Tag: appetizer

Shrimp Rougaille

Shrimp Rougaille

Shrimp Rougaille

Shrimp rougaille is the Mauritian version of the classic dish, shrimp creole. Jumbo shrimp are finished off on top of a spicy creole tomato sauce. They will only need 1 minute of cooking time plus 4 minutes in the covered pan off the heat. This will allow the shrimp to steam in the sauce, making them succulent and tender instead of over cooked. Serve the rougaille with saffron cumin rice.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Mauritian
Keyword: appetizer, East African, main course, Mauritian, seafood
Servings: 2
Author: Alex Gorgos

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 medium white onion finely chopped
  • 1 red bird’s eye chili finely chopped
  • 1 tbsp ginger grated
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tbsp thyme
  • 3 roma tomatoes diced
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 12 16/20 ct. shrimp peeled and deveined
  • salt to taste

Garnish

  • cilantro chopped

Instructions

  • Heat up vegetable oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Sauté the onions for 5 minutes.
    Mauritian, main course, seafood
  • Add in the chili, garlic, ginger, and thyme. Sauté for 3 minutes.
    Mauritian, main course, seafood
  • Add in the tomatoes. Season with salt. Sauté for 10 minutes. Pour in the water and simmer for another 5 minutes.
    Mauritian, main course, seafood
  • Place the shrimp in a single layer on top of the rougaille sauce. Cook for 1 minute without touching.
    Mauritian, main course, seafood
  • Place a cover on the pan. Turn off the heat. Let the shrimp steam in the pan for 4 minutes until cooked through.
    Mauritian, main course, seafood
Mauritian, main course, seafood
Mauritian, main course, seafood
Serve the shrimp rougaille with saffron cumin rice. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Nigerian Sausage Rolls

Nigerian Sausage Rolls

Nigerian Sausage Rolls

Sausage rolls are popular all over Nigeria and most African countries. The sausage is made from either beef or pork(depending on religious beliefs), and is rolled up inside a buttery biscuity pastry. They get baked, and I get baked. The sausage rolls turn out golden brown and flakey. Before you know it, you just might accidentally eat all of them in a course of a night.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: Nigerian
Keyword: appetizer, main course, Nigerian, snack, West African
Servings: 12 sausage rolls
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • food processor
  • rolling pin

Ingredients

Dough

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • garlic powder

Sausage

  • 3/4 lb ground pork
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 maggi bouillon cube crushed
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions

  • Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Mix in the butter, egg, and cold water until a dough forms. Roll into a ball and cover with a damp cloth.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Place the ground pork, egg, anc seasonings in a food processor.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Process until smooth. You will want the fat to be broken down.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Lightly flour a clean surface and a rolling pin. Cut the dough ball into 4 equal pieces
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Roll out one of the pieces into an 8”x10” rectangular sheet; about the size of a sheet of paper.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Spread a quarter of the sausage down the left side of the dough.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Roll it up like a fatty. Don’t lick it.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Cut it into 3 equal pieces. Repeat these steps for the rest of the ingredients.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the sausage rolls on the sheet in rows of 4. Using a fork, prick 2 sets of holes in each roll. Brush each roll with milk. Lightly sprinkle on garlic powder.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
  • Bake the sausage rolls for 25-30 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
    Nigerian, main course, pork
Nigerian, appetizer, main course, pork
The sausage rolls make a great appetizer and snack.
Chicken Suya

Chicken Suya

Chicken Suya

Suya is the standard in Nigerian street food; considered by many to be the national dish. Traditionally, small skewers of meat are heavily seasoned with the suya spice(cayenne, ground peanuts, garlic, onion, paprika, ginger, and maggi bouillon) and are grilled over an open flame. If you don’t have a grill, the skewers can be broiled. Beef, chicken, and shrimp are common proteins used. Liver, tripe, kidneys, and heart are also used. Nothing gets wasted.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Marinating Time1 hour
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: Nigerian
Keyword: appetizer, Chicken, main course, Nigerian, seafood, West African
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • mortar and pestle or spice grinder
  • metalskewers

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut in half
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil

Suya Spice Blend

  • 3 tbsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2 tbsp roasted peanuts ground
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 cubes maggi bouillon ground

Instructions

  • Mix all of the suya spices together.
    Nigerian, main course, chicken, seafood
  • Season the chicken with the suya and let marinate for an hour.
    Nigerian, main course, chicken, seafood
  • Skewer up 2-3 pieces of chicken thighs.
    Nigerian, main course, chicken
  • Prep your grill. Once the charcoal is grey, add the skewers directly over the flame.
    Nigerian, main course, chicken
  • Grill for about 12 minutes, turning every few until cooked through.
    Nigerian, main course, chicken
Nigerian, main course, chicken
Serve with more suya spice to sprinkle on.