Kwanzaa is one of the African American festivals which is not bound by any religion. You are welcome to be a part of this weeklong celebration and enjoy the special Kwanzaa recipes.



The cuisines in Kwanzaa are blend of African and American ethnicity. This is the reason that you would surely enjoy the meals on Kwanzaa. Here are few Kwanzaa recipes for you to try out and enjoy the festival.

  • African Tomato-avocado-buttermilk Soup


Ingredients

3 lb Tomatoes (peeled and seeded)

2 tablespoon Tomato paste

1 cup Buttermilk

1 tablespoon Olive oil

1 Avocado (mashed to a puree)

Juice of 1 lemon

2 tablespoon finely minced fresh parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

Hot pepper sauce

For Garnishing: 1 Cucumber (peeled, seeded and diced); sour cream, plain yogurt or creme fraiche

Preparations

  • Puree tomatoes in a food processor or food mill
  • Press through a sieve to remove seeds
  • Now, in a large mixing bowl, beat the pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, buttermilk, and oil
  • Toss pureed avocado with 1 tablespoon lemon juice to hold the color
  • Add the avocado, remaining lemon juice and parsley to the tomato mixture
  • Stir to mix well
  • Season with salt and pepper and generously add drops of hot pepper sauce
  • Refrigerate several hours before serving


Servings – for 8-10 servings

  • At serving time, taste soup for seasonings
  • Scoop into individual bowl and have guest garnish their portions with cucumber and sour cream
  • Pass hot pepper sauce around to add more tartness
  • Yassa Chicken


Ingredients

3 pound chicken (cut into 8 pieces)

1 ½ cups thinly sliced onions

6 cloves garlic (halved)

1 cup thinly sliced celery (2 ribs)

1 cup thinly sliced carrots (2 small)

2 limes zested and juiced

1 fresh hot chili pepper (Scotch bonnet or habanero) (quartered)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 quart chicken stock

For Garnishing:


2 cups julienned carrots (blanched)

2 cups julienned leeks (blanched)

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon butter

Preparations

  • Marinate chicken for 3 to 5 hours in onions, garlic, celery, carrots, lime juice, and hot pepper
  • Strain, remove chicken and pat dry
  • Reserve vegetables
  • Season chicken with salt and pepper and brown in Dutch oven in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • Remove chicken, and pour off excess fat
  • Deglaze pan with chicken stock and add chicken and marinated vegetables
  • Allow cooking, covered, over medium heat until chicken is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes
  • Remove chicken and reserve in warm place (oven preheated to 250 degrees)
  • Strain sauce through china cap or sieve
  • Season the sauce with lime zest, salt, and pepper
  • Warm the chicken in sauce
  • Warm the blanched carrots and leeks in 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon butter, plus salt and pepper


Servings – You can serve this Kwanzaa dish with Cooked enriched rice or Sautéed Greens

Hope you try these mouth watering Kwanzaa recipes and gather applauds from all your near and dear ones.