Mixed Vegetables (Qudaar) Légumes mélangés

Mixed Vegetables (Qudaar) Légumes mélangés

Somalis have very few vegetarian dishes. In the southern part of Somalia, where most of the agriculture is concentrated, more vegetables are consumed. For most Somalis, vegetables are added to meat dishes. Potatoes, carrots, green peppers, pumpkins, and plantains are popular. The following is a [Click for Full Recipe]

Sweet Potatoes (Bataato Macaan) Patates Douces

Sweet Potatoes (Bataato Macaan) Patates Douces

If you are going to have a dessert that has butter and sugar, you might as well have this dessert. At least the other half of the dessert (the sweet potato) is nutritious. Sweet potatoes pack more nutrition than most other vegetables. They are high [Click for Full Recipe]

Somali Salad (Insalaaddo) Salade Somali

Somali Salad (Insalaaddo) Salade Somali

Somali salad is very simple: lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, radishes, and a fresh, homemade dressing. The dressing is made of olive oil, lemon juice, white vinegar, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic. The garlic is optional but it enhances the taste quite a bit. The [Click for Full Recipe]

Somali Rice Topping – Garniture de Riz Somali

Somali Rice Topping – Garniture de Riz Somali

  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 [Click for Full Recipe]

Bottle Gourd Spaghetti (Bocor Macaan) Spaghetti de Courge Bouteille (Ntaambi ya Mabboori)

Bottle Gourd Spaghetti (Bocor Macaan) Spaghetti de Courge Bouteille (Ntaambi ya Mabboori)

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 [Click for Full Recipe]