These orange-flavoured rusks are an example of contemporary rusk-making. Rusks have been around in the southern part of Africa since 1652 when the Dutch arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. Their ship-rations included dried-out bread that is the direct ancestor of contemporary rusks. Home-bakers typically bake large batches of […]
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) or mahangu as it is locally known, is the most widely grown millet variety globally and Namibia’s most important staple food. It is the world’s sixth most important crop. It is especially important in the semiarid tropics of Asia and Africa where the crop is preferred […]
Olive and rosemary flavoured bread baked in a cast iron pot is a favourite part of Sunday’s lazy lunch. It is synonymous with the iconic braai and braaivleis and there are as many versions of this bread as there are home bakers. Make sure you have plenty of butter, home-made […]
Polenta with mushrooms and herbs is another recipe aimed at elevating the Namibian staple, “pap”. One can use white maize flour if that is all that’s available, and any mushrooms will do, even tinned ones if you are on a camping trip chasing the next big sunset. If it is […]
Eefukwa or Bambara Groundnuts (Vigna subterraneacan) is an indigenous African legume that originated in parts of West Africa. Local communal farmers cultivate Eefukwa, as the Bambara groundnut is called locally, in Northern Namibia. It is a complete food that contains fat, protein and carbohydrate and is intercropped with cereal crops. […]
Eefukwa or Bambara groundnuts are one of Namibia’s traditional legumes. It is very popular in northern Namibia where it is often boiled and eaten as a snack. Eefukwa is also delicious when cooked as a stew, or even as an addition to stews. Elsewhere in Africa it is processed into […]
Traditionally, fermented mahangu grains are not used for making bread. This indigenous crop, like most of Africa’s other indigenous crops are low in gluten. They do not make good bread. Historically they have been consumed as porridge either with a sauce or a protein on the side. One possible exception […]