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Paella of mussels

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Cape-verde Is My Kitchen
Cuisine is influenced by the cooking of
Portugal
Spain
Creole, Portuguese, African and Brazilian gastronomy have all influenced the food and drink of the isles.
Cachupa is the archipelago’s national dish. This slow-cooked, hearty stew made with beans, corn kernels, vegetables and fish or meat, is a type of Feijoada and is Portuguese in origin. It is commonly served with rice. Soups are also popular such as Canjo, a thick chicken soup with rice, onions and carrots. .
And braised meats are not uncommon but fresh fish and seafood really are the order of the day. .
Cachupa Rica is the fish version of this popular stew. .
Buzio is a tasty slow-cooked stew made with shellfish (usually mussels) and soya sauce. .
Cado de Peixe ou Caiderado is a fish dish (usually Cavala) with potato, pumpkin, carrots, vegetables and tomato puree. .
Bafas is a snack or appetiser of fish cooked with tomato, onion and peppers in breadcrumbs. .
Carpachio is raw tuna, sliced finely and marinated in lime, oil and salt. .
Tuna Tartar is also raw tuna chopped and marinated in a soy dressing. .
Morreia is eel, fried in oil. .
Lagosta suada is a steamed lobster. .
Percebes (sea fingers or gooseneck barnacles) are bizarre looking, finger-like barnacles, eaten by cracking off the end and peeling the skin to reveal the meat which is similar in texture to squid.

Appetizer
Cod fritters  Print Recipe

To desalt the cod, soak for 24 hours, changing water twice
Serves: 5
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 pound salt cod, desalted
4 large eggs
1/4 cup minced fresh flat leaf parsley
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
pinch cayenne
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups dried breadcrumbs
flour for dredging
8 cups canola oil .
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and then reduce the heat so that the water is simmering. Add the salt cod and cover tightly. Turn off the heat and let the cod sit until the fish can be pulled apart with a fork but is still moist, 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove the fish from the water. When cool enough to handle, remove any bones and break up the fish.
Put the fish in a food processor and process until uniformly mashed. Add 2 of the eggs and process until well incorporated and the mixture is fluffy. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the parsley, garlic, onion, mayonnaise, cayenne, salt and pepper.
Gradually add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the breadcrumbs and mix them in; stop adding when the mixture is stiff. Moisten your hands and shape the mixture into small disks about 2 1/2 inches wide and 1 inch thick.
In a bowl, beat the remaining 2 eggs; put the flour on one piece of waxed paper and the remaining breadcrumbs on another.
Dredge the disks in the flour, dip in the beaten egg, and roll in the breadcrumbs. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer or a deep stockpot to 375 degrees. Deep fry the fritters, a few at a time, until deep golden brown. Drain the fritters on paper towels.
Serve with tomato sauce, mayonnaise or tartar sauce.

Main
Brazilian feijoada - black bean stew  Print Recipe

Brazilian Feijoada is a black bean and pork stew that is often served with farofa, toasted cassava flour.
Serves: 10
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:3 hours
1 pound dry black beans (soaked overnight)*
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces slab bacon (rind removed), diced
1 pound pork ribs, cut into individual ribs
2 Mexican chorizo sausages, sliced
1 smoked sausage, such as linguica or kielbasa, sliced
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 bay leaves
water
white rice (for serving)
farofa (for serving)
In a large bowl with water, soak beans overnight.
When you are ready to make your stew, in a large heavy-bottom soup pot, over medium heat, add the oil and bacon. Cook until crisp and transfer to a plate.
Use the same saucepan to brown ribs and sausages in batches. Set aside.
If needed, add more oil to the pan. On medium-high, sauté onion and garlic until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for another 3 minutes.
Drain and rinse the soaked beans. Add them to the pot along with the ribs, bacon, sausages, salt, pepper, bay leave. Cover with water (about 8 cups).
Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it cook for 2 to 2 and a half hours, or until the beans are soft and the stew has thickened.

Serve with white rice and sprinkle some farofa on top.
Notes
* 1 pound dry beans = 2 cups dry beans = 6 cups cooked beans (Feel free to substitute drained, canned beans if desired.)
Recipe inspired by curioucuisiniere.com

Main
Paella of mussels  Print Recipe

Use frégola or risotto instead of rice for another interesting creation
Serves: 6
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
3 pounds fresh mussels
1 medium chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups rice
1/2 teaspoon saffron
1 medium sliced red pepper


Clean and scrub mussels.
Steam in a kettle containing a small amount of water until mussels are opened.
Drain them and retain the cooking liquid. Remove top shells of mussels. In a medium kettle, brown the onion and garlic in oil. Stir in the rice and saffron.
Pour the strained cooking liquid and water over rice, to make 3 1/2 cups. Stir in the red pepper.
Bake covered at 350 degrees F (180 C) for 10 minutes. Add mussels in their half shells and combine with the rice. Continue baking for 10 more minutes or until rice is done.
Serve the paella in a preheated casserole dish.

Main
Pan-seared cod fillets in white wine and tamato basil sauce  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time:15 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
For the White Wine Tomato Basil Sauce:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 3 large cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 cup Marinara sauce or tomato sauce
• 1 cup diced peeled tomatoes
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• For the Cod:
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 - 6 ounce fillets fresh cod
• Salt and pepper
For the White Wine Tomato Basil Sauce:
1. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add crushed red pepper flakes and garlic and saute for 1 minute, or until garlic is fragrant. Add the tomato sauce, diced peeled tomatoes and the white wine. Cook 9 to 12 minutes, stirring over low heat. Stir in the basil, lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, sugar, and pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Transfer the sauce into a bowl and set aside until needed.
For the Cod:
1. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Pat the cod dry with paper towels. Then season both sides of cod with salt and pepper.
2. Place cod in the oil and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip the cod over and continue cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes, OR until it's cooked through.
3. Pour the white wine tomato basil sauce over the cod, let the sauce warm up for a minute, then remove from heat and and serve at once.

Main
Baked cod greek-style  Print Recipe


Serves: 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time:25 minutes
1 lb (454 g) cod fillets, thawed
3 tbsp (45 mL) all purpose flour
2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil
1 cup (250 mL) crumbled feta cheese
(about 1/4 lb/125 g)1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 sweet green bell pepper, chopped
1 can (19 oz/540 mL) tomatoes, (undrained)
1/2 cup (125 mL) pitted black olives
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried oregano
1 pinch hot pepper flakes
1 pinch granulated sugar
2 tbsp (30 mL) minced fresh parsley
Salt and pepper

Cut cod into serving-size portions. Pat dry. Dredge lightly in flour. In large skillet, heat half of the oil over medium-high heat; brown cod lightly on both sides and arrange in 8-inch (2 L) square baking dish. Sprinkle with feta.

Pour remaining oil into skillet; cook onion, garlic and green pepper, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes; crush with fork and stir in olives, oregano, pepper flakes and sugar. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 10 minutes.

Add parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste; spoon over fish. (Dish can be made ahead, cooled, covered and refrigerated for up to 8 hours. Add 5 minutes to baking time.) Bake uncovered in 375°F (190°C) oven for about 15 minutes or until bubbly.

Main
Codfish cakes  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1 cup chopped onions
1 tablespoon butter
2 pounds cooked codfish
3 cups cooked potatoes, cut up (about 3 medium potatoes)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
2 eggs
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
3 tablespoons parsley
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
Melt butter in a frying pan. Add onion and sauté for 5 minutes over low heat. Chop potatoes coarsely. Flake the cod flesh. Combine potatoes, salt and pepper, onion, eggs, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and parsley.
Add the flaked fish and blend well. Spoon the mixture onto a baking sheet and smooth it over. Chill.
Shape the mixture into 12 round cakes. Coat the cakes with breadcrumbs.
Heat half of oil and butter in a skillet, and brown the cakes on both sides about 4-5 minutes per side.

Main
Crab and lobster cakes with roasted red pepper coulis and dill cream  Print Recipe

Adapted from Canadian Living Magazine April 2003
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time:40 minutes
1 7ounce package crabmeat
1 2 ounce lobster tail
2 eggs
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 1/4 cups fresh bread crumbs
3 tablespoons finely diced red onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire and hot pepper sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon canola oil

Roasted Pepper Coulis:
1 sweet red pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup tomato juice
1 tablespoon white wine
2 teaspoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Dill Cream:
1/2 cup white wine
3/4 cup whipping cream
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon flour
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
pinch each salt and pepper
Place crab in sieve. Remove lobster from shell;dice and add to crab. Press out liquid and remove any visible cartilage or shell. Whisk eggs, sour cream and lemon juice until smooth. Stir in crumbs, onion, dill, Worcestershire and hot pepper sauces, salt and pepper. Mix in crab and lobster.
With damp hands, form by 1/4 cupfuls into 8 cakes, each scant 1/2 inch thick. Lightly brush large non-stick skillet with oil; place over medium heat.
Fry cakes, in batches if necessary and brushing lightly with oil if needed, until golden and crisp on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.
Roasted Pepper Coulis:
Meanwhile, grill or broil red pepper until blackened all over, about 20 minutes. Let cool. Peel, halve and seed; chop and set aside. In nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat; cook onion and garlic until golden, 5 minutes. Add lemon juice, wine, roasted pepper, basil, salt and pepper; bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 3 minutes. Purée in blender or food processor.

Dill Cream:
In saucepan, boil wine until reduced to 1/4 cup. Pour in cream; boil for 3 minutes. Meanwhile, mash butter and flour until smooth; whisk into pan. Simmer, whisking, until smooth and slightly thickened, about 1 minute. Stir in dill, salt and pepper. Reheat coulis; pool generous 2 tablespoons each of the coulis and dill cream separately onto each warmed plate. Top with 2 crab-and-lobster cakes.

Main
Red pepper mousse  Print Recipe


Serves: 6
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time:20 minutes
3 sweet red peppers
4 ounces creme fraiche or mascarpone cheese
to taste salt and pepper
4 eggs
1 egg yolk
6 small slices smoked salmon
anchovy cream (recipe below)

Anchovy cream:
2 teaspoons whipping cream
1 ounce anchovy, rinsed
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 shallot, sliced
to taste salt and pepper
Puree cream and anchovies in a blender until cream thickens. Transfer to a bowl. Add all ingredients.
Wash peppers. Cut in halves. Remove seeds. Place in a pan. Broil until peppers are browned. Cover with foil until cooled. Peel peppers. Puree peppers, cream or mascarpone in a food processor. Add the eggs, salt and pepper. Process until smooth.
Butter six 4-ounce timbales. Fill with red pepper puree. Place in a baking pan. Pour hot water in pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake timbales, until they are just firm to the touch. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Place sliced salmon in the center of 6 round plates.
Invert mousse over salmon. Serve with a dab of anchovy cream.

Main
Brazilian feijoada - black bean stew  Print Recipe

Brazilian Feijoada is a black bean and pork stew that is often served with farofa, toasted cassava flour.
Serves: 10
Preparation time:20 minutes
Cooking time:3 hours
1 pound dry black beans (soaked overnight)*
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 ounces slab bacon (rind removed), diced
1 pound pork ribs, cut into individual ribs
2 Mexican chorizo sausages, sliced
1 smoked sausage, such as linguica or kielbasa, sliced
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tomatoes, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 bay leaves
water
white rice (for serving)
farofa (for serving)
In a large bowl with water, soak beans overnight.
When you are ready to make your stew, in a large heavy-bottom soup pot, over medium heat, add the oil and bacon. Cook until crisp and transfer to a plate.
Use the same saucepan to brown ribs and sausages in batches. Set aside.
If needed, add more oil to the pan. On medium-high, sauté onion and garlic until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook for another 3 minutes.
Drain and rinse the soaked beans. Add them to the pot along with the ribs, bacon, sausages, salt, pepper, bay leave. Cover with water (about 8 cups).
Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it cook for 2 to 2 and a half hours, or until the beans are soft and the stew has thickened.

Serve with white rice and sprinkle some farofa on top.
Notes
* 1 pound dry beans = 2 cups dry beans = 6 cups cooked beans (Feel free to substitute drained, canned beans if desired.)
Recipe inspired by curioucuisiniere.com

Side Dish
Peri peri sauce  Print Recipe

Home-made Peri Peri Sauce is used as dips, accompaniments, marinades or even spreads. This Nandos style Piri Piri Sauce is easy made. PERi-PERi, also known as the African Bird’s Eye Chilli, is the key to our legendary, flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken. It’s grown in the African soil, so the magic starts from the ground up.
Serves: 8
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
2 large red bell peppers, char grilled
1 large red onion, char grilled
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
zest of one lemon, finely grated
10 small red Thai chilis, roughly chopped (more to taste for hotter sauce)
1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, or plain paprika
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
To finish the sauce (when cooked)
1/4 cup lemon juice
zest of one lemon, finely minced
1/4 cup red wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Start by roasting the red peppers and onions. This can be done on a gas grill, under the broiler or on a cast iron grill pan. You want to get good char marks on the outside of the peppers and onions. Don't worry if they are not fully cooked, they will get fully cooked in the sauce.
Chop the peppers and onions and add them to a food processor or blender. You can us an immersion blender if that is all you have on hand, just take the time to get the ingredients well pureed.
Add the garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, lemon zest, red Thai chilis, smoked paprika, oregano, salt and pepper to the food processor with the grilled onions and peppers and puree until smooth.
Transfer the sauce to a medium saucepan, add the bay leaves and simmer slowly for 20-30 minutes.
Let the sauce cool to warm. Remove the bay leaves then return the sauce to the food processor again.
Add the additional lemon juice, red wine vinegar and lemon zest. Puree for another few minutes until very smooth. Slowly add in the olive oil in a thin stream as the processor is running.

Dessert
Pasteis de nata - portuguese custard tarts  Print Recipe

The Portuguese Pastel De Nata custard are caramelized custard in flaky golden brown puff pastry.
Serves: 12
Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:30 minutes
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (40 g)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups of whole milk (350 ml)
1 1/3 cups white sugar (265 g)
1/3 cup water (80 ml)
6 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
1 cinnamon stick
1 lemon peel only, cut into strips
1 sheet pre-rolled puff pastry (about 300g or 10 oz)

1. Preheat your oven to 550°F (290°C), and lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin.
2. In a saucepan, bring to a rolling boil the sugar, water, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and cinnamon stick.
3. Separately, whisk the milk, flour, and salt together very thoroughly. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, for about 5 minutes or until well combined and thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
4. Once cooled, whisk in the egg yolks. Then add the sugar syrup (removing the cinnamon stick), and mix until everything is well-combined. Strain into a bowl.
5. Meanwhile, cut the puff pastry sheet into two pieces and place them on top of each other. Tightly roll the sheets into a log, from the short side. Next, cut the log into 12 evenly sized pieces.
6. Place one piece in each of the 12 wells of the muffin tin. press down into the center of the dough piece and press outwards to form a cup with the pastry. The pastry cup should have its top edge just above the top of the well of the muffin tin.
7. Fill each pastry cup 3/4 of the way to the top with custard.
8. Place the tray in the oven and bake until the custard starts to caramelize and blister and the pastry goes golden brown (10-12 minutes). Cool pastries before serving.
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Measures of non liquid ingredients



Non-liquid ingredients in volume converted
into weight using the table below.
For products not included, use a metric scale
Weight of specific 'ingredients in grams

Ingredient

1 cup

3/4 cup

2/3 cup

1/2 cup

1/3 cup

1/4 cup

2 tablespoons

All-purpose wheat flour 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
All-purpose sifted wheat flour 110 g 80 g 70 g 55 g 35 g 27 g 13 g
White sugar 200 g 150 g 130 g 100 g 65 g 50 g 25 g
Powdered sugar/Icing sugar 100 g 75 g 70 g 50 g 35 g 25 g 13 g
Brown sugar normally packed 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 23 g
Corn flour 160 g 120 g 100 g 80 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Cornstarch 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Rice (not-cooked) 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Macaroni (uncooked) 140 g 100 g 90 g 70 g 45 g 35 g 17 g
Couscous (uncooked) 180 g 135 g 120 g 90 g 60 g 45 g 22 g
Quick oatmeal (uncooked) 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Table salt 300 g 230 g 200 g 150 g 100 g 75 g 40 g
Butter / Margarine 240 g 180 g 160 g 120 g 80 g 60 g 30 g
Shortening 190 g 140 g 125 g 95 g 65 g 48 g 24 g
Fruits and légumes chopped 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
chopped walnuts 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Nuts /ground almonds 120 g 90 g 80 g 60 g 40 g 30 g 15 g
Fresh bread crumbs (not packed) 60 g 45 g 40 g 30 g 20 g 15 g 8 g
Dry bread crumbs 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 40 g 20 g
Parmesan grated 90 g 65 g 60 g 45 g 30 g 22 g 11 g
Chocolate chips 150 g 110 g 100 g 75 g 50 g 38 g  19 g
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As the sun rises or sets in Cape-Verde

"May every sunrise hold more promise, and every sunset hold more peace."

The {Page Turner} E-Cookbooks Library on a world cooking journey
11 Recipes

8 Main dishes