South African Braai

South African Braai

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Braaivleis is an Afrikaans word meaning “meat grill”, and most often is abbreviated as Braai (rhymes with “dry”). South African Braai is a very popular way of preparing food in this country. In addition to their love of all kinds of seafoods, South Africans love meat: red meat, poultry, pork, lamb, goat, and they have a love of cooking meals over an open fire.

So grilling meats over an open fire, which is really all that braai is, comes naturally to them as a favored kind of meal preparation.

South African Braai Public Domain

And they like to share in the fun. Having a Braai is an immensely social occasion, one in which family and friends gather to enjoy good company (and drink lots of beer!) before and during the grilling, and of course sharing in the tasty grilled meat and side dishes once the braai is done. Also, although it is traditionally the women who do the cooking, having a braai is the most likely time you will find a South African man doing the grilling.

(It seems grilling meat is a “man-thing” the world over, hm?) winking smiley

Anything can be grilled for a braai, even seafood, but traditionally the meal will consist of mammoth slabs of racks of lamb, lamb cutlets, beef steaks, pork ribs, and the South African specialty sausage, boerewors.

For the side dishes, an assortment of vegetables, most often quartered onions, cubed butternut squash and potatoes are seasoned with salt and pepper, perhaps some braai herb seasoning, are wrapped up tight in a couple layers of aluminum foil. Also in the fold they will add some garlicky herb butter, to not only prevent food from sticking to the foil, but to add even more flavor. The packages are then placed in the smoldering embers to cook during the meat grilling.

You ready for your South African Braai?

Good. Me too. Just reading this next recipe has The Old Silly quite hungry!

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All American Style Breakfast

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All American Style Breakfast

(Photo Attributed to Author: Carlos Menendez, San Juan)

The All American Style Breakfast is served in more households and restaurants than any other type of breakfast in the United States of America.

Eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, Canadian bacon, hashed brown potatoes, toast and jam and/or pancakes and syrup, let me tell you – it is very satisfying!

Note: if you are going to serve pancakes, make them first, before preparing the rest of your All American Style Breakfast. Keep them warm in a tightly sealed deep bowl or in the oven while you prepare the rest of the meal. You will have enough irons in the fire that you won’t want to be also having to be worried about preparing perfect pancakes at the same time, trust me.

For a good recipe for easy to make, simple, but perfect and tasty homemade pancakes, click here. For a recipe for some kicked up, jazzier pancakes, try Pecan Oatmeal Pancakes or  Raspberry Sour Cream Pancakes.

All American Style Breakfast Recipe-

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Moroccan Lamb Kebabs with Golden Couscous

Moroccan Lamb Kebabs

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Today’s post is a marvelous African (Moroccan) recipe – Moroccan Lamb Kebabs, served with golden couscous. You can find this and lots of other Moroccan dishes on our Moroccan Cuisine page.

Lamb Kebabs with Golden Couscous is a classic Moroccan dish, and a national favorite. The rich, tender, spicy flavorful lamb meat, with onions and apricots to compliment the meat is a remarkable and wonderful treat. Try grilling up some Moroccan Lamb Kebabs with Golden Couscous for your next backyard cookout – you and your guests will love it!

Moroccan Lamb Kebabs with Golden Couscous

(Photo Attributed to Author: Rochelle Hartman)

Moroccan Lamb Kebabs with Golden Couscous Recipe-

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New England Lobster Rolls

New England Lobster Rolls

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Today’s post is featuring a new recipe added to our Classic American/Soups and Sandwiches Page:

New England Lobster Rolls

New England Lobster Rolls

(Photo Attributed to Author: Ehedaya)

To make perfect New England lobster rolls, you want to keep it simple. The succulent flavor of lobster meat is in itself what you want featured. Avoid the temptation to add much – if anything – to this simple, yet elegant recipe. Too many extra flavors can wind up overshadowing the unique and subtle flavor of the lobster salad filling. Even the use of sriracha hot sauce, if overdone, can ruin New England Lobster Rolls. You may even want to not use any hot sauce at all, but I find just a bit of it actually adds a “brightening-up” taste to the lobster. Experiment for yourself.

Note: If you are going to use fresh lobster meat, and will cook it yourself, you will need to buy four times the weight (in lobster tail form) of the amount you want to wind up with for your lobster salad. In other words, for this recipe, which calls for 1 pound of lobster meat, you would need four pounds of fresh lobster tails.

The below recipe does not take into account cooking time for the lobster, so for your convenience there is a chart below the recipe which shows how long to steam the tails.

New England Lobster Rolls Recipe-

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Javanese Ayam Ungkep

Javanese Ayam Ungkep

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This Javanese Ayam Ungkep recipe is taken from our Javanese Cuisine page. For more delicious Javanese dishes, click here.

Javanese Ayam Ungkep is a specialty dish of spiced and deep fried chicken. The chicken pieces are pre-cooked in spices before being deep fried. The Javanese consider it as a great party dish. Try some. You will surely want to serve some Ayam Ungkep at your next party!

Javanese Ayam Ungkep

(Photo Attributed to Author: DougsTech at English Wikipedia)

Javanese Ayam Ungkep Recipe-

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Strange Grilled Meats: Kangaroo Meat

Strange Grilled Meats

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Strange Grilled Meats: Kangaroo Meat

Kangaroo Meat

I was searching for some unique, even “strange” ethnic recipes to share here during the recent summer grilling months. A Google search for “Strange Grilled Meats” led me to a recipe that I modified just a tad, but still using the same meats:

Ostrich, Emu, and/or Kangaroo steaks.

Now I know, to Australians, these are probably not considered strange grilled meats, not even in the least. But to us living here in North America, yes … plopping steaks from those animals on the barbie certainly falls under the category of-

Strange Grilled Meats!

I haven’t tried the ostrich or emu yet, but I did order some kangaroo steaks. Actually, I purchased some boneless Kangaroo loin meat, and sliced several thick steaks off of it.

I marinated them according to the recipe below, grilled them up medium rare, and let me tell you … delicious!

So good in fact, I decided I’m going to try out the same marinade/recipe with ostrich and emu, too. But for right now, on this post, the following is how I prepared my Kangaroo steaks.

Okay, you say, enough chit chat … how about getting into the recipe, Old Silly?

And fine, I say, that is exactly what I’m about to do, next up on this Strange Grilled Meats post …

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe

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This is the first in a series of four posts, featuring dessert dishes from the All-American/Classic-American/American-Desserts page here on Ethnic foods R Us. This Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe is the perfect way to kick off to your sweet-tooth adventure!

Red Velvet Cheesecake

(Photo Attributed to Author: Jamie)

Red Velvet Cake has long been an original North American favorite, so combining it with a cheesecake, making a Red Velvet Cheesecake, is just the kind of thing we like to do. I’m betting if you try this Red Velvet Cheesecake recipe, you’ll be glad we did!

Red Velvet Cheesecake Recipe-

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Indian Bhuna Gosht

Indian Bhuna Gosht

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Indian Bhuna Gosht is an exceptional curried lamb main course. It is the “Bhuna” that makes it so special. Bhuna consists of pan-frying the lamb along with certain spices. Because the meat is cooked in its own juices, Indian Bhuna Gosht is a deep, richly flavored dish. It will take you a while to prepare, but believe me, the sitting down to eat part at the end of your labor is well worth it.

Indian Bhuna Gosht

(Photo Attributed to Author: Rupak76)

Indian Bhuna Gosht Recipe-

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9 Super Healthy Spices

9 Super Healthy Spices

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9 Super Healthy Spices

(Photo Attributed to Author: Heydrienne)

The health benefits of spices and herbs have long been known to many cultures worldwide. And these 9 super healthy spices being presented here on this post are by no means all of them. There are an abundance of spices on our planet that are good for you. But these nine are among the very best, for reasons to follow.

According to studies carried out by McCormick Science Institute, an independent research organization, there are many health-promoting advantages realized in the body by consuming more herbs and spices.

The following list is indicative of the benefits of (not just, but especially) the:

9 Super Healthy Spices for your body.

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Grilled TexMex Pork Chops

Grilled TexMex Pork Chops

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Folks, I just doesn’t get any better than these Grilled TexMex Pork Chops, season-rubbed and grilled. Have yourself a real authentic TexMex ethnic eating experience you will want to have again and again!

Grilled TexMex Pork Chops

(Photo Attributed to Author: Opponent)

Note: You can find more authentic and delicious TexMex recipes here on this site, at: All-American/TexMex page. This Grilled TexMex Pork Chops recipe is just one of many you can enjoy!

Grilled TexMex Pork Chops Recipe-

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Beer Lime Cauliflower Tacos

Beer Lime Cauliflower Tacos Recipe

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Today we are featuring a vegan recipe from the All-American Vegetarian-and-Vegan page here on Ethnic foods R Us. Check out this super tasty Beer Lime Cauliflower Tacos recipe.

Beer Lime Cauliflower Tacos

(Photo Attributed to Author: Larry Miller)

Beer Lime Cauliflower Tacos are roasted and ever so yummy. A truly vegan recipe, this Beer Lime Cauliflower Tacos recipe simply must be made also with Mango Salsa and Cilantro Coleslaw as part of the dish.

Beer Lime Cauliflower Tacos Recipe-

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Very Spicy Veggie Chili

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This Very Spicy Veggie Chili recipe is taken from our All-American Vegetarian and Vegan page. The use of coffee and chocolate gives it a unique flavor unlike any other chili I have ever tried or prepared. And, for you strict vegans, Very Spicy Veggie Chili can be prepared in true vegan style, it only becomes less than vegan with the use of condiment toppings.

very spicy veggie chili

(Photo attributed to author: jeffreyw)

Very Spicy Veggie Chili Recipe-

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Making Homemade Miso Paste

Making Homemade Miso Paste

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If you love Asian cuisine and enjoy preparing authentic and traditional dishes, then making homemade miso paste is a skill you might want to acquire. Originating in Japan, miso is a fermented food, made with soybeans. And it has for millennia been a staple in their cuisine. But it’s use long ago spread all over Asia, and is highly popular and included in Korean, Chinese, and many other Asian cuisines, as well.

Making Homemade Miso Paste

Large Barrels of Fermenting Miso at Maruya Hatcho Co., Japan (Photo Attributed to Author: Kodachi)

You can, of course, just buy good quality, authentic and traditional miso paste in most major metropolitan areas, around the world. Companies like Maruya Hatcho Co., in Okazaki, Japan, mass produce miso while still using ancient and traditional methods.

You can even purchase from a wide variety here on our online foods store. misoFor making homemade miso paste, you will need just a small amount of already prepared miso – it acts as a “starter”, with the bacteria in it initiating the fermentation process.

But there is nothing quite like the satisfaction of making homemade miso paste yourself, and using it to prepare your favorite Asian dishes. And making homemade miso paste also gives you the ability to adjust the taste with what beans you use, the length of fermentation time, additional kinds of ingredients you can include, etc. – which we get into later in this article.

But first, the basic ingredients and methods for …

Making Homemade Miso Paste Recipe-

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