Introduction to Somali Cuisine

I used to work for a nonprofit organization that offered literacy and English language tutoring to people in the surrounding community who needed it. We also offered after-school leadership programs for teenagers, one of which I supervised. One of the teenage girls who worked under me was a native of Somalia. She was a very bright and hard-working young lady, and I was impressed with her initiative. When I left the organization, she gave me a Somali cake as a good-bye present. It looked just like a plain pound cake, but when I tried it, it was unexpectedly delicious. It was rich and spongy, with a wonderful nutty, spicy flavor I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Certainly a fitting gift for a foodie-in-training like me! It was at that point that I became curious about Somali cuisine.

Somali cuisine is an interesting cross between East African, Arab, and Indian cuisine. The Italians have had colonial influence on the country in the past, and that influence has been transferred to the cuisine as well. As with most African cuisines, save those from North Africa and Ethiopia, Somali cuisine is not well-known in the western world. As our world becomes smaller, however, I think it is more likely that some of the planet’s lesser-understood cultures will become more visible to us, and so too their cuisine.

Typical Breads

There are a few different types of bread in Somali cuisine. They have a flatbread similar to Ethiopian injera, which is used in Ethiopia as a kind of “plate” on which Ethiopians place their excellent and exotically flavored stews. Bread, or variations of it, like most countries in this region, is a staple food in Somalia. Unlike in Ethiopia, it is not always used as a “plate”, but usually has an accompaniment of meat or other food that is eaten separately, and sometimes the bread is broken up into smaller pieces and mixed in to the main dish. Another type of bread is known in Somalia as muufo barawe, which is like a wonderful lightly seasoned bread roll. It is delicious warm!

Typical Meats

Some of the meat that Somalis consume will seem strange to westerners, such as goat and camel. But they are simply eating the meats that are available to them in their native land. They also consume beef and lamb. Since virtually all Somalis are Muslims, they do not eat pork and pork does not figure in their cuisine.

Typical Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains

Many tropical fruits grow in Somalia, due to its geographic location. Their cuisine is rich with mangoes, coconuts, bananas, and pineapples. In addition to vegetables native to Africa, many vegetables that grow in the Mediterranean region and in the Persian Gulf region are used in Somali cuisine, like tomatoes, eggplant, squash, spinach and other greens, and okra. Wheat and rice are some of the most commonly used grains.

Arab and Middle Eastern Influences

Somalis are fond of halvah, which is a honey-sesame seed confection popular throughout the Arab world and the Middle East. Somalis also have their own version of hummus.

Indian Influences

Some of the most commonly eaten snacks originate in Indian cuisine. Samosas, fried turnovers, are known as sambusas in Somalia, and are popular in between meals. Samosas and their variations are found in many other countries in East Africa, the Middle East, and even Central Asia, under somewhat different names. The spicing of Somali food also bears an Indian influence, as cardamom and cumin are used often.

Italian Influences

Somalis apparently enjoy pasta, on top of which they like to place stews made from meats and vegetables. Rich stews poured over greens or grains are typical in many different African cuisines, and Italian pasta with an African-style stew over it certainly makes a unique fusion dish! Somalis also have their own version of Italian gelato, made from fruits native to the region.

Somali cuisine is a fascinating cross-section of foreign and native influences. My exploration of this cuisine has always pleased my palate. I hope you find it pleases yours, too. Oh, and that cake I was given as a gift? It’s called (not surprisingly) Somali Cake, and a recipe for it is here.

Enjoy!

Sources:
Personal experience.
History of Nations. “History of Somalia.” History of Nations.net

Sandler, Bea. “Ethiopia: Menus & Recipes from Africa.” Africa.upenn.edu
Gale, Tammy Amina. “Tammy’s Somali Home.” Tammy’s Somali Home.blogspot