a boil on high and boil on medium-high for 30 minutes.
  7. Remove the pot from the stove. Cover the pot and allow the mixture to sit for 8 hours or overnight at room temperature.
  8. Pour the mixture through a metal sifter to remove the larger pieces of ginger, pineapple peel, and cloves. Use a big spoon to press and help force the liquid through the sifter.
  9. Next, Use some cheese cloth to strain out the finer particles. You will have to use your hand to wring out the ginger beer out of the cloth.
  10. To sweeten, first add 1 cup of sugar and stir. Add more sugar according to your taste. Cut and squeeze in lime, if desired. Chill and enjoy.
  11. Store in the refrigerator.

 

 

Liberian Chicken Gravy

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Liberian chicken gravy is a dish made for special occasions.  Meat is expensive for the average Liberian family.  Fish is much more affordable.  This dish has complex flavors that are spicy and delicious.  It is often served with check rice and fried plantains.  Enjoy!

Liberian Chicken Gravy

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Liberian Chicken Gravy

Course Main Dish
Cuisine Liberian
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 4
Author International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken cut up
  • for cooking the chicken you need a little salt pepper, paprika, chicken bouillon and chopped onion. These ingredients are in addition to what is listed below.
  • 1 pound large shrimp cleaned and de-veined
  • 1/2 cup fresh green beans cut up
  • 2 large red bell peppers chopped coarsely
  • 1 green bell pepper. chopped coarsely
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 to matoes chopped, coarsely
  • 1 medium onion chopped, coarsely
  • 5 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger chopped
  • 1 scotch bonnet or habanero pepper
  • 1/8 cup fresh parsley
  • 1/8 cup fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 Tablespoon chicken bouillon
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Put the chicken in a large pot and cover with water
  2. boil the chicken with salt, pepper, paprika, chicken bouillon and some chopped onions:
  3. cook until tender. (times vary depending on chicken pieces)
  4. Remove the chicken and Reserve the stock
  5. In a blender of food processor blend together the tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic, herbs and pepper.
  6. In a heavy duty pan, add 1/2 cup oil add in the blended mixture then the tomato paste.
  7. Saute for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors together.
  8. Add in the cooked chicken and about 2 cups of the reserved stock, let simmer for another 10 minutes.
  9. Add in the cut up fresh green beans stir
  10. Add in the shrimp and cook for another few minutes
  11. Adjust the seasonings, add in more stock if necessary and chicken bouillon
  12. Serve with check rice or white rice and enjoy!

 

Liberian Check Rice

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Liberian check rice is a loved dish there.  Rice is enjoyed in some form on a near daily basis in Liberia.  This rice is made with jute leaf which when cooked has the same texture that okra imparts to a dish.  Jute leaf or molokehya is not always easy to find but is sometimes available in your local African or Middle eastern market.  I used the typical substitute for this which is a combination of okra and spinach.  It works well as a side to Liberian chicken gravy.  Enjoy!

Liberian check rice

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Liberian Check Rice

Course Side Dish
Cuisine Liberian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Author International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 3 cups parboiled rice
  • 16 oz Jute leaf (defrosted OR
  • 10 oz each of frozen okra and chopped spinach
  • 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cup of water
  • pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. The instructions are the same whether using Jute leaf or a combination of okra and spinach
  2. In a pot add the frozen jute leaf or spinach and okra along with the water and the baking soda.
  3. When done, drain the water off using a strainer.
  4. Using a potato masher mash well then mix with your cooked rice.
  5. Make sure to not over cook the rice, you want it par-boiled and not at all mushy
  6. Enjoy with chicken gravy

 

Liberian Milk Candy

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Liberian milk candy is yummy!  It is super easy to make and you can control how hard or dark you want your candy treat to be.  It reminded us of dolce de Leche from Argentina, one of our most favorite things. You can get as creative as you like with garnishes or flavorings however we loved it with just a piece of a roasted peanut on top and plain.  Here are a few suggestions if you want to embellish you candy further.  You could garnish with peanuts, almonds, pistachios, or even chocolate, raisins, sesames seeds or macadamia nuts.  If you would like to add flavorings consider vanilla, nutmeg, rum, bourbon (if not serving minors of course) or even coconut milk.  However you make it, you are sure to love it!

Liberian Milk Candy

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Liberian Milk Candy

Course Dessert
Cuisine Liberian
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 12 pieces or so
Author International Cuisine

Ingredients

  • 1 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • garnish and flavoring if using

Instructions

  1. Using a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil, grease up two plates
  2. In a sauce pan, heat 1/4 cup of oil over medium heat
  3. Add the condensed milk Plus and optional flavorings you are using if any, and stir constantly
  4. Cook until the candy thickens and becomes golden brown in color.
  5. You can adjust this to make a hard candy with darker color just cook it longer, just remember to stir constantly so that it does not stick or burn.
  6. Remove the mixture for heat and place on one of the oiled plates.
  7. Allow to cool about 5 minutes or just until you can handle it without burning yourself
  8. Use the remaining oil to grease your hands while you make little balls of candy.
  9. If you are going to garnish them, use your fingers to create a crater in each piece in the middle of the ball.
  10. If using a garnish place in the crater.
  11. Enjoy!