Chapter Two: Short Bread & Potato Greens(Liberian Cusine)

Most of Liberian food is fried, cooked in oil and drenched with pepper but I love it. Everyday a traditional Liberian dish is made in my house. From potato greens to Cassava leaf to palava sauce to palm butter, I have eaten all dishes at least twice during my my Liberian vacation. Liberian food tends to be on the heavy side. You have a late lunch and you are set for the entire night. To have anything else for dinner would be too much. The one meal I became addicted to was dry rice, my mouth is watering thinking about it. Dry rice is usually served with fried fish and gravy that is extremely peppery. I once ate dry rice gravy that was so hot my nose was running, my mouth was on fire and tear drops were falling on my face yet I was still eating it. The rice usually has okra in it and sometimes smoke fish to the side. Some people cook it with corn beef but I don't really like that version. I also enjoyed my Liberian sweets. They make these caramelized candies out of peanuts and sesame seeds that are extremely addictive. You can't have more than two at a time or you will be in serious trouble with the dentist. Luckily for me I only saw them at big events. Mouth watering biscuits are also found here, they taste more like short bread. Kanya is made out of ground peanuts, farina and sugar, absolutely delicious. I wouldn't recommend having food off the streets though since running water is still an issue in most parts of Monrovia. As long as you know who is cooking your food, you'll be alright. I have eaten my stomach full of pineapples. You go up to Bensonville/Bentol City and you will see them growing along the road. They are smaller than ones stateside but they are the sweetest things I have ever tasted. There are not too many apples and oranges but there are a lot of coconuts. The flesh of the coconuts are smooth, eye blinding white and completely refreshing. One of the most pleasant surprise I had was eating green bananas. When you think about green bananas, you think that they are raw not yet ripe. In Liberia the bananas are green and ripe. They are the most delicious things I have ever eaten.