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… Continue reading Vegetable Soup (Barooddo Qudaar) Soupe de Légumes شربة خضار
Tag: Cunno Soomaali
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
Refreshing Salad (Insalaaddo) Salade Rafraîchissante 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… Continue reading Refreshing Salad (Insalaaddo) Salade Rafraîchissante سلطة منعشة
Oat & Meat Soup (Shurbad) Soupe à l’Avoine et à la Viande شوربة الشوفان باللحم
There are foods we associate with certain occasions, and this soup is one such dish. Shurbad is synonymous with Ramadan (the month of fasting for Muslims). For breaking the fast, you need a highly nutritious dish that will catapult you from the world of the barely living to the heights of energetic vigour (assuming you… Continue reading Oat & Meat Soup (Shurbad) Soupe à l’Avoine et à la Viande شوربة الشوفان باللحم
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
Coconut Burfi (Qumbe – Zinoolo za Naazi) Burfi à la Noix de Coco حلاوة النارجيل
These coconut sweets are a cross between milk fudge (Peera or Caana Baraawe in Somali) and the White Coconut Sweets (Qumbe Cad). They were one of our favourite sweets in Brava, Somalia. Making these sweets used to be time-consuming since it required that milk be reduced significantly. We remember the very long time spent standing and stirring… Continue reading Coconut Burfi (Qumbe – Zinoolo za Naazi) Burfi à la Noix de Coco حلاوة النارجيل
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