Kwanzaa Food and Recipes

Kwanzaa Cards

People celebrating Kwanzaa prepare Kwanzaa food as a part of the festivity. U.S. and other parts of the planet celebrate it from 26th Dec to 1st Jan. annually. Originated by Ron Karenga in 1966, this festival is dedicated to the seven principles signifying goodwill and harmony. Celebrations of Kwanzaa are incomplete without Kwanzaa food and recipes, mentioned below.

Kwanzaa Food

Delicious dishes are prepared on Kwanzaa. They are-

Yams are used as components in fufu (mashed yams formed into balls) and other fufu-like dishes. Dishes of fresh fruit salads and fruits for dessert may also be there.
Koki (also called ekoki and haricots koki) is made from black-eyed peas or beans. It is mashed and cooked in banana leaves.
Mafe is a finger licking dish. It is goat meat in peanut sauce. This is a sweet-salty stew.
Other delicious food includes fried okra, peanut sauce, lamb kebabs, Jollof Rice, beef in tomato sauce, African Tomato-avocado-buttermilk Soup, yassa chicken, African vegetarian stew, benne cakes, African Green pepper and spinach etc.
Sweet potato dishes include Sweet Potato Casserole, Sweet Potato Fritters, Sweet Potato Waffles etc.

Kwanzaa Food Recipes

You must be feeling like tasting some of the mouth watering dishes mentioned above. Here are a few recipes of the sumptuous Kwanzaa food-

Benne Cakes

Ingredients:

Oil
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 beaten egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted sesame seeds
1 cup finely packed brown sugar

Method:

Preheat oven to 325°. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Blend brown sugar and butter and beat until they are creamy. Stir in the egg, lemon juice and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking powder, sesame seeds and salt. Drop onto the cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 15 minutes or until the edges turn brown

African Tomato-avocado-buttermilk Soup

Ingredients:

2 tbs Tomato paste
3 lb Tomatoes, peeled and seeded
1 c Buttermilk
2 tbs finely minced fresh parsley
1 Avocado, mashed to a puree
1 tbs Olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Hot pepper sauce

Garnish:

1 Cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced, sour cream, plain yogurt or creme fraiche

Method:

Beat the pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, buttermilk and oil in a big mixing bowl. Flip pureed avocado with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Add the avocado, remaining lemon juice and parsley to the tomato mixture, mix well. Add salt, pepper and a generous number of drops of hot pepper sauce to taste. Refrigerate for hours before serving. At serving, taste soup for seasonings. Garnish the portions with cucumber and sour cream.

Tables during Kwanzaa celebrations overflow with fresh fruits and vegetables, flavorful stews and meats and cooling drinks. Having a bite out of the Kwanzaa party food on the table is a wonderful experience. Kwanzaa food and recipes are given here so that you can pamper your taste buds. You will really relish this food.