English Af-Soomaali Français A sponge cake was the first cake we baked in Somalia. The ingredients were: 6 eggs, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup flour. The steps were: separate the yolks from the egg whites; beat the egg whites with the sugar until foamy; beat in the egg yolks, then gently add the… Continue reading 2 Sponge Cakes (2 Doolsho Soomaali) 2 Génoises ٢ كيك إسفنجي
Tag: East Africa
Meatballs (Kabaab) Boulettes de viande كور الكفتة
English Af-Somaali Français Meatballs always take me back to Mogadishu, Somalia. They take me to Moallim Jama School, the school that I went to for my last year of elementary education. They remind me of the ‘breakfast lady’ who used to serve us small meatball sandwiches in the schoolyard during our mid-morning break. Back then,… Continue reading Meatballs (Kabaab) Boulettes de viande كور الكفتة
Vegetable Stew (Maraq Qudaar) Légumes Mijotés مرق الخضار
English Af-Somaali Français We mentioned in previous posts how Somalis, in general, liked to eat red meat. From sea to shining sea (the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean), Somalis prefer to have meat included in their main meal of the day. That, however, was not always realized. In many places, the main meal was… Continue reading Vegetable Stew (Maraq Qudaar) Légumes Mijotés مرق الخضار
Meso (Meeso) Meso مَيْسُوا
English Af-Somaali Français Brava, Somalia, is known for its culinary tradition which includes its renowned sweets. One example is Pera which is known, in other parts of Somalia, as Caano Baraawe (Bravanese milk). We hope to post a recipe for it in the near future. Meso is not as well known as Pera, but it… Continue reading Meso (Meeso) Meso مَيْسُوا
Balbalow & Zibatera (Baalbaaloow) Balbalow & Zibatera بسكويت مقلي
English Af-Somaali Français Balbalow (baalbaaloow) is a sweet treat that is popular in Somalia. It is shaped like a butterfly (balanbaalis) and it is as sweet as the butterfly is beautiful. Good balbalow should be light, crunchy but not hard, and have a nice, crumbly texture. The small bubbles on the surface of the balbalow… Continue reading Balbalow & Zibatera (Baalbaaloow) Balbalow & Zibatera بسكويت مقلي
Orange Juice Cake (Doolshe Casiir Leh) Gâteau au Jus d’Orange كيك بعصير البرتقال
We had to bake this cake three times for this post. It wasn’t because it did not come out right the first time. When we first baked it last Friday, we could not resist and we had it with tea while still warm and without the glaze. We then baked it on Saturday, poured… Continue reading Orange Juice Cake (Doolshe Casiir Leh) Gâteau au Jus d’Orange كيك بعصير البرتقال
2 Somali Hot Sauces (2 Nooc Basbaas) 2 Sauces Piquantes Somali البسباس الصومالي
Somali food is not spicy hot. It is unlike the cuisines of neighbouring countries that use a lot of hot spices. Somalis prefer to serve the hot sauce on the side just like the salt and pepper which everyone can adjust to his/her taste. One thing you do not have to worry about when… Continue reading 2 Somali Hot Sauces (2 Nooc Basbaas) 2 Sauces Piquantes Somali البسباس الصومالي
Somali Plantain Stew (Maraq Moos Bukiini) Ragoût de Plantains à la Somali مرقة بموز الجنة
If you have never had a plantain, it tastes pretty much like a potato when a raw or semi-ripe plantain is cooked. We prepared this stew for some guests and they all thought they were eating potatoes. Plantains are a staple food in southern Somalia and are added to both savoury and sweet dishes.… Continue reading Somali Plantain Stew (Maraq Moos Bukiini) Ragoût de Plantains à la Somali مرقة بموز الجنة
Eye of Round Roast (Hilib Aroosto) Rôti de Rond de Gîte روستو العجل
The eye of round roast is a very lean cut and can be quite tough if not cooked properly. There are different ways of cooking it but our favourite method is to cook it slowly in a flavourful broth. The meat releases its juices, making the broth even more flavourful. Even though the cooked meat… Continue reading Eye of Round Roast (Hilib Aroosto) Rôti de Rond de Gîte روستو العجل
Ambabur (Cambaabur) Ambabur لحوح بالبهارات
This flat bread is very popular as a breakfast item that is usually served during the Eid. It is similar to Anjero but it has additional ingredients that make it different. Ambabur has different spices added to the batter that give it a special taste. The types of spices added can vary from one… Continue reading Ambabur (Cambaabur) Ambabur لحوح بالبهارات