Spice Route Remix: World Cuisine Meets African Heat

2. Spice Route Remix: World Cuisine Meets African Heat Introduction Globalisation has had its effect on the culinary world, and no cuisine has gone more global than African cuisines. The secret to this success lies in the spice blends used in African cuisines for their punchy and bold flavors. The spice blends add complexity to the dish and enhance the flavor of meat and vegetables. They are also accepted worldwide for their medicinal and nutritional value. Fusion dishes in the past decade have gone trendy worldwide, with African spices being used in European and North American cuisines. Many Asian dishes have also incorporatedAfrican spicessuch as Berbere and Harissa. Here are five popular fusion dishes Ras el Hanout Spiced Fried Chicken (North African-American Fusion) Ras el Hanout is a versatile spice blend that works well with both vegetable dishes and meat, such as chicken and fish. This spice blend has 40 different components, but the base is peanut. It has both a spicy flavour as well as an aromatic one. In this recipe, this North-African spice is used to coat chicken and then dipped in buttermilk. The chicken is then marinated in flour and then fried in the deep fryer and fried till it retains its golden colour. The warmth of the spices complements the richness of the chicken. The spicy heat is harmoniously balanced with the fried chicken. Ras el Hanout Veggie Buddha Bowl (Moroccan-California Fusion) A Buddha bowl is a vegetarian dish made with various vegetables, quinoa, and brown rice, artfully presented in a bowl. The name derives from the concept of a balanced diet enshrined in the principles of Buddhism and is popular among immigrant communities in California. This dish has been the subject of fusion by adding African spices. Ras el Hanout can be added to the dish to enhance the

3. flavour of the vegetables and other components. The spice is marinated with the vegetables and mixed with the brown rice. The decadent spice goes well with the earthy tones of the quinoa and brown rice and lends to the aromatic spice. Berbere-Spiced Tacos (Ethiopian-Mexican Fusion) The South-African spice Berbere can be added to Mexican Tacos to make the street food spicier and punchier. Berbere’s blend of chili powder, garlic, ginger, ajwain, etc., adds smokiness to Mexican Tacos. The spice goes well with both vegetables and meat, such as meat and steaks. It also becomes harmonious with the toppings such as cilantro and lime. Ethiopian cheese can also be added to the dish for freshness and richness. Berbere spice adds heat and spiciness to the Mexican dish, especially with the meat and vegetables. Ethiopian cheese goes well with shredded cabbage, along with Berbere. Cape Malay Curry Pizza (South African-Italian Fusion) Capa Malay curry sauce is used as a topping on pizza to add spiciness. This curry sauce originated from Malay immigrants in South Africa. The curry sauce

4. adds aroma and richness to any dish, especially pizza. Pizza sauce adds a tangy flavor to the pizza, and adding Cape Malay sauce balances the flavor with its signature sweetness. Toppings such as lamb, bell peppers, and raisins. The sauce consists of coconut milk as its base, which gives it a creamy texture and sweetness. Thus, the fusion ensures the creamy flavour of an Italian comfort food. Harissa Ramen (North African-Japanese Fusion) Harissa is a North African blend that consists of different types of roasted peppers, such as red peppers, serrano peppers, Baklouti peppers, and hot chilli peppers. The spice blend is often added to the traditional Japanese noodles, Ramen, which adds flavor to the dish. Ramen mainly consists of noodles and broth. Harissa is added to the broth, which enhances the flavour of the vegetable stock. The garlic and peppers in the spice blends add needed heat to the stock and make it spicy. The flavor profile becomes more complex with the explosion of multiple flavors.

5. Conclusion The fusion dishes added to the traditional dishes from East and West are a testament to the popularity of the spices. The spices have a complex flavor profile and add layers to any dish they are added to. The spice blends also have medicinal properties to cure digestive ailments, gum problems, and boost immunity. Experimenting with new types of combinations unlocks new flavors with the invention of new dishes. Such fusions can bridge the gap between cultures and civilisations. For any culinary enthusiast, the world is their spice rack and they have immense opportunities to explore it.