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
Tag: recipe
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
Somali Doughnuts (Kac Kac) Beignets Somalis الدونت الصومالي
Long before we were introduced to the doughnuts we had outside Somalia, we were familiar with kac kac. We loved these tasty snacks that were sold in traditional Somali restaurants (maqaayo Soomaali) in Mogadishu. They were great for a quick breakfast when served alongside a cup of Somali tea with milk (shaah caddeeys). In those… Continue reading Somali Doughnuts (Kac Kac) Beignets Somalis الدونت الصومالي
Somali Shortbread Cookies (Icun – 2 nooc) Sablés Somalis الغريبة
Icun icalaanji caloosha iggee (iggeli) Are you getting ready for Eid? What would Eid be without icun? We mean the icun of “icun icalaanji caloosha iggee (iggeli)” fame. That is what the street vendors selling icun used to say and it means “eat me, chew me, and dispatch me to the stomach.” We do… Continue reading Somali Shortbread Cookies (Icun – 2 nooc) Sablés Somalis الغريبة
Yogurt Coconut Chicken (Digaag Qumbe) Poulet Coco au Yaourt دجاج بالزبادي والنارجيل
East African curries are influenced by Indian as well as Middle Eastern cuisines, so any similarities are not coincidental. This curry contains coconut milk which features prominently in Swahili cooking and it is one of the ingredients that makes the food really delicious. This recipe is a family favourite and is one of the… Continue reading Yogurt Coconut Chicken (Digaag Qumbe) Poulet Coco au Yaourt دجاج بالزبادي والنارجيل
Cilantro Rice (Bariis Kabsaro Leh) Riz au Coriandre الأرز بالكزبرة
We hear a lot about teamwork in the workplace but little about teamwork at home. We believe it is just as important if not more. We like to cook together, prepare recipes together, as well as taking turns to cook. Apart from the benefit it has of building a stronger relationship and fostering companionship… Continue reading Cilantro Rice (Bariis Kabsaro Leh) Riz au Coriandre الأرز بالكزبرة
Roasted Chicken Drumsticks (Lugo Digaag La-foorneeyay) Cuisses de Poulet Rôties دجاج محمر بالفرن
When we roasted these chicken drumsticks, we took them to a gathering at a friend’s house. One of her guests tried them and she said to us, “I have never had chicken this good in my WHOLE LIFE! I am a chef and I know what I am talking about.” Wow! What an amazing… Continue reading Roasted Chicken Drumsticks (Lugo Digaag La-foorneeyay) Cuisses de Poulet Rôties دجاج محمر بالفرن
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
Beef & Lamb Fatayer (Fataa’ir) Chaussons au Boeuf et a l’Agneau فطائر باللحم
For Middle Eastern recipes, we owe a lot to Jeddah where we lived for several years. With so many expatriate friends as well as all the different types of restaurants, it was very easy to fall in love with Middle Eastern cooking. Leila was not working at the time (just like most of the… Continue reading Beef & Lamb Fatayer (Fataa’ir) Chaussons au Boeuf et a l’Agneau فطائر باللحم
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