Hand Pies And Spiced Lamb: Maria Bradford’s Sierra Leonean Home Cooking

Tomatoes are an integral constituent successful west-African cooking, and are mostly utilized alongside onions and chillies to create a flavourful and versatile guidelines for sauces, soups and stews, and, of course, jollof rice. We often make a mother condiment of tomatoes and onions, past adhd spices and seasonings specified arsenic chilli flakes, garlic, ginger, nutmeg and cumin for a moreish bold and fiery capsicum sauce.

West African spice-crusted lamb pinch herb salad

This is inspired by nan night-time nutrient vendors connected nan aged railway statement successful Freetown, Sierra Leone. Cooking and eating it takes maine consecutive backmost location each time.

Prep 15 min
Chill 30 min
Cook 50 min
Serves 6

3 6-bone racks of lamb, French-trimmed (ask nan butcher to do this, if request be)

For nan herb mix
½ full nutmeg, grated
½ tsp crushed achromatic cardamom
½ tsp scotch bonnet chilli flakes, aliases chilli powder
1 tsp crushed ginger
1 tsp ail powder
1 tsp bulb powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp salt
25g barren roasted peanuts, chopped

For nan crust
150g softened unsalted butter
10 tbsp caller breadcrumbs
25g finely chopped mixed caller herbs – I for illustration parsley, chives and thyme
1 tsp salt

For nan crust, successful a mini bowl, operation nan butter, herb mix, breadcrumbs and herbs until good combined.

Season nan lamb racks pinch salt, past property a bladed furniture of nan crust connected to nan fat broadside of nan lamb racks. Put them successful a shallow roasting tin and chill successful nan fridge for 30 minutes, to patient up nan crust.

Heat nan oven to 220C (200C fan)/425F/gas 7, and return nan lamb retired of nan fridge 10 minutes earlier you want to navigator it. Roast for 20-25 minutes, past region and remainder for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, make nan salad. In a mini bowl, whisk nan vinegar, oil, sweetener and salt, past operation successful nan shallots and tarragon. Slice nan tomatoes, put them connected a larger platter and move nan dressing complete nan top.

Slice nan rested lamb into individual ribs and service pinch nan salad.

Plantain and feta manus pies pinch herb salsa

Hand pies are a celebrated Sierra Leonean statement food, and these ones, pinch saccharine plantain, salty feta and a spicy salsa, are cleanable for a summertime get-together.

Prep 15 min
Cook 3 hr 30 min
Chill 1 hr
Makes 10 mini pies

For nan salsa
10 ample plum tomatoes, halved lengthways, cored and deseeded
1 tsp salt
A fewer twists of black pepper
1 tsp chopped caller oregano
6 tbsp oliva oil
1 mean onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 ail clove, peeled and crushed
¼ tsp finely chopped scotch bonnet
25g caller coriander, finely chopped

For nan pies
4 yellowish plantains
30g unsalted butter
1 ample onion, peeled and finely chopped
400g feta
150g plain flour, positive other for dusting
1 tsp salt
Sunflower oil, for deep-frying

Heat nan oven to 140C (120C fan)/275F/gas 1. Line a baking expanse pinch greaseproof insubstantial and put nan tomatoes halves connected apical successful a azygous layer. Sprinkle pinch nan salt, pepper, oregano and 2 tablespoons of nan oil, past slow-roast for astir 3 hours, until nan tomatoes are shrivelled astatine nan edges but still plump successful nan middle.

Then make a commencement connected nan pies. Increase nan oven somesthesia to 180C (160C fan)/350F/gas 4. Wash and dry the plantains, put them connected a baking sheet, roast for 40-50 minutes, until soft, past remove.

Melt nan food successful a saucepan connected a gentle heat, past adhd nan chopped onion, screen and navigator very mildly for up to an hour, until softened and aureate brown. Transfer to a bowl, time off to cool completely, past crumble successful nan feta.

When nan plantains are cool capable to handle, peel disconnected nan skins, put nan soma successful a nutrient processor and beat to a soft mash. Scrape into a bowl, adhd nan flour and brackish and operation to make a soft dough. Wrap successful clingfilm and chill for an hour.

While nan mixed is chilling, make nan salsa. Heat nan remaining 4 tablespoons of lipid successful a saucepan, adhd nan onions, screen and navigator mildly for 10 minutes, until softened. Add nan ail and chilli, and navigator for different 2 minutes. Finely chop nan roast tomatoes, adhd them to nan pan, past return disconnected nan heat.

Now capable nan pies. Divide nan mixed into 10 adjacent pieces, then, utilizing a rolling pin aliases a tortilla press, flatten each portion into a bladed 15cm round. Spoon 2 tablespoons of nan feta substance into nan centre of each circle of dough, fold complete to enclose and usage your fingers to crimp and seal nan edges.

To finish, mildly reheat nan salsa, if request be, past operation successful nan coriander. Heat nan deep-frying lipid successful a wok aliases heavy cookware complete a medium-high flame, then, moving successful batches, fry nan pies for 3 to 5 minutes, until aureate each over. Lift retired pinch a slotted spoon, drain connected a sheet lined pinch room towel, and service astatine erstwhile pinch nan lukewarm salsa for dipping.

• Maria Bradford is simply a cook and nutrient writer, and proprietor of Shwen Shwen successful Sevenoaks, Kent. Her book, Sweet Salone: Recipes from nan Heart of Sierra Leone, is published by Quadrille astatine £30. To bid a transcript for £27, spell to guardianbookshop.com