Lexington, KY - In this country, turkey and mashed potatoes are so deeply embedded in Thanksgiving and Christmas tradition that we sometimes forget that not everybody in the world shares these customs. We asked four local chefs, from very different culinary and cultural backgrounds, to share some holiday recipes from different parts of the world with our readers.
While the ingredients are strikingly different, they all have one thing in common: they are served with family and fellowship.
West African: Sav's Grill
West African cuisine chef Momadou SavanÈ at Sav's Grill on Limestone prepared
Lamb Rago˚t, a warm, hearty dish that traditionally celebrates the end of the Muslim holiday Ramadan.
At the end of a month of fasting and prayer, devout Muslims, who may have even made a pilgrimage to Mecca, donate most of a young lamb to the poor in the community. Part of the meat, however, is saved to prepare a meal such as Lamb Rago˚t for the family. The dish is special, going above and beyond the typical meal of rice and sauce, or common meats like chicken, fish or beef. The dish is traditionally served with a French baguette, and the meal is a specialty that many in countries like Guinea and others in west Africa cannot afford on a regular basis.
"With lamb or good meat, usually you don't need to add any oil," Savane explained.
"They're not vegetarians in Africa," he added.
Lamb Rago˚t (serves 10)