This is one of the most requested recipes and it is a popular sweet in Somalia. Unlike the previous recipe that we posted for Coconut Sweets, this one is more like candy and it is easy to cut into any shape you desire. When we set out to make this recipe, we remembered a… Continue reading White Coconut Sweets (Kashaato) Bonbons Blancs à la Noix de Coco
Tag: East Africa
Russian Salad (Insalaadda Ruuso) Salade Russe
In Somalia, we remember this salad being prepared and served whenever important guests were invited. It was known as Insalaaddo Ruuso which is the Somalization of the Italian Insalata Russa (Russian Salad). This salad having originated in Russia, has many variations in different parts of the world. We usually serve this dish as a side… Continue reading Russian Salad (Insalaadda Ruuso) Salade Russe
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
Plain Goat Stew (Hilib Ari oo Cad) Ragoût de chèvre simple
There are days when you want to avoid spicy dishes or tomato-based stews, and you want just a simple and flavourful dish. This dish is perfect for those days. In Brava, Somalia, this is what is normally served with grits for the midday meal. It is accompanied by yoghurt or buttermilk, maankale (a type… Continue reading Plain Goat Stew (Hilib Ari oo Cad) Ragoût de chèvre simple
Fried Sweet Dumplings (Skaramati/Burka Macaan) Petits Beignets au Sucre (Pets de Nonne)
If you don’t like sweets then you met your match! Beware, if you try these dumplings you will become addicted. Seriously addicted. They are sweet, crunchy, yeasty, and ‘dare-you-to-stop-at-one’ goodies. We cannot imagine iftar without these dumplings. They are known as skaramati in Brava, Somalia. In Swahili, they are called kaimati which sounds very similar… Continue reading Fried Sweet Dumplings (Skaramati/Burka Macaan) Petits Beignets au Sucre (Pets de Nonne)
Butter & Yoghurt Cake (Doolshe Buuro 2) Gâteau au Beurre et au Yaourt
English Af-Soomaali Français عربي Butter & Yoghurt Cake www.xawaash.com In Somalia, this was the closest thing we had to a fruitcake. Raisins were always special and were reserved for decorating and topping the festive rice as well adding to cakes. Apart from this cake, the only other cake we remember that had fruits was Panettone,… Continue reading Butter & Yoghurt Cake (Doolshe Buuro 2) Gâteau au Beurre et au Yaourt
Spinach, Carrots, & Potatoes (Mbogga/Isbinaasho) Epinards, Carottes, Pommes de Terre
This is a healthy and great-tasting vegetable dish made of spinach and chunky mashed potatoes and carrots. You can serve it as a side dish or you can eat it with bread, muufo, anjero, rice, or you can even toss it with fresh pasta. It is an easy dish and is nutritious at the… Continue reading Spinach, Carrots, & Potatoes (Mbogga/Isbinaasho) Epinards, Carottes, Pommes de Terre
Yemeni Hareesa (Hariiso) Hareesa Yemeni الهريسة اليمنية
English Af-Somaali Français عربي Yemeni Hareesa www.xawaash.com Hareesa is one of those dishes that remind us of Eid. No Eid is complete without a piping hot dish of Hareesa served with sugar and browned butter. Hareesa originated in Yemen and it is made of barley and meat (usually lamb) that are cooked until the fibres… Continue reading Yemeni Hareesa (Hariiso) Hareesa Yemeni الهريسة اليمنية
Sesame Snaps (Sisin) Croquants au sésame
Sesame snaps make for a great snack and they keep well. In Brava, these treats were always available when we visited relatives. Grandmothers and aunts, in particular, “had” to have them stashed in large tins and they would hand out one or two of these brittles to their nephews and nieces whenever they visited… Continue reading Sesame Snaps (Sisin) Croquants au sésame
Potato & Cumin Rice (Bariis iyo Bataato) (Pilau) Pilaf de Riz aux Pommes de Terre et au Cumin
This is an easy and tasty rice dish. It brings back beautiful memories of Mombasa, Kenya. However, this dish is not limited to Kenya but is popular in many parts of East Africa. The cumin seeds gives it a flavour that is hard to resist and the potatoes make it very delicious. There are… Continue reading Potato & Cumin Rice (Bariis iyo Bataato) (Pilau) Pilaf de Riz aux Pommes de Terre et au Cumin