Nowadays, sharks are under tremendous threat from commercial over-fishing and the cruel practice of harvesting their prized fins (shark finning). With shark finning, the shark is discarded after its dorsal fin is cut off and it is left to die. These practices have to be stopped, but it has to be done in a sensible…
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Somalis love their meat. With the country predominantly nomadic, and with livestock as one of its main exports, it’s only natural that meat is an important component of the Somali diet. Yet Somalis (in Somalia) are generally known to be quite lean. The main reason was moderation in consumption and a lifestyle that demanded physical…
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The Horn of Africa boasts the largest number of camels in the world. Camels have been domesticated in Somalia for more than 2000 years. In an article in Aramco World, the Somali camel has been described as follows: “The Somali camels seem by far the most regal, and they are the most expensive. Looking…
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When a society has many names for something, it shows the value they attach to it. The Bravanese have more than 200 names for fish, and this attests to its importance in their daily lives. Fish plays a central role in the Bravanese diet. It is served for breakfast, lunch, and supper. However, it is…
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The Chinese have their noodles, the Italians have their pasta, and while they argue about who came up with the idea first, let me tell you about Galaamuddo or Kalaamuddo as some call it. Galaamuddo is somewhat reminiscent of the Italian pasta known as Pici, but there are differences. The Bravanese (Brava, Somalia) mix broth…
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Somali rice with toppings evokes old memories of family gatherings, and festive occasions. It reminds me particularly of ziyaras (rememberences) where large numbers of women gather to cook rice and meat in huge pots set on open fires. I remember my grandparents’ house in Mogadishu, where a ziyara was held once a year to…
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Tender meat cooked to perfection and served with Somali rice. You can cook this dish either with lamb shanks or goat shanks. Goat meat has a milder taste than lamb. We used a pressure cooker to cook the meat quickly, but you can cook it slowly in a slow cooker or in a regular pot…
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We have tried rice dishes from different parts of the world and we had some nice experiences. One thing, however, never fails to amaze us. It is how delicious Somali rice is, considering that it is not a staple food in Somalia. Yes, Somali restaurants serve rice, but for the majority of Somali households in…
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The following recipe is for sweet bottle gourd known in Brava as Ntaambi ya Maboori. The word Ntaambi means Vermicelli, and Ntaambi ya Mabboori is Vermicelli made of Bottle Gourd. During Ramadan (the month of fasting), this dessert is served after dinner in the majority of households. The bottle gourd must be young and tender. Buy the freshest ones you can…
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The Bravanese call this cake Mkate wa Khamiiri. They also know it as Ja, Teka (Eat & Smile). Yes, it will bring a smile to your face but it will also test your patience. In my opinion, this cake benefits from being cooled completely and let to rest for a few hours before eating it. Actually, I…
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