MESSAGES OF PEACE. COOK FOR PEACE.

Food has always brought people together and it can be a simple but effective tool in conflict resolution work. We asked some of the peacebuilders we fund for recipes for typical dishes from their countries. Preparing food can be the entry point for people to start engaging again – whether it’s in the field or cooking in a kitchen – the act itself draws people together as the art of making food involves a dialogue. When you come together to cook, you converse, you talk, a lot of important things are discussed. We hope you enjoy these recipes, and let us know how they taste!

From Dishani:

Sri Lankan Lunu Mirish and Milk Rice

Milk rice

  • 500g Bhasmathi rice
  • 6 x cups of water
  • Thick milk from 1 coconut
  • Salt to taste

Boil rice in a pan (or rice cooker) until cooked and no water is left. Mix salt with the coconut milk and add to the rice and leave it under low fire till the rice is thick. Immediately put the rice in a flat dish and press it to make a cake using a flat spoon. Once it is hardend, cut it into pieces and have it with hot and spicy curry, chutney or Lunu Miris (see below)

Lunu Mirish (salt and chilli mix)

  • 2 large onions
  • 2 teaspoons of chilli powder
  • Pinch of pepper
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 tomato
  • 1 teaspoon of lime juice

Chop the onions thinly.  Cut the tomato into tiny squares. Mix everything together and finally add the lime.

From Rasha:

Sudanese okra stew served with sorghum porridge

‘asseedah (porridge) bal waikah (dried okra)’

For the porridge:

  • Ground sorghum
  • A little fermented dough of sorghum
  • Water and a pot.
  1. Pour water in heated pot. leave to boil.
  2. Pour dough into water and stir (wooden stirrer) until it solidifies
  3. Test if solid by wetting your fingers with water and touching it. Is it sticking to fingers? not done yet.
  4. Continue testing until solid.

For the stew:

  • Vegetable oil
  • Onions
  • Spices
  • Tomatoes
  • Ground beef
  • Garlic
  • Ground dried okra
  1. Cook onions in oil until becomes golden in colour
  2. Blend tomatoes, ground garlic, spices
  3. Pour these onto onions and add beef

To serve, turn porridge upside down on serving dish and top with a little stew. Fill spoon with both porridge and stew.

bon-apetite!