Mkate Wa kiportugues (Portuguese Sweet Bread)

They often prepared this recipe around the Easter season, but I like it and cook at anytime!

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups very warm milk
1 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter (room temperature)
1 teaspoon salt
2 packages active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
3 eggs, beaten
5-6 cups all purpose flour
12 uncooked eggs (in shell)
1 egg
1 teaspoon water

Directions

Mix one cup of very warm milk (should feel slightly warm when a drop is placed on the inside of your wrist) with 1 cup sugar, 1 stick of unsalted butter and 1 teaspoon of salt in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment.

Sprinkle the yeast over the remaining warm milk (in a separate bowl or cup). Add 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir until dissolved. Set aside until yeast is bubbly, about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat eggs until foamy; add eggs and yeast mixture to milk/butter/sugar mixture.

Beat in 5 cups of flour, gradually adding 1 cup at a time until a soft dough forms. Change to dough hook.

Knead 5-8 minutes with machine. Turn out onto a clean work surface and continue to knead by hand 1-2 minutes, until dough is smooth.

Butter or oil the inside of a non-metallic bowl and place dough inside, turning over once so that dough is coated and won't dry out. Cover with a clean damp towel or plastic wrap, then place in a warm place, free from any drafts.

Allow to rise for about 90 minutes, or until doubled in bulk. Punch dough down.

Turn out, again, onto a clean work surface. Divide dough evenly into 12 round pieces and form buns 3/4 inch thick. Arrange on 2 buttered cookie sheets.

Make a hollow depression in the center of each with the back of a tablespoon. Press an uncooked egg, gently into the depression. Roll remaining dough into two long thin log shapes and cut into 12 pieces (each). Form each into a thin strip, 6 inches in length. Place two strips over each egg, in criss-cross fashion, being sure to tuck in the ends under the bun.

Allow to rise again for about 45-90 minutes or until doubled in bulk (depends on the temperature in the room).

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Beat an egg with 1 teaspoon of water to make a wash; use mixture to gently brush tops of risen buns.

Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes or til golden. Remove to wire rack to cool. Brush lightly with melted butter.

Samaki, Mchicha na Ndizi (Fish with Plantains and Spinach)

Ingredient

Fish  (Any kind you like)

Onion

Spinach (fresh or frozen)

Tomatoes, diced 

Celery

Black pepper

Vegetable oil

Plantains (green) peeled and sliced
Coconut cream/milk 

Directions 

1.Put plantain in a pan and cook until tender done
2.  Place the fish in the center and top with the rest of the ingredients but coconut cream/milk and spinach. Simmer until the fish is almost done
3. Add spinach and coconut milk and cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until the spinach is done.
Serve while hot..

Pasta za Mchicha na Vitunguu Saumu (Garlic Spinach Pasta)

Ingredients

• 1 pound seashell pasta
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach ( used fresh spinach)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 7 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (optional)
• salt to taste

  Directions  

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and spinach and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente; drain and reserve. 

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; saute for 5 minutes or until the garlic turns light gold. Add cooked pasta and spinach to the skillet and mix well. Season with salt and toss; serve.

Save with grated cheese or grilled chicken. 


Recipe adopted from www.allrecipes.com

Samaki wa Kukaa Kwenye Sufuria ( Pan Fried Fish Tanzanain Style)

Fried fish and rice is a favorite dish among most Tanzanian main land and islands.

Ingredients

Fish such as Tilapia, Snapper, Salmon

Lemon 

Salt to taste

Turmeric

Black pepper  

Chili powder (option) 

Oil to fry 

Direction

1.Wash the fish thoroughly and cut into pieces. 
2. Rub the turmeric over the fish pieces with about 1tsp salt and set aside for 15-20 minutes.
3..Rinse the fish under running water.
3.Mix salt and black pepper, chili pepper powder and lemon..

4.Heat the oil in a frying pan.
5.Coat the fish nicely with the lemon mixture and deep-fry until golden all over on a moderate heat for about 8-10 minutes.
6.Serve hot

Muffins za Ndizi (BANANA MUFFINS)

Mahitaji

2 1/4 cups unga wa ngano

1/2 teaspoon chumvi

1 tsp baking powder
1 tbs  magadi soda

1/2 teaspoon mdalasini

1/2 cup vegetable cooking oil

1/4 cup of applesauce

1 cups sukari

2 Mayai

3 Ndizi zilizoiva (peeled and mashed)

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped(option)

Jinsi ya kutengeneza
Kwenye bakuli kubwa changanya ndizi, mayai, vegetable oil na vanilla.

Kwnye bakuli nyingine changanya unga, chumvi, baking powder, magadi soda na mdalasini..

Chanaganya vitu vyote pamoja lakini hakikisha hukorogi sana.

Kama unaweka nuts basi changanya mwishoni

Paka chombo chako cha kuoka mafuta na uweke kama 2/3 full.

Weka kweny oven iliyopashwa moto kwa 350°F kwa  dakika 25-30 au hadi ziwe za brown  na ukiweka uma au toothpick inatoka safi .

Hii recipe inasema uoke muffins zako kwa dakika 25 hadi 30 lakini zangu ziliiva kwa dakika 20 tu hivyo angalia sana usije ukaziunguza..

*Ukipenda unawea kuweka katika chomboo cha kupikia mkate hii recipe ukawa mkate wa ndizi badala ya muffins za ndizi.
**Pia unaweza kutumia batter badala ya mafuta ya kupikia. 

Hii recipe ilikua adapted kutoka www.cook.com