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… Continue reading Creme Caramel (Doolshe Banaaddir) Crème Caramel كريم كراميل
Tag: African
Pizza 4 Ways (Biitso 4 Nooc) Pizza 4 Façons 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.… Continue reading Pizza 4 Ways (Biitso 4 Nooc) Pizza 4 Façons البيتزا – 4 انواع
Somali Malawah (Malawax) Malawah 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… Continue reading Somali Malawah (Malawax) Malawah الملوًّح الصومالي
Jerky-Style Beef Cubes (Oodkac/Muqmad) Cubes de Boeuf Façon Viande Séchée لحم بقري مجفف
Oodkac or Muqmad is what Somalis prepare whenever they want to preserve meat. During times of plenty, that is the rainy days, the nomads save for a dry day. Rainy days bring abundance (barwaaqo), when the milk from the herd is flowing and meat becomes available. The preserved meat was sometimes the only food… Continue reading Jerky-Style Beef Cubes (Oodkac/Muqmad) Cubes de Boeuf Façon Viande Séchée لحم بقري مجفف
Kalkals (Shushumoow – Zinanaande) Kalkal 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. … Continue reading Kalkals (Shushumoow – Zinanaande) Kalkal كلكل
Beef Samosas (Sambuus) سمبوسه
In the early seventies, an informal survey was conducted in some of Mogadishu’s teashops. The question was: “According to you, what is the most enjoyable thing in the world?” The top answer was: “To sit outside a teashop where the sand has been sprayed with water (i.e. no blowing sand), with a cup of tea… Continue reading Beef Samosas (Sambuus) سمبوسه
Samosa Pastry (Burka Sambuuska) Pâte à Samosa 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… Continue reading Samosa Pastry (Burka Sambuuska) Pâte à Samosa عجينة السمبوسه
Sorghum Porridge (Mishaari Masaggo) Porridge au Sorgho 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… Continue reading Sorghum Porridge (Mishaari Masaggo) Porridge au Sorgho شوربة السورغم
Coconut Sweets (Qumbe) Bouchées à la Noix de Coco
These coconut sweets were popular street food in Somalia. They were made of freshly grated coconut that was readily available. After leaving Somalia, many people had problems finding the ingredients they were familiar with. As a result, many foods could not be made or they did not taste the same when other ingredients were… Continue reading Coconut Sweets (Qumbe) Bouchées à la Noix de Coco
Eritrean Injera & Zigni (Canjeero iyo Signi) Injera d’Erytrée et Zigni زقني وإنجيرا أرترية
English Af-Soomaali Français عربي Eritrean Injera & Zigni www.xawaash.com Many stories can be told through food. Food transcends borders and it can connect us and become a means of creating goodwill between people. From the beginning, our objective was to reach out to our neighbours and to understand them through their culture. This meal was… Continue reading Eritrean Injera & Zigni (Canjeero iyo Signi) Injera d’Erytrée et Zigni زقني وإنجيرا أرترية