Kwanzaa is the celebration of community, family and culture. Kwanzaa begins on Wednesday December 26, 2018 and ends Tuesday January 1, 2019. It was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to help established African-Americans reconnection to their African roots and heritage. Anyone is invited to paticipate in this celebration of African roots.
Kwanzaa has 7 principles:
Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, & Imani
Each of these 7 principles mean different things:
- Umoja is Unity
- Kujichagulia is Self-determination
- Ujima is Collective Work and Responsibility
- Ujamaa is Cooperative Economics
- Nia is Purpose
- Kuumba is Creativity
- Imani is Faith
There are 7 items that are placed on the table to symbolize Kwanzaa principles.
The seven items that are placed are: Mkeka the mat, Umoja the trophy, Mazao the crops, Kinara the candleholder, Mishumaa Saba the seven candles, Muhindi the corn, and Zawadi the gifts. There are two others that are optional which include Bendera the flag and Nguzo Saba the poster (which includes all seven principles).
The main symbol of Kwanzaa are the seven candles. Three red candles on the left, three green candles on the right, and a black candle in the center.
There isn’t any specific dish that needs to be cooked for the gathering. Every family is different and they all have different traditions. There are a lot of popular dishes that can be prepared during the celebration.
Here are a few recipes to try for Kwanzaa this year:
Photo Courtesy of Flo Dahm
1. Curried Sweet Potato Puree
Photo Courtesy of Pexels
This dish takes a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes to prepare. It consists of sweet potatoes, almond milk, curry powder, ginger, kosher salt, lime, sliced almonds and chopped cilantro (for garnish). This is a healthy option for all of my healthy eaters out there. It’s also a good option because it’s low calorie and dairy-free. If you would like the full recipe from the Food Network, click here.
2. Stove-Top Mac and Cheese
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According to the Food Network, another popular dish for the celebration is this creamy stove top Mac & Cheese. This is an easy dish to create and it only takes 25 minutes to prepare. This recipe serves 8 people. The Mac & Cheese is made with: butter, onion, garlic, white pepper, paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, heavy cream, colby jack cheese, cheddar cheese, baby shell pasta and parsley (for garnish). If you would like the full recipe and directions on how to prepare this delicious dish, click here.
3. Coconut Lime Pudding Cake (Vegetarian)
Photo Courtesy of Moigram
What’s a celebration without dessert? For this coconut-lime pudding cake, you will need: unsalted butter, granulated sugar, all purpose flour, 3 eggs, limeade concentrate, unsweetened coconut milk, fine salt and toasted coconut (for garnish). Having a sweet tooth is a necessity with the holiday season, and this delicious recipe will satisfied anyone. For the full recipe and directions, click here.
4. Fried Okra
Photo Courtesy of Sandeep Handa
Okra is an ingredient that is found in countless dishes in the southern United States and in African recipes. This is an addicting dish! One batch is not enough and you will end up needing to cook much more to share. This recipe is a delicious twist to make a simple ingredient into a crunchy appetizer. You’ll be needing okra, cornmeal, and more for this recipe. This serves as many as 5 people and can be prepared in 15 minutes. So, if you’re in a hurry but want to prepare something unique, this is a great choice. To check out the full recipe and directions, click here.
Learning about the different holidays celebrated during this season is a good way to gain empathy. Hopefully this article gave you a better understanding of Kwanzaa. Maybe you will learn a new recipe or take inspiration from the wonderful traditions practiced by so many people all over the world.