On his latest trip with UNICEF Australia, Adam discovered how cooking with a purpose can be the difference between life and death in places like Burundi. A landlocked country in east Africa, Burundi is often described as the poorest country in the world, where 1 in 2 children under five are suffering from malnutrition due to poor diets, poverty and food insecurity.
But there’s hope. Children and families in Burundi are creating sustainable new ways of growing their own food and preparing healthy, nutritious meals through the community-led Mamans Lumière program. From vertical farming to cooking with local mothers, Adam's experience in Burundi was one of hope and resilience, which he will always remember.
Meeting Maman Lumieres in Burundi
"I think food really brings people together. I don't cook just for fun, I cook because cooking has a real practical purpose and a real practical application. In Burundi, the ability to understand what to cook and why to cook it and how that can benefit a child can literally be the difference between life and death."
"My time spent cooking with local mothers in Burundi is probably my favourite experience of anything I've ever done with UNICEF. It was a wonderful day and fabulous to see the impact on the lives of children."
Burundi mélange by Adam Liaw
Inspired by his experience in Burundi, Adam Liaw invites you to join him and #CookForKids with this exclusive recipe.
A popular dish in Burundi, Mélange has a colourful mix of ingredients which often includes beans, vegetables, and dried fish. This version is adapted to use ingredients you can find at the supermarket in Australia. Eat it on its own or with rice, bread, or bugali, a maize meal porridge that goes by many names throughout east Africa.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Level of difficulty: Easy
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 onion, peeled and diced
- 1 carrot, peeled and diced
- 1 potato (or sweet potato), peeled and diced
- 1 can four bean mix (420 g), rinsed and drained
- 1 can diced tomatoes (400 g)
- 1 tsp vegetable stock powder salt, to season
- 3 cups loosely packed baby spinach leaves
- 185 g tinned tuna in spring water
- ¼ cup ground peanuts (or agashe), to serve
Method
- Heat a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the oil, onion, carrot and potato. Fry the vegetables for a few minutes, then add the beans, tomatoes, stock powder and 2 cups (500 ml) of water. Bring to a simmer, season with salt to taste and simmer for 25 minutes.
- Stir through the baby spinach leaves and tuna and then mash a few of the beans and vegetables to thicken the stew. Serve scattered with ground peanuts.
Join Adam and #CookForKids
By hosting a lunch, dinner, morning tea, or bake sale, you can help UNICEF continue to deliver lifesaving support to children and their families in places like Burundi and other countries around the world, while celebrating their fantastic culture and cuisines.
"I have been a UNICEF Australia Ambassador for over a decade, and every year a true highlight for me has been the #CookforKids campaign. As a cook, I am a big believer in the power of food to bring people together, and that’s why I love #CookForKids."
Need some cooking inspiration? From the rich culinary traditions of Ukraine and Hungary to the flavourful dishes of Syria, join Adam on a culinary journey as he brings international flavours to your kitchen!
By signing up, you'll receive an exclusive digital cookbook featuring recipes from Adam and renowned chefs worldwide.
Join #CookForKids!
We can’t stop emergencies from happening, but we can ensure that more children survive. From emergency relief to long-term development solutions, your fundraising through #CookForKids will help us reach children and families with the support they desperately need.
After signing up to #CookForKids, you'll receive a digital cookbook, hosting kit, and a fundraising pack to help you get started.
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