Here is a plate of traditional Basotho food: papa, moroho and lesheleshele (lay-shel-lay-shel-lay).
Happy New Year everyone!
Hope you all had a nice holiday season. I sure did. Mine was nice and quiet; just the way I like things:)
Before I left for Africa, I filled my face with all of the foods that I knew I'd miss: Indian cuisine, cupcakes and Jasmine fried rice.
I miss my old American goodies but I've got to say, I've been eating OK in the Motherland.
Some of the staples of Basotho cuisine include papa, moroho and lesheleshele (lay-shel-lay-shel-lay).
Papa is made from maize and is what I like to call the "cousin" of American grits because papa is really just a thicker version of grits. Basotho tend to eat papa with moroho, beans and nama (meat).
Moroho is finely-chopped spinach or cabbage. This is my fave Basotho food and I think it's simply because I love spinach.
I also love lesheleshele, which is a porridge reminiscient of cream of wheat.
I don't like the latter but will eat thee hell out of lesheleshele, which is usually eaten for breakfast and sweetened with sugar.
The Basotho also eat various produce like carrots, beats, tomatoes and peaches, many of which they grow.
(My host mom has three big fields and is growing produce for the winter months now.)
When I'm not eating Basotho food, I cook Ramen, hard-boiled eggs, beans and rice.
Yes, yes, y'all. Ya girl is back in college! LOL!
I also love making my own popcorn, roasting marshmallows with my host sister, drinking cold soda and eating from KFC when I get the chance (and can afford it).
It's funny because in America, I'd NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER drink soda or eat KFC but some things just have been so evocative of home.
And nothing says home like food!
