Day 68 Guinea and Guinea Bissau (AF) - Macarra with Citi (Chicken with Peanuts) and Fried Sweet Potatoes - Up Next, Guyana (AF)

Tonight I broke with tradition and combined two countries: Guinea and Guinea Bissau. Both West African countries are next to one another and both share similar cooking ingredients. Despite continual unrest, both countries somehow maintain strong religious, musical and culinary traditions that sustain their people against the back drop of unimaginable poverty, disease and abuses, I am privileged to likely never experience. In honor of the countries and their people, here's the meal...

 Peanuts, or ground nuts,  are one of the important staples in both countries...

 Tomatoes are often combined with peanuts to flavor and bind many meat dishes

 Sweet potatoes in this recipe are fried, but are often mashed into a staple dish called Fufu - starches and fat, in the form of palm oil are are typical in Guinea and Guinea Bissau

 Fried up and finished with salt flakes - I don't care what the current health trend is - I LOVE salt now and forever

The finished meal - very good, simple and satisfying

Marcarra with Citi - Chicken with Peanuts (Adapted from clenet)

• 1 chicken, cut into serving pieces
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 1/2 cups peanuts, crushed in a pestle and mortar
• oil for frying
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 red chillies, chopped

1. Season the chicken with salt and chillies then set aside. Meanwhile, fry the onion in old and when soft, add the chicken and fry until browned. Add the crushed peanuts and tomatoes to the chicken then add enough water to just cover and mix well.

2. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until the chicken is tender 9about 40 minutes). Serve on a bed of rice.

Guinean Fried Sweet Potatoes

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• oil for frying
• salt

Cut the sweet potatoes in wedges. Heat the oil in  pan. Season the sweet potato wedges with salt and fry until done. Drain on paper towels and serve with meal as side dish.

Final Assessment: Very good, traditional and simple fare. The fried sweet potatoes were delicious.