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AFRICA

Join us as we explore comfort foods from around the globe with our 2022 Passport to Flavor culinary tour. Whether your idea of comfort is a savory soup, a salty snack, or a decadent dessert, you’re sure to find a dish that hits the spot.

South Africa

One of the most comforting vessels to eat from is a bowl, especially when that bowl is made of bread. Bunny Chow is an iconic dish in South Africa that consists of a hollowed-out bread loaf, filled with a savory, spiced curry. While the filling can either feature meat or veggies, there is no rabbit in this iconic dish.

While we’re talking about bread, we can’t forget this classic comfort food- grilled cheese. This ooey-gooey crowd favorite isn’t just a staple in America, it’s a beloved party dish in South Africa as well, known as braaibroodjie (South African Grilled Cheese). We’ve kicked up the ﬂavor by adding a sweet and sour fruit chutney along with cheddar cheese, onion, and tomatoes.

More than 50% of South Africa’s agricultural exports consists of fruits.

Jackfruit Bunny Chow

Jackfruit curry is cooked with tomatoes, ginger, potatoes, onions and spices then stuffed into the center of a hollowed out half-loaf of white bread. This uniquely South African street food was invented by Indian immigrants in Durban and is typically eaten without utensils.

Braaibroodjie (South African Grilled Cheese)

An ooey gooey grilled cheese sandwich slathered with sweet and sour fruit chutney and stuffed with cheddar cheese, onion, and tomato.

Borewors Roll with Chakalaka (South African Grilled Sausage)

Spiced beef sausage, grilled and served on a toasted bun, topped with spicy pepper relish made from sauteed tomatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, spices and including a fresh pop of bright, fruity sweetness from the addition of DOLE Pineapple Chunks.

Hertzoggies (South African Fruit Jam Tarts)

Buttery tartlets ﬁlled with peach jam and topped with coconut meringue icing.

Senegal

Comfort foods are known to bring about feelings of nostalgia, and while taste is a huge factor in delivering that warm and fuzzy feeling, we can’t forget about smell. Smell has been known to be our strongest tie to memory, which might explain why a whiff of an aromatic stew or freshly baked dessert immediately brings about a sense of security and familiarity.

Yassa is a dish known for its rich ﬂavor and heavenly aroma. Featuring tender chicken pieces mixed with caramelized onions in a spicy, citrus-infused sauce. this comforting classic originated in Senegal but has spread in popularity throughout West Africa.

The two largest exports from Senegal are peanuts and fish.

Pineapple Coconut Gingembre

Freshly juiced ginger root mixed with a sweet blend of pineapple coconut juice, vanilla bean and lime juice, garnished with fresh mint leaves.

Pineapple Chicken Yassa

Succulent chicken thighs marinated in a sweet and spicy pineapple juice mixture, cooked with caramelized onions and pineapple chunks, served over a bed of ﬂuffy fonio.

Kelewele (Spicy Fried Plantains)

Sweet, deep-fried plantains tossed with ginger and cayenne pepper, served with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce made with ﬁre-roasted scotch bonnets, mandarin oranges, pineapple and garlic.

Honey Roasted Mango Thiakry

A sweet pudding made from thiakry couscous infused with Greek yogurt, coconut milk, vanilla and orange blossom then topped with honey roasted mango, shredded coconut and chopped pistachios.

Ivory Coast

What’s better than one comfort food? Two of course. We’ve combined a classic Ivorian chicken stew with plump and doughy dumplings for the ultimate comfort dish Kedjenour with Fufu (Chicken Stew with Dumplings). The addition of nutrient and vitamin-rich plantains and cassava add a healthy twist to this hearty meal.

For dessert, we turn to a French inspired cake enriched with the bright, tropical ﬂavors of diced pineapple and shredded coconut known as Gâteau Molleux à l'Ananas et à la Noix de Coco (Soft Pineapple Coconut Cake). This recipe dates back to the French colonial period and is still a favorite on the Ivory Coast, due in part to their abundance of pineapple. In fact, the Ivory Coast is the second largest producer of pineapples in the world.

The Ivory Coast leads the world in production and export of cocoa beans, used to create one of the most loved comfort foods, chocolate.

Kedjenou with Fufu (Chicken Stew with Dumplings)

A whole chicken stewed with onions, peppers, garlic, ginger, green onions and thyme, served with soft doughy dumplings made of ground plantains and cassava.

Poisson Braise (Braised Fish)

Whole tilapia marinated in a mixture of tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, mango, onions, lime, garlic and oil, then grilled over charcoal and served alongside a simmered sauce made from the marinade.

Gâteau Molleux à l'Ananas et à la Noix de Coco (Soft Cake with Pineapple and Coconut)

A decadent, golden cake enriched with the bright, tropical ﬂavors of diced pineapple and shredded coconut.