Travel the World from your Dining Table (Recipe: Liberian Jollof Rice)

Written by Jamie Martin, editor of Simple Homeschool and founder of Steady Mom

This month at Simple Homeschool one of our themes has been giving children a global mindset. Jena provided us with an excellent unit study last week, which culminated in a celebratory feast from the country of your choice. Summer is the perfect, relaxed time to try out a few experimental recipes.

Even if your culinary skills are somewhat lacking, global cuisine isn’t as challenging as it may sound.

Here are several links to easy recipes so you can experience the world without having to leave the dining table.

Europe

Photo by Monica Arellano-Ongpin

– Best Ever British Scones

– French Chicken Cordon Bleu

– Italian Double Tomato Bruschetta

Asia

Photo by Hajime Nakano

– Indian Naan Bread (perfect with curry!)

– Japanese Sesame Green Beans

– Thai Chicken Satay

Australia/New Zealand

Photo by Tristan Ferne

– Anzac Biscuits

– New Zealand Maori Bread

North & South America

Photo by thebittenword.com

– Apple Pie (made with honey)

– Salvadorian Quesadilla Cake

– Ecuadorian Arroz con Pollo

Africa/Middle East

– Middle Eastern Rice with Black Beans and Chickpeas

– Ethiopian Cabbage Dish

Recipe: Liberian Jollof Rice

We make this recipe each year when we celebrate the day we adopted my son from Liberia.

• 2 lbs cooked meats – chicken, bacon, or pork (If you’re going for completely authentic, you can use pigs’ feet too!)
• 1/2 cup onions, diced
• 1/2 cup green peppers, diced
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 16-ounce can of whole tomatoes
• 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
• 1-2 cups water
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• salt/pepper to taste

1. Saute the meats (cut into chunks/cubes) in oil until slightly browned. Set aside.

2. Saute onions, peppers, and ginger in oil.

3. Add the can of whole tomatoes and simmer for a few minutes.

4. Stir in can of tomato paste, thyme, crushed red pepper, and 1 cup of water. (You may need to add more water as the sauce thickens.)

5. Add the cooked meat and simmer approximately 20 minutes.

6. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve over white rice.

Further Reading:

– Emeril’s There’s a Chef in My World!: Recipes That Take You Places by Emeril Lagasse
– Usborne Internet-Linked Children’s World Cookbook
– The Kids’ Multicultural Cookbook by Deanna Cook
– What the World Eats by Faith D’Aluisio

Combine today’s post with Heidi’s list of international picture book recommendations and Jena’s global unit study, and you’ve got the perfect, summer geography lesson. Enjoy!

Do you ever cook global cuisine in your home? Leave a link to one of your favorite recipes!