Here are a list of meals you might want to enjoy while you're watching the World Cup - gives it more of an 'ethnic' feel.

These recipes are compiled according to the groups in which each national team started their campaign.


Group E (Czech Republic, Ghana, Italy, USA)

Czech Republic - Chicken and Mushrooms with home made Noodles.


Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs

1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon olive oil

2 lbs chicken breasts
1/2 cup butter

1 large onion, chopped
2 cups sliced mushrooms

1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons flour
4-6 servings


Directions:


The Noodles

Combine flour and 1/4 tsp salt on a pastry board and make well in the center.
Whisk eggs, milk, and oil in a bowl until well blended. Gradually pour egg mixture into the well in the flour while mixing with fingertips.

Kneed dough abou 10 minutes or until it's elastic. Separate dough into three pieces and wrap with plastic wrap and allow to sit approximately 30 minutes. Remove dough and roll flat on lightly floured countertop as flat as possible without tearing.
Using knife, pizza cutter, etc. cut noodles about 1/4- 1/2 inch wide. Drop noodles into pot of salted boiling water and allow to cook about 10 minutes. Drain noodles and rinse with cold water.

Set aside.


The Chicken
Cut chicken into small pieces and brown in the melted butter over medium high heat. Add onion to chicken and cook covered for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, water, salt, and paprika and mix well. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover.

Allow to simmer 45 minutes.


The Sauce
Mix sour cream and flour together until smooth, then add to pan and mix until entire recipe is smooth.

Add noodles and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to sit about 5 minutes or until sauce thickens to desired point

Follow up:

Ghana - Red Red (Plantain in Red Bean Sauce)


Ingredients:
3 ripened plantains (extra soft)

Slice the plantains diagonally and deep fry till golden brown, same with meat.
Beans sauce

Black eyed peas (canned are fine)
1/2 cup Palm oil or vegetable oil

1 can crushed tomatoes
1 scotch bonnet/habanero pepper (Hot)

Mixed spices (to taste)
1 pink onion(chopped)

Garlic/ginger (to taste)


Directions:
Pour oil in pan, stir in chopped onion and garlic till onion turns transclucent) add crushed tomatoes and scotch bonnet pepper (cut the pepper in halves, it releases the flavor better)...and let simmer till the oil rises to the top (this sauce is the basic tomato sauce that can be used for different recipes) Add beans to sauce and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring to prevent burning. Add spices to taste. Serve with fried plantain & the meat of your choice - usually chicken. (sauce goes very well with rice too.)


Italy - Stracotto (Braised beef)


Ingredients:

1.5kg beef (shoulder, brisket chuck or stewing).
5 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil.

One onion.
2 carrots.

2 sticks of celery.
One garlic clove.

One glass red wine.
500g tomatoes.

Parsley.
Salt.




Directions:
Tie the joint of beef firmly and brown well in a saucepan with high sides. Chop or slice the onion, carrot and celery and add to the meat with the clove of garlic. Sauté for ten minutes. Increase the heat, add the glass of wine and allow to evaporate, taste for salt and add the peeled tomatoes. Lower the flame and cook gently for two hours with the lid on the pan. Before removing from the heat, add the roughly chopped parsley. If, at the end of the cooking time, the sauce seems a bit too liquid, increase the heat for a couple of minutes, add a drop of oil and allow to reduce. Cut the beef joint into slices and arrange on a warmed serving dish. For a smoother sauce, put in the blender briefly, reheat and then pour it over the sliced meat. Serve immediatly.

The name of this recipe actually means "overcooked", but in fact it is a good description, as it is intended for the tougher, tasty cuts of meat which require long, slow cooking.



Preparation time: 20 minutes.

Cooking time: 2 hours 30 minutes.


USA - Sloppy Joe


Ingredients:
1.25lb (450g) Ground Beef

1 Onion (small, chopped)
1 cup Ketchup

1 tbsp Vinegar
1 tbsp Lemon Juice

1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tsp Mustard

1 tsp Paprika
1 tbsp Brown Sugar

4 Hamburger Buns


Directions:
Break up the meat and brown it with the onions until no longer pink. Combine the rest of the ingredients and add to the pan. Cook, uncovered for 30 minutes on low heat. When thick, serve on hamburger or sandwich rolls.