Thieboubjen The National Dish Of Senengal Recipes

MEXICO'S NATIONAL DISH, TURKEY WITH CHOCOLATE CHILE SAUCE: MOLE POBLANO

Steps:

• This should be done 1 day in advance.
• Remove the seeds and stems from all of the chiles. Heat some lard or oil and quickly fry the chiles on both sides, taking care not to burn them. Put the chiles into a bowl, cover with water, and leave to stand for a few hours.
• In a blender, puree the chiles with a few tablespoons of water until smooth. Place the chili puree in a saucepan and cook over a medium flame for 10 minutes. Set aside.
• In a saute pan over medium heat, add the coriander seeds, sesame seeds, cinnamon, and cloves and cook until their aroma is released. Transfer to a spice grinder and mix together. Add the garlic cloves and grind. Set aside.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of lard in the same saute pan and fry the raisins briefly. In the same pan, fry the almonds and peanuts until browned. Transfer the raisins, nuts, and ground spices to a blender and puree together. They should form a smooth paste and may need a couple of tablespoons of chicken broth to blend effectively.
• Add the blended mixture to the chile sauce and cook over a flame for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Break the Mexican chocolate into pieces and add it to the mixture. Continue cooking the mole for a further 15 minutes. Add the sugar and broth, and continue cooking the mole for around 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper, if necessary, and if desired some extra chocolate, to taste.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season the turkey breasts with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan and sear the breasts skin side down first. Once the turkey is crisp and golden on both sides, remove from heat and place for 15 minutes in the oven to cook the meat through.
• Slice the turkey and pour over the mole sauce. Garnish with sliced onions, radish, sesame seeds, and some sprigs of cilantro.

THIEBOU DIENN SOUS VERRE (SENEGALESE RICE AND FISH STEW)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large stockpot and brown the onion. Add the smoked fish, the tomato paste, and 1/4 cup of the salted water. While the onion mixture is browning, prepare the stuffing for the sea bass steaks by placing the parsley, garlic, chile, and scallions in a food processor and pulsing until they form a thick paste. When the paste is ready, score the sea bass steaks and poke the stuffing into the slits.
• Place the sea bass in the stockpot with the onion mixture, allow it to cook for 5 minutes, and add the remaining water. When the fish mixture comes to a boil, cover the pot, lower the heat, and add the vegetables in the order given, finishing off with the pricked habanero chile, which you will remove (and reserve) when the thiebou dienn is spicy enough for you. Cook for 20 minutes. Remove the sea bass steaks keeping them whole, and place them on a serving platter. Cover them with a bit of the cooking liquid, and keep them warm.
• Continue cooking the thiebou dienn for an additionaly 15 minutes, then remove the vegetables and arrange them on a platter and keep them warm. Reserve 2 cups of the cooking liquid to make the sauces. Return the remaining liquid to a boil, add the rice, cover, and cook for 20 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is done.
• While the rice is cooking, pulverize the habanero chile that you have reserved and add it to 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid. Heat it, stirring occasionally, and place it in a sauceboat. Heat the remaining cup of reserved cooking liquid and place it in a separate sauceboat. This will give you a regular sauce and a fiery hot one.
• When ready to serve, mound the rice on one platter and the fish and vegetables on another. Alternatively, you can place the rice in a large basin or deep dish and arrange the vegetables and fish on top and eat Senegalese-style with your hands (right hand only, please!) or with a large spoon.