Novel Food #3: Leftovers with Dendi Oil (Palm Oil)

March 23, 2008 | Filed Under Novel Food, Food Blogging Events 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miranda withdrew from the fridge clutching a small bowl of day-old rice, a grilled chicken breast, half a Vidalia onion, a green net bag holding a few grape tomatoes and a tiny tin of sliced black olives.  She set the items on the counterop next to the stove.  "I could order in Chinese.  There’s a place near here that stays open until three on the weekends, or I could throw something together.  I think."

"Bernard said you didn’t cook," Lucas smiled.

"Chopping and re-heating is not cooking."

"What can I do to help?"

[…]  He leaned in close to her to scrape his garlic into a skillet where Miranda had started the rice dancing in hot vegetable oil with a dash of dendi, the bright orange oil extracted from the African palm of northern Brazil.

"My Avó Marie Estrella used dendi the way Italian cooks use olive oil, " Miranda told Lucas, who had begun slicing the chicken breast into strips.  "She was a very good cook.  That gene bypassed me and went to my sister, Calista.  I got my other grandmother’s cooking ability.  Grandma Ilene’s food was just awful.  She thought she was the best cook in the world, though."

[…]  Lucas ate heartily.  This was truly the best meal he’d ever had, and it was only leftovers.

 

 

This entry is for the literary/culinary blogging event, Novel Food, which is hosted by Simona of Briciole and  Lisa of Champaign Taste.  Participants are asked to post their literary-inspired culinary creations.

The above excerpt comes from one of my favorite stories, CRUSH by Crystal Hubbard.  It’s about a rock star, Lucas, who rescues a girl, Miranda, from being crushed when she attends his concert.  Since the book is a romance, you can imagine what happens afterwards — they fall in love, of course.  ;-) 

Miranda is half Brazilian and in the book, she mentions her Brazilian grandmother’s cooking skills and she attempts to cook Brazilian cuisine.  A familiar ingredient she uses is palm oil, a vegetable cooking oil used in Brazil and many other tropical countries.  High in beta-carotene, it gives off a reddish color.  It is very tasty and can be used as a preservative.  However it is high in cholesterol, so it’s a good idea to use it sparingly.

The heroine’s use of palm oil reminded me of when I grew up in Africa as a young girl.  We had different trees in the back yard, mango trees, guava trees and a great big, tall palm tree.  I remember palm oil being used a lot in the kitchen.

Like Miranda, I also had leftovers in my fridge — rice, eggs instead of chicken, mixed vegetables, tomato paste instead of fresh tomatoes and Spanish olives instead of black olives.  I also had onions and garlic.  And what do you know, I had palm oil, too.  So, I decided to make my own leftovers concoction with the special ingredient — palm oil — to tie it all together.  I heated everything together in a skillet, added salt and pepper and served immediately.  Mmmm…  Not bad at all.  Now I’m going look for a hungry, hot, fine-looking rock star to feed.  Let’s see, who can I find?   ;-)

Oh, and Happy Easter!

Paz

 

Ed Note:  Interested rock stars may apply here.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 
 

 

 

 

Comments

10 Responses to “Novel Food #3: Leftovers with Dendi Oil (Palm Oil)”

  1. MyKitchenInHalfCups on March 23rd, 2008 10:51 am

    Good luck with the rock star.
    Happy Easter in the mean time!!

  2. Simona Carini on March 23rd, 2008 11:06 am

    Very sweet, Paz. Thanks for the glimpse at your childhood. It is certainly an interesting start for a relationship: I like Miranda’s direct approach. I think leftovers are great: so many times you discover that they make a great meal.
    Have a lovely day.

  3. Paz on March 23rd, 2008 11:55 am

    LOL! Thanks, Tanna. I’m going out to find him right now. :mrgreen:

    Hi Simona: Thanks! It was a good sign that they got along in the kitchen and he enjoyed the meal. Miranda is a direct character and I think that’s one of the reasons Lucas liked her.

    Have a good Sunday, all!

    Paz

  4. Lisa on March 23rd, 2008 3:22 pm

    Paz, this is great. I’ve never heard of that author; will have to check her out. And I want to cook with palm oil now! Your concoction looks yummy. Thank you so much for taking part and introducing me to a new author!

  5. Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) on March 23rd, 2008 7:35 pm

    Hope you find your rock star — and that he likes fried rice. I love dishes that make something wonderful out of leftover bits and pieces.

  6. Paz on March 24th, 2008 8:22 am

    Hi Lisa: She’s a wonderful author. I enjoy all her stories!

    Hi Lydia: Thanks! I looked yesterday but no luck. I’ll keep looking.

    Thanks for stopping by, everyone!

    Paz

  7. mari on March 24th, 2008 11:44 am

    In my book, you’re a rock star! :razz:
    I so enjoyed reading this post. What a great way to fold the food into a love story and I, too, want to discover cooking with palm oil. This post rocks! (Ha)

  8. Terry Rafferty on March 24th, 2008 2:40 pm

    Paz, I’ve GOT to stop reading your blog at lunch time! I grabbed some peanut butter crackers before reading… somehow their pre-fab sugar/cardboard flavor just couldn’t compete with Miranda’s dish. I’m leaving now to get some palm oil and check my neighbor’s fridge for leftover rice…. :wink:

  9. jasmine on March 24th, 2008 10:18 pm

    Oh I so wanted to participate in this event, but I couldn’t carve out the time. Your submission looks delicious!

    j

  10. Paz on March 24th, 2008 10:52 pm

    Hi Mari: Thanks for bringing a smile to my face. You’re the best!

    Hi Terry: You have me LOL!

    Hi Jasmine: I know what you mean. I was strapped for time and barely made my submission. Hopefully you can make it next time.

    Best to all,
    Paz

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