Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Shelpek

Shelpek is a traditional Kazakh fried flatbread made with a tender dairy-enriched dough and quickly fried until puffed and golden. Lightly sweet and perfect with tea or as a snack.

🇰🇿 Kazakhstan$

Kachkéis Mousse

A silky, savory mousse of Luxembourgish Kachkéis lightened with whipped cream, brightened by white wine, Dijon, and lemon, and set with a hint of gelatin. Chilled and spooned onto rye bread, then finished with fresh chives.

🇱🇺 Luxembourg$$

Deyay Meshwi

Deyay Meshwi is a Gulf-style grilled chicken marinated in yogurt, lemon, garlic, and warm spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, and saffron, then charred over high heat and finished with ghee. Bright parsley and sumac make it perfect with rice or warm pita.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates$$

Rote Grütze

A classic Northern German berry dessert: a silky, ruby-red compote of red currants, raspberries, strawberries, and sour cherries gently thickened with cornstarch and perfumed with lemon and vanilla. Best served chilled.

🇩🇪 Germany$$

Agashe

Agashe is a Sudanese/Chadian-style grilled meat skewer coated in a spiced peanut rub, then flame-grilled and served with bread, lemon, and onions. It’s smoky, spicy, and nutty with a bright citrus finish.

🇸🇩 Sudan$$

Calentita

Calentita is a Gibraltarian baked chickpea flour tart—crisp at the edges and tender within—perfumed with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, onion, and a touch of paprika. Naturally gluten-free and vegan, it’s a simple, satisfying street-food style snack.

🇬🇮 Gibraltar$

Pain au beurre

A soft, lightly sweet Caribbean braided bread, similar to brioche, scented with vanilla, nutmeg, and lemon zest. Rich with butter, milk, and eggs, it’s perfect warm with jam or hot chocolate.

🇲🇶 Martinique$$

Kaaba

A rich, cube-styled black cocoa cake inspired by Middle Eastern flavors, built with medjool dates, tahini, honey, and black sesame. Moist, gently spiced, and finished with a silky cocoa glaze and toasted nuts for texture.

🇬🇲 Gambia$$

Botokoin au sésame

Botokoin au sésame is a Togolese-style sesame fritter: airy, lightly sweet yeast dough perfumed with nutmeg, fried until golden and rolled in toasted sesame seeds. Crisp outside and tender inside, it’s a comforting West African street snack.

🇹🇬 Togo$

Kaimati

Kaimati are crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside Swahili fried dough balls soaked in a fragrant cardamom–saffron–rose syrup. Sweet, aromatic, and perfect for celebrations or tea-time.

🇰🇪 Kenya$

I've been...

Shelpek

Kachkéis Mousse

Deyay Meshwi

Rote Grütze

Agashe

Calentita

Pain au beurre

Kaaba

Botokoin au sésame

Kaimati

I've been...

Shelpek

Kachkéis Mousse

Deyay Meshwi

Rote Grütze

Agashe

Calentita

Pain au beurre

Kaaba

Botokoin au sésame

Kaimati