Recipes | I've Been Cooking

Machboos Laham

Machboos Laham is a fragrant Gulf-style spiced lamb and rice pilaf. Tender lamb simmers with tomatoes, onions, baharat, and dried black limes, then is folded with saffron-kissed basmati and a whisper of rose water for a deeply aromatic, celebratory main.

🇰🇼 Kuwait$$$

Poulet au Gingembre à la Gabonaise

A fragrant Gabonese ginger-chicken braise simmered in palm oil with tomato, chili, and herbs, brightened with lemon and finished with scallions and parsley. Traditionally served with rice and sweet fried plantains.

🇬🇦 Gabon$$

Charred Bahraini Machboos

Charred Bahraini Machboos is a fragrant Gulf-style spiced rice with seared chicken thighs, perfumed with baharat, black lime, saffron, and rose water. The rice absorbs a rich chicken stock and tomato base, while a quick char adds smoky depth and golden crusted bits.

🇧🇭 Bahrain$$

Skoudehkaris

Skoudehkaris is a fragrant Djiboutian one-pot of lamb and basmati rice simmered with tomatoes and warm spices like cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. Tender, saucy lamb infuses the rice for a deeply comforting, aromatic main.

🇩🇯 Djibouti$$

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$$

Dombrés aux haricots rouges

A hearty French Antillean one-pot stew of red beans simmered with aromatics, smoked pork, and bacon, finished with tender flour dumplings (dombrés). Comforting, savory, and lightly spicy with thyme and chili heat.

🇬🇵 Guadeloupe$

Mtori

Mtori is a comforting Tanzanian plantain-and-beef soup, simmered until silky and gently spiced with ginger, garlic, black pepper, and cardamom.

🇹🇿 Tanzania$$

Mumawwash

Mumawwash is a fragrant Gulf-style one-pot of basmati rice and mung beans cooked with dried shrimp, onions, garlic, tomato paste, and warm spices. Ghee and dried black lime (loomi) add depth and a distinctive, savory-citrus aroma. Comforting, hearty, and naturally gluten-free.

🇰🇼 Kuwait$$

Grytviken Stew

A hearty, one-pot beef and barley stew simmered with potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and warm herbs. Rich broth, a touch of vinegar for brightness, and parsley to finish make this cold‑weather comfort in a bowl.

🇬🇸 South Georgia South Sandwich Islands$$

Machboos Dajaj

Machboos Dajaj is a fragrant Gulf Arab chicken-and-rice dish simmered with tomatoes, black lime, and warm spices like baharat, cardamom, and cinnamon, then finished with saffron and ghee. It’s a comforting, celebratory one-pot meal with bright, tangy, and smoky notes.

🇶🇦 Qatar$$

I've been...

Machboos Laham

Poulet au Gingembre à la Gabonaise

Charred Bahraini Machboos

Skoudehkaris

Karjalanpaisti

Dombrés aux haricots rouges

Mtori

Mumawwash

Grytviken Stew

Machboos Dajaj

I've been...

Machboos Laham

Poulet au Gingembre à la Gabonaise

Charred Bahraini Machboos

Skoudehkaris

Karjalanpaisti

Dombrés aux haricots rouges

Mtori

Mumawwash

Grytviken Stew

Machboos Dajaj