Sorghum porridge is one of those traditional dishes that are very popular in many parts of Somalia. With the addition of buttermilk, sugar, and ghee, it is considered a very nutritious meal. That is why it is one of the essential Ramadan dishes for iftar (breaking the fast). Porridge (mishaari), whether made from wheat... [more]

Somali Biscuits with Halwa (Buskud iyo Xalwo) بسكويت مع الحلوة الصومالية     These biscuits (cookies) take us back to Somalia, and in particular to childhood in Brava. Mornings start very early and almost everyone would wake up to a cup of coffee (kahawa in Bravanese; qaxwo in Somali). Somali coffee is not at all... [more]

  This is a great way of introducing vegetables into meals for those who would not eat them otherwise. It is the way that most Somalis eat their veggies. Somali restaurants almost always serve some kind of veggie topping with the rice and meat dishes. Potatoes, carrots, and sweet peppers are a favourite choice. We... [more]

  This rice dish is for those days when we grill, when we want a rice dish that is both easy and quick. It is recommended to soak basmati rice for at least an hour, so the grains will become elongated during cooking. However, for this dish we usually skip this step or let the... [more]

  This has been the seventh weekend in a row that we had guests over for lunch. No, we are not complaining, but just stating it as a fact. Actually, we got to see many friends and family members that we have not seen for years and we enjoyed their company. Whenever we have guests... [more]

  This delicious dish might seem complicated at first glance, but it is really very easy when you break it down to its individual components. These are: the pasta, a meat sauce, and a béchamel sauce. The béchamel sauce is extremely easy if you follow the method we show in the video. There is no... [more]

  This is one of the most requested recipes and it is a popular sweet in Somalia. Unlike the previous recipe that we posted for Coconut Sweets, this one is more like candy and it is easy to cut into any shape you desire. When we set out to make this recipe, we remembered a... [more]

  In Somalia, we remember this salad being prepared and served whenever important guests were invited. It was known as Insalaaddo Ruuso which is the Somalization of the Italian Insalata Russa (Russian Salad). This salad having originated in Russia, has many variations in different parts of the world. We usually serve this dish as a side... [more]

  These coconut sweets were popular street food in Somalia. They were made of freshly grated coconut that was readily available. After leaving Somalia, many people had problems finding the ingredients they were familiar with. As a result, many foods could not be made or they did not taste the same when other ingredients were... [more]

  Many stories can be told through food. Food transcends borders and it can connect us and become a means of creating goodwill between people. From the beginning, our objective was to reach out to our neighbours and to understand them through their culture. This meal was prepared for us by our friend, Fatma Nasrai,... [more]