Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Chkmeruli

Chkmeruli is a classic Georgian dish of crisp-seared chicken simmered in a rich, garlicky milk-and-cream sauce, finished with butter and fresh herbs for deep, comforting flavor.

🇬🇪 Georgia$$

Kilishi

Kilishi is a Nigerian spiced beef jerky: ultra-thin beef slices coated in a bold groundnut and chili paste, lightly sweetened, then dried until chewy-crisp. It’s smoky, peppery, and irresistibly snackable.

🇳🇪 Niger$$

Pastramă de oaie afumată cu turbă

Traditional Romanian-style mutton pastrami cured with garlic, spices, and red wine, then slow-smoked over hardwood and peat for a deep, earthy aroma and robust flavor. Intensely savory with juniper, coriander, and paprika notes.

🇲🇩 Moldova$$$

Lechon

A Filipino classic, Lechon features aromatic, marinated pork slow-roasted over charcoal until the skin turns shatteringly crisp and the meat stays juicy. Bright calamansi, lemongrass, garlic, and bay leaves balance the rich pork, while a sweet-savory glaze enhances caramelization.

🇵🇭 Philippines$$

Karjalanpaisti

Karjalanpaisti (Karelian hot pot) is a traditional Finnish mixed-meat stew of beef, pork, and lamb slowly braised with onions, carrots, and warm spices until meltingly tender. It’s a hearty, comforting one-pot main perfect for cold evenings.

🇫🇮 Finland$$

Salatat Dakwa bil Limoon

A bright Sudanese-style peanut and lemon salad (Salatat Dakwa bil Limoon) with tomato, onion, chili, garlic, cilantro, olive oil, and cumin—zesty, crunchy, and lightly spicy. Perfect as a dip or side to grilled meats and flatbreads.

🇸🇩 Sudan$

Mukeke

A Burundian/East African preparation of mukeke (Lake Tanganyika fish) seasoned with lemon, garlic, onion, tomato, and chili, then wrapped in banana leaf and steamed or grilled. Traditionally served with cassava, plantain, or rice.

🇧🇮 Burundi$$

Phall

Phall is an ultra-spicy British-Indian curry featuring tender chicken thighs simmered with tomatoes and an incendiary mix of red and green chilies, including habanero. Finished with fenugreek, garam masala, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lemon for brightness.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom$$

Balkenbrij

Balkenbrij is a traditional Dutch spiced pork-and-buckwheat loaf made from pork shoulder and liver, set until firm, then sliced and pan‑fried until crisp. Hearty and savory with warm spices like cloves and cinnamon, it’s perfect for a rustic, cold‑weather meal.

🇳🇱 Netherlands$

Frango Piri-Piri

Portuguese-style grilled Frango Piri-Piri: juicy chicken marinated with piri-piri chiles, garlic, lemon, olive oil, smoked paprika, oregano, and a splash of red wine vinegar for bright heat and smoky depth.

🇵🇹 Portugal$$

I've been...

Chkmeruli

Kilishi

Pastramă de oaie afumată cu turbă

Lechon

Karjalanpaisti

Salatat Dakwa bil Limoon

Mukeke

Phall

Balkenbrij

Frango Piri-Piri

I've been...

Chkmeruli

Kilishi

Pastramă de oaie afumată cu turbă

Lechon

Karjalanpaisti

Salatat Dakwa bil Limoon

Mukeke

Phall

Balkenbrij

Frango Piri-Piri