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 commemorate our great, great grandfather. He was said to have been a pious person who was generous to the poor. So on that day, the gates were open to everyone and the poor came there to be served by the family members. I remember everyone sitting on mats on the floor, strangers and relatives, all eating from the same plate.
All the cooking was done in the huge yard that was half overtaken by bushes. The women, who were preparing the food, were divided into teams, and duties were assigned for peeling the onions and garlic, cutting the potatoes and peppers, cooking the meat, and preparing the stock for the rice. There was also a team that was in charge of the camel milk, a must have for ziyaras.
The yard was like a beehive with women scurrying around, cheerfully going about their assigned duties. In the midst of all of this, we played with other kids and caused mischief. Happy memories…
Video without music:
Ingredients:
(Tbsp is a tablespoon; tsp is a teaspoon)
(1 cup = 237 mL = 2.4 dl; 1 Tbsp = 15 mL; 1 tsp = 5 mL); all are level measurements
Easy Somali Rice Topping:
- 4 Potatoes (medium size)
- 2 Onions (medium size)
- 1 Sweet pepper
- ¼ tsp (1.25 mL) Orange Food colouring – or use saffron
- ½ tsp (2.5 mL) Water
- ½ cup(s) (75 g) Raisins
- Vegetable oil – For frying
Directions:
- Wash the potaotes then peel them. Cut into 1/4 inch French fry shapes. Rinse with cold water and pat dry.
- Cut the onions into thin slices.
- Cut the red bell pepper into strips.
- Mix the food colour with 1/2 teaspoon water and add it to the sliced potatoes. You can substitute the food colouring with saffron.
- Mix well to colour all the fries.
- Deep fry in batches for 10 minutes on medium heat.
- Remove from oil and drain in a colander. Add the raisins while the potatoes are still hot.
- Fry the onions in batches using the same oil.
- Drain the fried onions and place in the same colander. Add the bell pepper and combine.
Fiidiyo aan muusik lahayn:
Mukawinaadka:
(QW waa qaaddo weyn – midda cuntada lagu cuno; qy waa qaaddo yar)
(1 koob = 237 mL = 2.4 dl; 1 QW = 15 mL; 1 qy = 5 mL)
Korkasaarka Bariiska:
- 4 Bataato / baradho , Dhexdhexaad
- 2 Basal , Dhexdhexaad
- 1 Barbarooni macaan
- ¼ qy (1.25 mL) Midabbada cunnada
- ½ qy (2.5 mL) Biyo
- ½ koob (75 g) Sabiib
- Saliid caddeey
Diyaarinta:
- Bataatada dhaq, maqaarkana ka fiiq. U jar gaballo dhaadheer 1/4 inch (sida French fries-ka). Biyo qaboow raaci, kaddibna si fiican u qallaji.
- Bashasa qafiif u jar.
- Barbarooniga qafiif u jar.
- Midabka cuntada 1/2 qaaddo yar biyo ku qas. Bataatada jarjaran ku kor dar. Midabka waxaa ku beddeli kartaa sacfaraan.
- Si fiican u walaaq, si uu kalarka u wada gaaro.
- Marba qaar shiil muddo 10 daqiiqo adigoo dab dhexdhexaad isticmaalaysa.
- Saliidda ka saar, kaddibna miiraha ku rid. Sabiibka ku kor dar bataatada oo weli kulul.
- Isla saliiddii basasha marba qaar ku shiil ilaa ay ka gaduudato.
- Saliidda ka saar, kaddibna miiraha ku kor dar. Barbarooniga ku kor dar oo isku qas.
فيديو بدون موسيقى:
المقادير
كوب = 237 مل، ملعقة كبيرة = 15 مل، ملعقة صغيرة = 5 مل
خلطة اﻷرز | ||
بطاطا | 4 | |
بصل | 2 | |
فلفل رومي | 1 | |
لون طعام | ملعقة صغيرة | ¼ |
ماء | ملعقة صغيرة | ½ |
زبيب | جم | 75 |
زيت نباتي |
طريقة التحضير:
تغسل البطاطس وتقشر ثم تقطع الى شرائح (مثل الفرنش فرايز)، تشطف بماء بارد وتنشف جيدا | -1 |
يقطع البصل الى شرائح | -2 |
يقطع الفلفل الرومي الى شرائح | -3 |
يخلط لون الطعام مع ملعقة صغيرة ماء ويضاف الى شرائح البطاطس. يمكن استعمال الزعفران بدل لون الطعام | -4 |
تقلب وتلون كل البطاطس | -5 |
تقلى في زيت غزير على دفعات وعلى نار متوسطة لمدة 10 دقائق | -6 |
تصفى من الزيت وتوضع في مصفاة ثم يضاف اليها الزبيب | -7 |
يقلى البصل ويحمر على دفعات في نفس الزيت | -8 |
يصفى البصل من الزيت ويوضع في المصفاة، يضاف الفلفل الرومي ويقلب | -9 |
Hii I love your recipes. I would love to ask about the peanut dessert. The one that you melt sugar and then add peanuts to. Mines comes out salty because I buy the salted peanuts and when I wash it it come out funny. Can you show me the one where you buy the nut in its shell and make it from scratch please.
God willing, we will post a recipe for it. We buy the peanuts from Bulk Barn or Indian stores.
Quite honestly guys, words fail me….I am having a hard time articulating how amazing you guys are. Frankly I don’t bother looking anywhere else for recipes since the fortunate day I found you. Truthfully speaking, I have been told that my cooking has dramatically improved yet I find myself gracefully accepting the compliment without reference to the well of knowledge I get from you because I want to stay the best among my friends (that’s a little selfish I know but I can’t help it).
Since you are perfectly aware that I no longer trust any recipe source out there anymore and only have faith in you, if I may, I’d love to request a recipe for Scottish Shortbread biscuits….It goes without saying I will continue to watch this space and look forward to the next recipe!
As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me lots to look forward to. God bless you and may he give you as much joy in your life as you have given me.
Your biggest fan,
Sue
Thank you for your nice comment. We are happy that you have such confidence in our recipes, and we hope to keep meeting your expectations. God Willing, we will add your request to our to-do list. Thanks again.
I love it, thank u so much. I hope next time u add KKK ê
Thank you for your comment. What is KKK e?
no salt?
No need for salt, but if you like you can add a little.
mashaa alaah jazakumulaah qeyr ilaah aanqiro janatul firdowsa ha iidnku bishareyo wlh this so helpful and amazing thnxs again
Mahadsanid walaasheenna qaaliga ah. Waan ku faraxnay faallada iyo ducada. Qayr ayaan kuu rajaynaynaa.
Mashallah! This blog is wonderful, I am so grateful!
Thank you for your kind words.
masha’alah walalahey kheyr badan illaah ha idin siiyo, waan sameeyay dadka oo dhana way jeceleysteen, waxan ku qadimay wasfadii ka horeeysay ee aheyd Bariiskii udgoonka badnaa, always mama said ‘Bariiska xawaash noo samee” sida aad nooga farxisaan aduun iyo aakhiro illah ha idinkaga farxiyo insha’alah.
Walaasheenna qaaliga ah, aad iyo aad ayaa ugu mahadsan tahay xiriiriskaada. Waan ku faraxnay inay cidda wada jeclaadeen.
dhamaantiin aadaa umahadsantihiin niyadiin allaah niiyeelo meeshiikaoomantihiin allaah haniigawaraabiyo wallaal shukrran jazaakallaahu kheyrakum
Aamiin walaasheenna qaaliga ah. Adigana intaad noogu ducaysay iyo in ka badan ayaan Ilaahay kaaga baryaynaa. Mahadsanid.
asc wr wbr walalayaan runtii aad baad umahadsan tihiin dadaal kiina majiro wax loodhigaa ilhay haydika siiyo khary aan lasoo koobikarin jasaakumulaahu khayraa walalyaal asc wr wbr
Mahadsanid walaasheenna qaaliga ah. Waan ku faraxnay xiriiriskaada.
masha allah aadbaan ugu helay qeer ilahey haidin siiyo
Aamiin walaal. Adigana qayr badan ayaan Ilaahay kaaga baryaynaa. Mahadsanid.
May Allah give you khayr upon khayr for making this website! I am the daughter of a Somali man, but unfortunately did not grow up with him, nor Somali culture. This website is a great way to learn the cooking of my father’s people and showcase my culture to other people. I think you should compile a book if you have not already done so, I would surely purchase it insha Allah!!!
Thank you very much for your kind comment. We are very happy that the website was so helpful for you. Hopefully, we will work on a book.
Salam alykum
Just wana say May Allah reward you guys for helping out soo many of us in distress not knowing what to cook and the minute we check your site we’re inspired. So many amazing dishes and soo easy to follow recipes, I want to thank you for the bottom of my heart and i pray that Allaah eases all your difficulties as you have eased our difficulties. This is this the favor of Allah upon us and you as well and we should all be Thankfull to Him before we loose it.
Thank you soo much