Chef Jamal Hashi, co-owner (with his brother Sade Hashi) of Safari Express East African Restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota says: “I owe it to the Italians that I make a great marinara.” Hashi was born and raised in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, and immigrated to the US with his family as a teenager.
This vegetable hotpot is packed with goodness and is super tasty too. You literally chuck everything into one pot and cook away, making it one of the easiest dishes you could make.
This stiff, porridge like dish made from maize flour and water is practically the national dish in many African countries. In Somali we call this African dish soor. It is usually eaten using the hand. You pick up a small amount using three fingers and form a ball to scoop vegetables or meat. It won’t take long to get the hang of eating this way, but do take your time if you are eating with me as I usually get a kick watching novices try!
These delicious bite sized rice cakes are a traditional Swahili breakfast and snack favourite, but I was delighted when I encountered them in the coastal cities of southern Somalia. They are crunchy outside, and soft and fragrant inside.
This colourful pineapple and saffron rice goes beautifully with a hot curry. My mother knows how much I love this dish and kindly shared the recipe. You can add raisins, sultanas and cashew nuts to add crunch and sweetness.
Pancakes and berries with cream is such an indulgent breakfast and one that I like to enjoy occasionally and not just for breakfast! I have spiced this recipe up with the addition of cardamom, which adds a wonderful scent and flavour.
This pancake recipe is different from the typical Somali malawax in that the mixture is thicker and the pancakes are fluffier.
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You expect raclette, cheese fondue and rosti in a Swiss kitchen and not tamarind flavoured kebabs, but for Kenyan-born Fatuma the flavours of home have helped her acclimatise to her new world. Read more
There is a fine tradition in Somali society known as casariya, a word that is loosely translated to mean afternoon tea. Wonderfully spiced tea called shaah in Somali is often served with various types of sweet or savoury treats. And you never, ever have shaah without sheeko (stories)!
Fried coffee? I know what you are thinking! It sounds weird, right? But let me tell you the taste is incredible and Somalis have some interesting stories that we associate with the bean.