The Ghana Cookbook

We live in a region with quite a few private schools and unfortunately, due to the distance away from home they traveled to study in America, a lot of them can't go home for winter & spring break and thus need host families. We host kids from all over the world because of this and last year hosted a Ghanaian. She knew little about America and I knew little about Africa so to break the ice I asked her: "Besides your family, what do you miss the most about Ghana?" and she said "Jollof Rice." This was a good answer because I'm a foodie. So I got online and started the search for cookbooks that had Jollof Rice recipes, found this one, ordered it and I got to cooking as soon as it arrived and she read it thoroughly cover to cover like a novel. I immediately found out that Jollof Rice is not easy to make and takes a lot more time to cook than I had imagined it would take, but I did it and she tasted it and I waited, and waited, and finally asked "How'd I do?" she said "B+", I said "Why not an A?" and she said "Not hot enough." Not hot enough... my lips were literally scorched from taste testing this stuff. So I went to the fridge, grabbed the bottle of habanero sauce, added it and her grin grew ear to ear, and later my wife called me at work to tell me she had just had two more heaping plates full of rice. So that was the day I learned Ghanaians love spicy hot food and this cookbook was a huge help in creating a friendship that will last a lifetime, she's like a daughter to me now. So, if you want to cook authentic Ghanaian food- a. get this cookbook and b. make sure you have plenty of milk and/or ice cream in the house. You'll need it.

I love this cookbook because it is has so many recipes and the directions are very clear. I am a white American, married to a Ghanaian. I have found that it is not always easy to find recipes online, so I try to learn how to cook meals any time my mother-in-law comes to visit. This cookbook, along with Fran Osseo-Asare's blog has made it possible for me to try so many more Ghanaian foods, and I'm sure my husband appreciates it too :)

The cookbook is fine, but I was hoping for photos. I would recommend getting Zoe's Kitchen instead.

This is a well written and approachable book that introduces a unique and delicious cousine. I made the ground nut (peanut) stew and fried plantains and both are great. I am reminded that our West African immigrants influenced many “southern” dishes. The author’s love for the people and food makes it a fun book to read and the suggestions for substitutes are very helpful. I hope this book gets people to try foods they haven’t tried before so they can find out what they have been missing!

I purchased and used the Ghana Cookbook this week. I tried the Beans Stew(Red Red) and the Savory Plantain Pancakes . They were tasty and everyone had seconds! I am looking forward to trying the Spinach and Mushroom Soup with Smoked Turkey and the Fish Cakes.

I love the recipes and the pictures in this book it was precisely what I was looking for love Ghana and it’s food!!

I would have liked to see pictures of the actual results of the actual recipes which was the reason for puchase. I dont know why the authors didn't include any.

Excellent African cookbook. Gives authentic recipes but makes them accessible to American cooks with access information and available substitutions. At the same time, the authors give interesting cultural information on Ghana. For anyone interested in western African cuisine, this is a must buy. The wide variety of recipes have vegetarian and gluten free recipes. Truly an exceptional collaboration.