Category Archives: Vegetarian (Cagaaryahan) Végétarien

Cilantro Rice (Bariis Kabsaro Leh) Riz au Coriandre الأرز بالكزبرة

Cilantro Rice (Bariis Kabsaro Leh)

  We hear a lot about teamwork in the workplace but little about teamwork at home. We believe it is just as important if not more. We like to cook together, prepare recipes together, as well as taking turns to cook. Apart from the benefit it has of building a stronger relationship and fostering companionship…

Creme Caramel (Doolshe Banaaddir) Crème Caramel كريم كراميل

Creme Caramel (Doolshe Banaaddir) كريم كراميل

  In Somalia, creme caramel was not a dessert that was made on a regular basis. It was usually made when guests were invited. We believe it was due to the fact that eggs were not easy to come by.  Most of the good restaurants in Mogadishu served creme caramel and it was always our…

Pizza 4 Ways (Biitso 4 Nooc) Pizza 4 Façons البيتزا – 4 انواع

Pizza 4 Ways (Biitso 4 Nooc) البيتزا - 4 انواع

  In a previous post, we told you the story of Hooyo Fadumo’s beginnings with cooking and her fish debacle. Wanting to learn, she sought out anyone who could teach her: family, friends, and even total strangers. She tells the story of how she approached a Somali cook who was working for an Italian neighbour….

Mashmash (Mashmash – Bishbishi) Mashmash مشمش

Mashmash (Mashmash - Bishbishi) مشمش

Mashmash (rhymes with hush-hush) is a classic Somali snack that is usually paired with samosas. It is on the greasy side but in Somalia, greasy was not always associated with bad. There was a time when oily meant nutritious. We remember seeing construction workers in Mogadishu using mashmash as a sandwich filling. At the time…

Vegetable Soup (Barooddo Qudaar) Soupe de Légumes شربة خضار

Vegetable Soup (Barooddo Qudaar) شربة خضار

  We learned how to make this soup from Hooyo¹ Fadumo Abdulle (Abdullahi’s mother). Hooyo Fadumo is an amazing cook but her story with cooking did not have the greatest start. Actually, it began with an embarrassing experience. Even though born and raised in Mogadishu, she comes from a family of pastoralists (reer miyi). At…

Somali Malawah (Malawax) Malawah الملوًّح الصومالي

Somali Malawah (Malawax) الملوًّح الصومالي

  What is round, goes around, comes around. To us, that sums the story of the Somali Malawah (Malawax). We wish to think that the crepe originated in the Horn of Africa. The Horn is the home of the Ethiopian Injera, the Eritrean Injera, Somali Anjero or Lahoh, Malawah, and Ambaabur. It is not clear…

Kalkals (Shushumoow – Zinanaande) Kalkal كلكل

Kalkals (Shushumoow - Zinanaande) كلكل

  There are sweets that you eat because they taste good; then there are those that go a step further by bringing back memories of your childhood, a way of life long gone, of places fondly missed. That is what shushumoow (kalkals) does for us. In Brava, Somalia, they are known as zinanaande or zinanoonde. …

Refreshing Salad (Insalaaddo) Salade Rafraîchissante سلطة منعشة

Refreshing Salad (Insalaaddo) سلطة منعشة

  This cool, refreshing salad says summer to us but it is great all year round. The refreshing feeling comes from the moisture-laden cucumbers and tomatoes, and the mild onion flavour from the green onions.  The salad also has a wonderful texture with different levels of crunchiness ranging from the slight resistance offered by the…

Samosa Pastry (Burka Sambuuska) Pâte à Samosa عجينة السمبوسه

Samosa Pastry (Burka Sambuuska) عجينة السمبوسه

Unless you are hard pressed for time, making samosa pastry from scratch is well worth the effort and time. Homemade samosa pastry tastes much better than any store bought variety. Apart from the taste, you have full control over the texture of the pastry, the oil and salt content, and the type of flour. In…

Sorghum Porridge (Mishaari Masaggo) Porridge au Sorgho شوربة السورغم

Sorghum Porridge (Mishaaro Masaggo)  شوربة السورغم

  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…

About (Annaga)
Qui Sommes Nous نبذة عنا

We are a husband and wife team and we live in Canada. In a world full of food complications, we make cooking very simple. Our recipe videos will make your cooking easy, relaxed and enjoyable. We bring you the foods we love from Somalia and from around the world.