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Benin, officially: République du Bénin; Republic of Benin was formerly known as Dahomey (until 1975) or Dahomania. Its capital is Porto Novo, but the seat of government is Cotonou. The name "Benin" has no proper connection to Kingdom of Benin (or Benin City). The name Dahomey was changed in 1975 to The People's Republic of Benin, named after the body of water on which the country lies, the Bight of Benin. This name was picked due to its neutrality, since the current political boundaries of Benin encompass over fifty distinct linguistic groups and nearly as many individual ethnic groups. There are several dozen ethnolinguistic groups in Benin, representing three of Africa's language families: Niger-Congo, Nilo-Saharan, and Afroasiatic. The latter is represented by Hausa living mostly as merchants in the north, while Nilo-Saharan is represented by the Dɛndi, descending from the Songhai Empire. The Dɛndi language predominates along the Niger River in the far north, and is used as a lingua franca in Muslim areas throughout the north, in Alibori, Borgou, and Donga provinces. The largest ethnic group are the Fon, with 1.7 million speakers of the Fon language (2001), followed by the various Yoruba groups (1.2 million), the Aja (600,000), the Bariba (460,000), the Ayizo (330,000), the Fulbe (310,000), and the Gun (240,000). Near the ports in the south can be found people of lighter skin who are descended from returned Brazilian slaves. There are also small numbers of Europeans, principally French, and Asians, mainly Lebanese and Indians. ndigenous religions are followed by a majority of the people. They include local animistic religions in the Atakora (Atakora and Donga provinces) and Vodun among the Yoruba and Tado peoples in the center and south of the country. The town of Ouidah on the central coast is the spiritual center of Beninese vodun. Traditional Beninese recipes are rich in rice, corn, beans, yams, cassava and millet while the most popular meat found in Benin is fish and Chicken. In common with much of West Africa, due to its relative expense meat is consumed only on special occasions. Due to its having been a French colony there is a significant French influence in Beninese cuisine. The country is also rich in vegetables such as oranges, bananas, mandarin oranges, pineapples, kiwi, avocado and peanuts. These are commonly used in recipes and Beninese cuisine is recognized all through Africa for it's exotic ingredients and cooking methods. |
The alphabetical list of recipes from Benin follows (limited to 100 recipes per page). There are 27 recipes in total:
| Ago Glain Origin: Benin | Cheese in Tamarillo Sauce Origin: Benin | Poisson au Gril (Beninese Grilled Fish) Origin: Benin |
| Akassa Origin: Benin | Crabe Béninoise (Beninese Crabs) Origin: Benin | Ragoût Béninoise (Beninese Ragout) Origin: Benin |
| Akkra Funfun Origin: Benin | Dahomey Fish Stew Origin: Benin | Riz au Gras ('Fat Rice') Origin: Benin |
| Benin Red Sauce Origin: Benin | Flan au citron (Lemon Flan) Origin: Benin | Sauce d'Arachide (Peanut Sauce) Origin: Benin |
| Beninese Beef Stew Origin: Benin | Ingame Origin: Benin | Sauce de Tomates Crues (Raw Tomato Sauce) Origin: Benin |
| Beninese Bouille Origin: Benin | Mouton aux Arachides (Lamb in Peanut Sauce) Origin: Benin | Sauce Gumbo II (Gumbo Sauce II) Origin: Benin |
| Beninese Jollof Rice Origin: Benin | Moyo de Poulet Fume (Moyo of Smoked Chicken) Origin: Benin | Sauce Légume Origin: Benin |
| Beninese Peanut Sauce Origin: Benin | Pâté Blanche (White Pâté) Origin: Benin | Sesame Balls Origin: Benin |
| Calalu Origin: Benin | Pâté Rouge (Red Pâté) Origin: Benin | Wagasi in Sauce Origin: Benin |
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Spring is the time for new resolutions and to make the best of fresh and new ingredients. Spring lamb and fresh rhubarb are at their best now and these two classic recipes show off these ingredients at their best. Here you will see some of the best of traditional British cookery that will allow you to make a spectacular meal from these ingredients.
This article gives an introduction to the history of that classic breakfast food, the waffle, starting form the Medieval European origins to the invention of the classic American waffle. Recipes for traditional and chiffon waffles are also given as well as some ideas of how to adapt and very these classic recipes.
Learn a little about the origins of British biscuits and American cookies and how these classic baked goods differ from one another. Also presented is a recipe for a classic American chocolate chip cookie and a traditional British tea-time biscuit.
Those obsessive about wild foods will source a whole meal from the wild. But this is not the way that it's best to start with or even to keep going with wild foods. It's far better to gather a few fruit, wild greens or mushrooms and to add these to your everyday cookery. This way you get an introduction to the range of wild foods available and you begin to extend your cookery by adding wild ingredients.
Beef is a very flavoursome meat, as long as it is well matured, but it does have the cachet of being expensive and to be used only as a treat. Partly this is due to the history of beef as a high-status ingredient. Partly it's due to the cost of the better cuts. But you have a whole animal to consider and this article takes you through the history of beef eating and gives you a recipe for both the best and one of the poorer cuts of meat.
Pastry is one of the most basic components of cooking, needed for pies, tarts and cake bases of many types. It originates in the ancient method of applying a paste of flour and water to baked meats to protect them in the fire. But, in the Middle Ages fats were added and modern pastry was born. Learn a little about the different pastry types and see a recipe for a traditional classic flaky pastry.
Chilli recipes to blow your brains out... Here are three recipes from India and Africa, incorporating the world's hottest chillies. Each could claim itself to be... The world's hottest chilli dish...
Bread relies on wheat and barley for it's property as a bread for it's the gluten in these grains that allows bread to rise and keep its shape and texture. However, it is possible to add up to 20% other ingredients into a bread dough and if you add pea or bean flour then you can prepare a bread recipe that provide for all the essential amino acids you need. This article tells you about how breads works and gives you a basic recipe for a wheat bread containing maize flour.
Nigeria has a very vibrant and dynamic culture and this is reflected in the country's food. Staples remain stews ('soups' in West African parlance) and staples based on grains, cassava flour and millet. Here you will see two authentic Nigerian recipes to help you gain a flavour for this country's cuisines.
Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day and most of us ignore it. It's when the body re-fuels itself for the day and skipping breakfast actually puts the body in 'starvation mode' and actually reduces brain function and makes weight loss more difficult. Breakfast needn't be complicated, but it should involve a balance of grains and fruit. Here are some ides for simple and nutritious breakfast recipes anyone can make.