There are lots of ways to celebrate a culture, one of them being food...
Here in the UK, October is Black History Month – a time to share, celebrate, and understand the impact of black heritage and culture.
This month seeks to create a sense of community and unification amongst all our communities at Salford. There are lots of ways to celebrate a culture, one of them being food.
So, we’ve got some easy-to-follow recipes for you to try for Black History Month! Hungry? You will be!
Jollof Rice
A classic dish with many different interpretations, this recipe from Sainsbury’s is easy to follow; perfect if you don’t have much time in your week!
Ingredients:
- 250g rice
- 500ml chicken stock
- 400g chopped tomatoes
- 1 red pepper
- 1 scotch bonnet chilli (alternatively, a habanero pepper!)
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp of vegetable oil
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 540g chicken
Method:
1. Partly cook the rice with the chicken stock for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, your rice should be slightly hard.
2. Blend the pepper, onion, tomatoes and scotch bonnet to form a smooth paste.
3. Pre-heat the oven to 190°C/fan 170°C/gas mark 5.
4. Heat the vegetable oil and add the paste with the curry powder, leaves from the thyme sprigs and bay leaves. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.
5. Place the chicken on a tray, drizzle with oil, and cover it with a spoonful of sauce for each piece. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, add the rice and stock to the remaining sauce. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. After 10 minutes, stir it and add more stock if it feels sticky.
7. Once the chicken is fully cooked, add to the rice and plate with some of the leftover fresh thyme.
There you have it – an easy, quick-to-make dish with tonnes of flavour! But what if you fancy something a bit creamier?...
Caribbean-style Cajun Chicken
This next dish is very versatile, as you can adapt to different versions, replacing the rice with pasta or having it with tortillas to create fajitas!
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp Cajun Seasoning
- 640g chicken
- 200ml single cream
- 1 red pepper
- 1 green pepper
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 onion (cut into chunky pieces)
- 300g mushrooms
- 1 chicken stock pot
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 red chillies
- 400g white rice
Method:
1. Dice your chicken and cook in a deep - frying pan for about 5 - 10 minutes until cooked all the way through; add garlic cloves, salt, and pepper for seasoning.
2. Slice your red, green and yellow peppers, and cut your onion into chunky pieces. Add them to your pan and fry them for 2 minutes until they have a crunchy texture. Add the mushrooms and quickly fry.
3. Add the Cajun seasoning to coat all the mixture.
4. Mix the chicken stock pot with 200mL of boiling water and add the mixture to the pan. Leave it simmering for 2 minutes.
5. Pour the single cream into the pan and cook on high heat for 1 minute (be careful to n ot overcook the cream), then leave to simmer on low heat.
6. While the sauce thickens, cook your rice (or other side).
7. Once cooked, place the rice onto a plate, add your creamy Cajun chicken and slice fresh chillies over the top. Enjoy!
These dishes may be enjoyed on their own, but if you wish to, you could try some of these sides to spice up your dish.
Festival
Festival is a popular Jamaican street food, and this delicious plate is wonderful to accompany your protein dishes, giving it a bit more flavour!
Ingredients:
- 115g all - purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 230g Cornmeal
- 57g sugar
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp margarine
- 1 tsp lime juice
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup vegetable oil
Method:
1. In a large bowl, sift your flour, baking powder and Cornmeal.
2. Add the sugar, nutmeg, salt, margarine and lime juice.
3. As you mix, gradually add water, enough to create a manageable dough.
4. Once integrated, leave to rest for 2 minutes.
5. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan, shape your dough into long oval shapes, and fry until golden brown.
6. Drain them on absorbent paper.
7. Serve and enjoy!
Fried Plantains
Finally, if you want a sweet side for your meals, try making Fried Plantains. A 2 - ingredient dish, simple to make.
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe plantain
- Sea salt (optional)
Method:
1. Remove the plantain peel and cut it into thick slices.
2. Fry the slices on each side for about 2 minutes until golden brown.
3. Serve them with lightly sprinkled sea salt or plain.
There you have it so easy to make and perfect for just a sweet touch to your dish.
So there you have it – some simple recipes for Black History Month! This is a great way to connect with the culture and celebration as you learn about the importance of the historical events in this month. We hope you enjoy them!
Got any recipes we missed? Comment below and let us know!