Food is a universal language that brings people together. Inspired by my friends and colleagues from around the globe, I’ll be sharing a collection of recipes that represent their unique cultures. After spending years in Qatar, I’ll be cooking a dish from a different country each month to celebrate friendship and the joy of cooking
Croatia 🇭🇷: Peka
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Here’s a recipe for a basic Croatian peka that you can make using ingredients available in Danish supermarkets.
Ingredients:
Meat:
Lamb (often used, around 1.5 to 2 kg, but you can also use pork or chicken)
You can find lamb at larger supermarkets or local butchers
Vegetables:
Potatoes (around 1.5 kg)
Available at any Danish supermarket like Rema 1000, Netto, or Føtex.
Carrots (3-4 medium carrots)
Onions (2-3 medium onions)
Garlic (4-5 cloves)
Seasonings & Herbs:
Olive oil (for drizzling)
Salt (to taste)
Black pepper (freshly ground)
Rosemary (fresh or dried, about 2-3 sprigs)
Thyme (optional, 2 sprigs)
Bay leaves (2-3 leaves)
Paprika (optional, about 1 tbsp for extra flavor)
Lemon (1, for a little tang, optional)
Broth & Liquid:
White wine (1 cup, about 250 ml)
Tomato paste (1-2 tbsp, optional, for richer flavor)
Cooking Method:
Prepare the meat and vegetables: If you’re using lamb, cut it into large chunks. You can also keep it whole if you prefer, but smaller pieces cook more evenly. Peel and chop the potatoes, carrots, and onions. Crush the garlic cloves.
Season: Coat the meat and vegetables with olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary, and thyme. Place in a large bowl, and let it marinate for at least an hour (or even overnight if you have time).
Layer the pot: In your Dutch oven or a heavy ovenproof pot, layer the meat first, followed by the vegetables. Add the garlic, bay leaves, and optional lemon slices.
Add liquid: Pour in the white wine, and add enough broth or water to cover the base of the pot. Optionally, stir in some tomato paste for added depth.
Cook: Preheat your oven to about 160°C (320°F). Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and cook for around 2.5 to 3 hours, checking occasionally to ensure there’s enough liquid.
Enjoy your homemade Croatian peka!
Brazil 🇧🇷: Feijoada
Making Feijoada with Chorizo: Got Google bard to help with a recipe using classic ingredients that you can likely find in a Danish supermarket.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg black beans
- 500g pork shoulder, cut into cubes
- 200g pork ribs
- 200g bacon, cut into strips
- 200g chorizo, sliced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup of cooked rice
- Prepare the beans: Soak the black beans overnight in cold water. Drain and rinse.
- Brown the meats: In a large pot, brown the pork shoulder, ribs, bacon, and chorizo over medium heat. Remove the meats and set aside.
- Sauté the aromatics: In the same pot, add the onion and garlic. Sauté until softened.
- Simmer the stew: Return the meats to the pot. Add the beans, rosemary, oregano, salt,and pepper. Cover with water, ensuring the beans are submerged by a few inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, or until the beans are tender.
- Serve: Serve the feijoada hot with cooked rice and a salad
