Laffide Dish- A Favorite in Sierra Leone and probably, all West Africa.
What's for late Breakfast, Brunch or mid-afternoon?
It’s Laffide!
A Laffide Dish.
What does a hard-working woman or man deserve after a previous hard day’s work and not enough time or resources for a deserving dinner? What if you just want to have that special “oomph” during the workday? You go big, you go rich; you go vegetables, carbs, proteins to cover all the bases. That’s what Laffide provides!
Laffide is a dish with a primary carbohydrate base that could be rice, funde (millet, cous-cous) or even a tubber like cassava. The rice with sweet or black-eyed peas is cooked to a medium fluffy consistency. This helps add flavor and gravitas (yes, African food should have gravitas, or you can take it away). A side of mixed vegetables, (carrots, finely chopped lettuce, spring and / or mauve onions)) are tossed and spread to one side of the plate. Sliced hard boiled eggs and a cutlet or two of fried fish (snapper or bonita is my favorite) is placed to the sides of the plate. The plate can then be garnished with chili peppers (fried or steamed), for that spicy mouth or stomach-wall stimulation that aids digestion and motility. It’s not unusual to see Laffide washed down with Star beer or local ginger beer.
NOTE: Most of the components of the Laffide dish are served to the sides, to give the diner culinary options. This dish covers all the major food groups that the body needs. For hardworking West Africans with meagre resources, this dish can be the main or only meal of the day, supplemented possibly, with other snacks. The dish costs anywhere between Le 30 - 80 (New Leones), (equiv. $ 3 -$ 8 US) depending on size of dish or extras. An ice-cold cup of water is complimentary!
Come back for a full recipe and authentic descriptions of how Laffide is prepared. We might even get an indigenous chef prepare it for you to learn how to.
Thank you and continue subscribing to targoh@substack.com for more authentic African cuisine, fashion and culture. It’s free! Please read and share widely with your family, friends and colleagues. See you next time for another culinary journey from ROOTS!