(Note: This was a blog post I had forgotten to publish while I was in Namibia. The recipe still works though and it’s still pretty cheap. The ingredients may cost you about US$10 now, but it’s a quick and tasty lunch or light dinner.)
Someone once said that necessity was the mother of invention. I think that person got it wrong. It’s laziness that, more often than not, gives birth to invention. I should know. Me and Laziness are so close you can expect wedding invitations any time now.
Be that as it may, when it comes to food here in Namibia, I hook up with Laziness and find a way to feed myself with the least amount of effort and cash. I wish I could say that all of my culinary inventions were fit for five-star restaurants, but the reality is that I’ve had to force myself to eat my creations, hoping that the peculiar smell, taste, and appearance justified my adherence to my ‘waste not, want not’ ethic, even over severe gastrointestinal protest. So far, I’ve survived.
After a year’s worth of experimentation, you’d think I’d have at least one recipe that’s worth sharing, and you’d be right. I’m going to pass this along to other Peace Corps Volunteers here in Namibia and beyond, but why should we have all the fun?
What follows in an extremely simple, yet very tasty recipe that hits all the high points:
✓ Inexpensive? Yes! You should be able to buy all the ingredients for under N$50 (about US$4.00) and you can likely get 1-3 meals out of it. Also note that you’ll spend for bulk items which can be used later for other meals.
✓ Healthy? Yup! It’s lettuce and tuna, for goodness sakes!
✓ Easy? Oh geez, yes! If you can open a can of tuna then you’re halfway done.
✓ Tasty? I realize taste varies, but if you can stomach canned tuna and don’t mind lettuce, you’ll probably like this. Of course, if you’re Poseidon, you’d drop-kick canned for fresh tuna, and even your mother-in-law can’t find fault with fresh lettuce.
So, what is this amazing recipe for producing ambrosia suitable for gods and in-laws?
Behold! The PCV Tuna Wrap!!!
Looks tasty, right?
Ok, here’s how to make it…
Ingredients:
1 can of chunky tuna ( you can use the cheaper shredder variety, it won’t look as good, but tastes the same).
1 small block of peppered feta cheese (feta comes in many forms. I buy a 200 gram pkg that has three blocks of cheese. I use 1 block, about 60 grams, but more is not a bad thing)
10 or more halved grape tomatoes ( you can used dices tomatoes too, should equal about 1/3 cup)
2 tablespoons of Greek salad dressing (this is to taste)
Dash of kapana seasoning ( can substitute Old Bay of other spicy seasoning)
1/2 teaspoon of crushed garlic (I buy a container of finely diced garlic and chili pepper. Works great.)
1 head of lettuce
Mix together everything but the lettuce. Taste and add other seasoning as you like (diced onions, diced green pepper, salt, ginger, whatever floats your boat).
Peel off a leaf of lettuce. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of mix into the leaf and wrap like a burrito. Should make about 6-8 wraps.
Enjoy!
Stay tuned
Vern
GoGeezer 