“What's for dinner” is a question we dread the most. Whipping up meals can feel like a daily struggle especially when you need to consider budget and the rumble of a hungry stomach. But don’t worry, with a little planning, you can prepare affordable meals without breaking the bank. Remember that time you spent hours browsing fancy recipe sites, only to discover ingredients that cost more than your rent? Been there, done that! But what if we told you there's a way to create restaurant-worthy meals which won’t burn a hole in your pockets? So, here are some tips you’ll find useful. Make a Plan Before you go grocery shopping, sit down and plan out your meals for the week...
Egusi soup! The soup that brings back many childhood memories, mostly involving a mortar and pestle the size of my head and arms that felt like they were about to fall off. You see, my mum (aah, I love that woman) was a purist. Egusi soup wasn't Egusi soup unless you wrestled those stubborn melon seeds into submission with sheer brute force. Every Saturday afternoon goes the “thump thump thump” sound. It felt like a special dance to get ready for a delicious lunch. I would watch my mom's muscles bulge as she pounded seeds with a pestle, turning them into a yummy, yellow paste. It was cool to see, but a little scary too! Then came the part where...
Have you ever been captivated by the aroma wafting from a neighbor's kitchen? Like yummy spices warming up your whole house? That, my friend, is the magic of African food! Africa boasts a treasure trove of unique spices that elevate even the simplest dish. At Flourish Spices & African Food, we're passionate about bringing these flavors to your table. Let's explore some essential spices that will transform your cooking! Locust Bean Seasoning (Iru): The hero of many dishes, iru is a fermented locust bean with a deep, savory punch. This spice enriches everything from ogbono soup to egusi soup. A sprinkle of iru is all it takes to transform your dish from ordinary to extraordinary. Ogbono Soup Mix: Ogbono soup, a Nigerian classic, is a thick and...
It's Tuesday night, and I'm staring sadly at a pan of rather bland-looking chicken. I'd gone for the healthy route, grilling some skinless breasts, but something was missing. "This needs something," I mutter, poking a fork at the chicken. Then it hits me - how about I drizzle some hot pepper sauce made from roasted habaneros and African spices on it. Do you know habaneros have a reputation for being firecrackers? The roasted habanero added a smoky depth, and the blend of African spices created this incredible warmth that tickled my tongue. This wasn't just heat, it was flavor with a capital F. I drizzled some of the Flourish hot sauce over the chicken. The aroma that hit me was...
Remember those Saturday mornings as a kid? Cartoons blaring on TV, sunshine peeking through the curtains, and the most delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen. For many of us in Nigeria, that aroma meant one thing: breakfast was calling! Who can forget the fluffy moin moin, the steaming hot ogi, or the crispy akara dipped in pepper sauce? These meals were pure comfort, a taste of tradition passed down through generations. But let's be honest, the prep work? Not so fun. Washing mountains of beans, painstakingly milling them by hand – it was a labor of love, for sure, but also a time commitment not everyone has these days. We get it. You crave the taste of home, the memories...
