Quick Recipes: How to make stuffed baked plantain, Moroccan chicken & peppers

It’s the weekend and what better way to spend it than to make the best out of it.

Here are three quick three-course meals for that perfect get-together this weekend.

Moroccan chicken & peppers

You will appreciate the aromatic flavour of bell peppers in this chicken. It is spicy, hot and tasty. Harissa gives it a depth of heat and although it’s Moroccan, it suits nearly all taste buds. This would make you feel you’re in your dream restaurant.

Ingredients

8 pcs boneless chicken breast

6 pcs red bell pepper

6 pcs green bell pepper

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp salt

2 tbsp olive oil

1 pc lemon

2 pinch cinnamon

Method

Chop the bell peppers coarsely and slice the lemon, then set them aside. Also, wash the chicken and remove the skin and bones.

Combine all the spices and salt to taste in a small bowl and sprinkle over the chicken. Heat the oil in a large saucepan for about 1-2 minutes over medium-high heat.

Cook the chicken in the oil for about 15-17 minutes or until done (170 degrees F). Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Add the bell peppers and lemon slices to the saucepan and cook for about 6-8 minutes or until tender and lightly browned.

Transfer to the plate of chicken and serve with harissa.

Stuffed baked plantain

We are so tempted to call this meat sauce stuffed boli, but hell no, this is proudly Mexican from start to finish. But we can tell you categorically that there isn’t much difference between the Nigerian roasted plantain and this. Find out for yourself.

Ingredients

3 pcs plantain

230 g minced meat

4 tbsp vegetable oil

1 pc onion

1 tsp garlic

1 pc green bell pepper

1 tsp cumin

2 tbsp parsley

1 tsp chilli powder

1 tsp ground pepper

1 tsp salt

8 tbsp tomato sauce

50 g cheddar cheese

Method

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line the baking sheet and coat with cooking oil.

Peel of the skin of the plantain and place on baking tray. Drizzle lightly with oil and bake in the oven for about 15 minutes. Turn the other side and bake for another 15 minutes or until soft and tender.

While the plantains are baking, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a saucepan. Add the onions (chopped), garlic and tomato sauce, and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes. Stirring consistently to prevent the sauce from burning. Add ½ cup of water if necessary and stir.

Add the minced meat and continue to cook for about 10 minutes. Add the green bell pepper (chopped) and parsley. Also, add the ground pepper and salt to taste.

Remove the plantain from the oven, cool for few minutes and make a horizontal slit in the plantains.

Stuff each plantain with an equal amount of meat sauce and sprinkle with cheese (grated). Bake in the oven for additional 5 minutes, if desired.

Serve warm.

Strawberry kiwi smoothie

We left out the banana in this smoothie, you know why? We just wanted to enjoy a blend of sweet strawberries and tart kiwis. And we finally proved y’all wrong for thinking there is no smoothie without bananas in them. This drink is wholesome for the kids.

Ingredients

1 cup strawberry

2 pcs kiwi

8 tbsp coconut milk

1 cup vanilla yoghurt

2 tbsp honey

Method

Combine all the ingredients except the honey in a blender with 1 cup of ice and process until smooth.

Add honey to taste.

Serve.