Coming from a multicultural background (American-Haitian (maternal side of the family) and Gabonese-Benin (paternal) and to put the icing on the cake, I am German born), it was very difficult for me to choose which recipe to introduce to you. As a joke, I tell my friends that I am the real African-American, having an American mother and a Gabonese father. I decided to choose from the Gabonese side, since this country and culture is rarely spoken of.
As the flag demonstrates (green, yellow, and blue), this country is covered by a dense tropical forest. The sun is strongly shining and present since the equator passes right through Gabon. This coastal country is located in Central-West Africa, with 800 kilometers of water (the Atlantic Ocean) and an endless strip of white sand on the beach. Last, but not least, Gabon was the hosting country for the Survivor 2008 reality show which named it “Gabon – The Last Eden”. What pride I had watching the show for the first time, and hence the reasons for choosing Gabon: so you could learn and discover this culture by savoring this recipe.
This recipe is very important to me and my family. It's something we eat all the time when my aunts, uncles, and grandparents visit from Gabon and also because nyembwe chicken is one of the national dishes of Gabon. Food and this meal bring me and my family together and remind us of our ties, our closeness, and our culture. Before the meal is served, there are rituals that we follow: we bring all our hands together and say grace in my father's language, thanking the Lord for bringing everyone together and while we're saying grace, there's always Gabonese music playing in the background.
As the flag demonstrates (green, yellow, and blue), this country is covered by a dense tropical forest. The sun is strongly shining and present since the equator passes right through Gabon. This coastal country is located in Central-West Africa, with 800 kilometers of water (the Atlantic Ocean) and an endless strip of white sand on the beach. Last, but not least, Gabon was the hosting country for the Survivor 2008 reality show which named it “Gabon – The Last Eden”. What pride I had watching the show for the first time, and hence the reasons for choosing Gabon: so you could learn and discover this culture by savoring this recipe.
This recipe is very important to me and my family. It's something we eat all the time when my aunts, uncles, and grandparents visit from Gabon and also because nyembwe chicken is one of the national dishes of Gabon. Food and this meal bring me and my family together and remind us of our ties, our closeness, and our culture. Before the meal is served, there are rituals that we follow: we bring all our hands together and say grace in my father's language, thanking the Lord for bringing everyone together and while we're saying grace, there's always Gabonese music playing in the background.
Recipe
Ingredients
– 3 lbs chicken, cooked and cut into serving pieces
– 2 cups water
– 3 onions, thinly sliced
– ½ cup palm* or macadamia nuts
– 1 tsp cayenne pepper
– 1 tsp black pepper
– 1 tsp hot pepper
– 2 tsp salt
– 2 tsp crushed garlic
*canned or bottled palm butter (sauce) can be substituted.
Procedure
- Boil palm nuts or macadamia nuts in a large saucepan. Cover and cook for a few minutes or until the skins are soft.
- Drain water from the pan.
- Using a potato masher, crush the nuts.
- Add water, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, garlic, and onions. Mix well.
- Remove fruit and oil from the nuts by pressing with the potato masher. Discard nut skins and kernels from the strainer.
- Heat the above to a low boil, stirring often, and cook until sauce is thickened.
- Add the chicken to the sauce and stir often.
- Serve hot with rice and fried plantains.
this meal and do not have this dish two days in a row.
Bon appétit!!
Photo source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6OFeCxu119iPkjsm0kc2OP7hPRi_VfKOfclvjuekxZqzGjUzGmI0LSgSzswYRWpbrLJk7v-nq7MXdXyynxB6BJXjJRmpX5OIZ3GZOeUeR70S1Owp3KvYDxtM5uLY1-x_918TkQm-bYU/s400/IMG_1513.JPG!
