By Mirabel Umenei
Motherland Cooking Xperience
Motherland Cooking Xperience was founded with the aim of providing a platform for immigrants with ties to Africa to showcase their talent, through food, music, art, and storytelling in an effort to bridge the cultural gap between African immigrants, their families and their communities of residence. We also want to empower them financially and foster faster integration and participation in their communities.
At Motherland Cooking Xperience, we are passionate about showcasing the diverse and exciting cultures of Africa through delicious food, cooking demos, beverages, and music from Africa.
Due to the quarantine, the program has now gone online with the next event, “African Cooking in Quarantine 4: Chicken Pepper Soup, Peanut Soup with Rice, and Banana Puff, Puff,” set for June 5 from 5 – 7 p.m. To check out this show or any of the cooking experiences, go to motherlandcookingexperience.com.
Like to try it on your own? Below is the recipe for Plantain Porridge or Born House Plantains or Sese Plantains. This is a delicious savory Cameroonian dish usually prepared for a new mom and her guests.
Here are the ingredients I used:
Green Plantains
Medium Onions, garlic, ginger
Country onions
Tomatoes
Bitter leaves
Fresh Turnip greens
Fresh Kale Smoked fish and turkey
Salt Seasoning cube
Smoked crawfish 4-5 unripe plantains peeled and cut in halves
1/2-1 cup palm oil
1 pound smoked fish and meat of choice. – I used home smoked turkey and fish.
1/2 cup crayfish
2 teaspoons of bouillon powder
2 tablespoons blended garlic and ginger optional
1 habanero (hot) pepper optional
1 teaspoon contri onions or rondelles (optional)
Salt to taste 4-8 handfuls green leafy vegetable – I used rehydrated dry bitter leaf, Turnip greens and kale.
Instructions Cut the smoked turkey in smaller pieces and put them in the pot with plantains at the same time. Once the plantain is in the pot, add in all other ingredients. Let it cook for about 30 minutes until the plantain is cooked. Add more water if necessary. Turn off the heat and serve warm.
