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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
This is the Bravanese (Brava, Somalia) take on the honeycomb rice cake that has different versions that are made all over Asia. It is sweet, soft and springy. The yeast gives it a spongy texture that lends it the ability to soak sauces. The name comes from the deep dish it is served in. In some…
Maanda (Muufo Baraawe in Somali) is the traditional bread of the Bravanese (Brava, Somalia). The story of Maanda is the story of the daily life of the Bravanese. In Brava, Maanda is made from white, dehydrated corn kernels, and making it in the traditional way is a very time consuming process. On day one, the…
English Af-Soomaali Français عربي Xawaash – Somali Spice Mix www.xawaash.com Xawaash (pronounced Hawash) comes from the Arabic word Hawa’ij (حوائج). Hawa’ij can be translated as ‘requirements’ or ‘essentials’. For example, there are the essentials accompaniments for Arabic coffee, Hawa’ij al-Qahwa (حوائج القهوة). The Hawa’ij spice mix is believed to have originated in Yemen. In the…
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