lime – Notes From a Messy Kitchen

I’ve enjoyed all 96 of the countries I’ve cooked from so far, but far and away the most fun experiences have been the ones where someone has come and shown me how to make a family recipe. A friend is always a better teacher than a blog or a cookbook,...

Johanna

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Austria: Strawberry Basil Linzer Torte

Europe

Austria

The Linzer Torte is said to be the oldest cake in the world, with a recipe dating back to 1653. Named after the city of Linz, this torte is popular across Austria – especially during the holidays. A ground almond-laced shortbread crust with a lovely lattice is characteristic of this...

Johanna

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Senegal: Thiéboudienne

Cooking Time: 2 hours

Africa

Senegal

Thiéboudienne (pronounced CHEH bu JEN) is the national dish of Senegal. The name of the dish is the French transcription of the Wolof words ceebu jën meaning “rice” (ceeb) and “fish” (jën). Wolof is a language of Senegal, but not the official language – that’s French. Senegal was a colony of France until 1960....

Johanna

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Nauru: Coconut Crusted Fish

Cooking Time: 30

Nauru

Confession: before last week, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that Nauru was a country. But it is! A tiny island nation in Micronesia, northeast of Australia. I was even more surprised to learn that Nauru is the smallest country in the world, but also the fattest nation on Earth! The...

Johanna

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Mexico: Pozole

Cooking Time: 75 minutes

Mexico

Pozole means “hominy,” which is the dried corn kernels that make up the backbone of this soup. Hominy is corn that has undergone the alkali process, known as nixtamalization, loosening the hulls from the kernels and softening the kernels themselves, resulting in giant kernels with a slightly chewier texture. You’ve probably had hominy...

Johanna

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Laos: Laab / Larb

Cooking Time: 30

Laotian

Laab – sometimes spelled larb, but pronounced without the ‘r’ – is said to be the national dish of Laos. It’s also common in Northeast Thailand. All sorts of meats can be used to make laab including beef, pork, chicken, duck, fish – I’ve even had an alligator version from the...

Johanna

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Vietnam: Pho Ga

Cooking Time: 2.5 hours

Vietnam

Pho (pronounced “fuh”) is one of the best known Vietnamese dishes outside of Vietnam, and also one of the most commonly eaten dishes within. According to my cookbook, “bowls of pho are the hamburgers of Vietnam: incredible popular, eaten every day by a majority of the population, young and old.”...

Johanna

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Ingredient: lime

A Full Bengali Feast with Friends

Johanna

Austria: Strawberry Basil Linzer Torte

Johanna

Senegal: Thiéboudienne

Johanna

Nauru: Coconut Crusted Fish

Johanna

Mexico: Pozole

Johanna

Laos: Laab / Larb

Johanna

Vietnam: Pho Ga

Johanna