Central African Republic is located in the continent of Africa. It has Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the east, Uganda to the southeast, Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south, Republic of the Congo to the southwest, Cameroon to the west, and Nigeria and Niger to the northwest.
The capital of Central African Republic is Bangui. The official languages are French and Sango.
The staple foods are banana, yam, okra, spinach, rice, tomato, chicken, goat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_the_Central_African_Republic).
Equatorial Guinea is located in the continent of Africa. It has Cameroon to the north, Central African Republic to the northeast, Republic of the Congo to the east, Gabon to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and northwest.
The capital is Ciudad de la Paz. The official languages are Spanish and French.
The staple foods are eggplant, rice, fried yuca, plantain, sweet potato, snails, fish, chicken (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Equatorial_Guinea).
https://www.britannica.com/place/Central-African-Republic
https://www.britannica.com/place/Equatorial-Guinea
KANDA (Central African Pumpkin Seed Meatballs) (https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/kanda-central-african-pumpkin-seed-meatballs/):
Meatballs:
- 3 C pumpkin seeds shelled and lightly toasted
- 1-1/2 lbs. ground beef
- 1 small onion peeled and chopped
- 7 garlic cloves peeled and chopped
- ½ C cold water if needed
- Using a food processor, grind the pumpkin seeds until they become a powder.
- Add the meat, chopped onion, and garlic. Pulse until the mixture becomes smooth. If it does not come together, add up to 1/2 cup water.
- Transfer the mixture to the refrigerator and allow to chill 30 minutes to an hour.
Sauce:
- ¼ ~ ½ C palm or peanut oil
- 1 medium onion peeled and thinly sliced
- 4 large tomatoes peeled, seeded, and diced
- 1-2 chili peppers seeds and stems removed and minced
- 1-1/2 C water
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 small bunch parsley stems removed and roughly chopped
- Steamed rice for serving
- In a large pot, drizzle oil over medium heat.
- Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to turn golden.
- Mix in the tomatoes and chilis. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Add the 1 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover.
- Remove the meat mixture from the refrigerator. Form into golf ball size meatballs.
- Increase the heat of the sauce to medium high and gently add the meatballs.
- Cover and cook, gently stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes.
- Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for another 30.
- Fold in the chopped parsley and serve immediately with steamed rice.
I used brown rice and still the flavors were amazing!!
AKWADU (Baked Bananas) from Equatorial Guinea (https://foreignfork.com/baked-bananas/):
- 4 bananas, cut into ½-inch rounds
- 1/3 C orange juice
- 1/3 C lemon juice
- 3 TBSP butter, melted
- ¼ C brown sugar
- ¼ C shredded coconut
- 1/3 tsp cinnamon
- Honey, optional
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Cut the bananas into rounds about ½” in thickness and lay them in a shallow baking dish. Pour orange juice, lemon juice and butter over the bananas.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar, coconut, and cinnamon on top.
- Place the baking tray in the oven for 15 minutes. When they are done baking, turn the oven to broil and broil for about 2 minutes, until the coconut is toasted on top.
- Serve with honey if you so desire. Enjoy!
I used a little more butter than I should have, but everything is better with butter 🙂
Travel Global Food 