Kenya
Ask what Kenya eats and the answer starts with this: grilled nyama choma, maize staples and greens inland; Swahili coconut-and-spice cooking along the Indian Ocean coast. Look for Ugali (stiff maize-meal staple molded by hand to scoop stews and greens), Nyama choma (slow-grilled goat or beef shared with kachumbari and beer) and Sukuma wiki (collard greens braised with onion and tomato, ugali’s daily partner). Maize came from the Americas via Portuguese traders and only displaced millet and sorghum as Kenya’s staple during the twentieth century. This atlas has 43 Kenya dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.
43 dishes.
Smokie pasuaBoiled sausage split lengthways and stuffed with kachumbari and chilli
Sukuma wikicollard greens braised with onion and tomato, ugali's daily partner
TuskerPale lager with an elephant on the label, the default Kenyan beer
Ugalistiff maize-meal staple molded by hand to scoop stews and greens
Ujitangy fermented millet and sorghum porridge, morning staple
Viazi karaiturmeric-battered fried potatoes with tamarind chutney, coastal snack
VitumbuaSmall fried cakes of rice flour and coconut milk, crisp edged and spongy inside-
Achari ya embe
Green mango cured with salt, chilli and spices until soft and sour. Ready in 40 min prep and 10 min…
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Bhajia
Gram-flour-battered potato slices fried crisp, Indian-Kenyan favorite. Ready in 20 min prep and 25 min cooking. 4 servings. A street…
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Biriani
Layered coastal rice with spiced meat, saffron-tinted and served at weddings. Ready in 45 min prep and 1 hr 30…
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Busaa
Thick sour maize beer drunk warm through a shared straw from a pot. A wine & spirit recipe from Kenya.
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Changaa
Harsh clear spirit distilled from maize or millet mash, potent and cheap. A wine & spirit recipe from Kenya.
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Chapati
Layered wheat flatbread fried in oil and eaten with beans or tea. Ready in 20 min prep and 25 min…
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Chips masala
Fried chips tossed in a spiced tomato and chilli sauce. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 30 minutes cooking. Serves…
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Dawa
Vodka, honey and lime crushed with a honey-coated swizzle stick. Ready in 5 min prep and none cooking. 1 drink.…
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Githeri
Boiled maize and beans, often fried with vegetables; Kikuyu staple. Ready in 15 min prep and 2 hr cooking. 6…
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Irio
Mashed potatoes with peas and whole maize kernels. Ready in 25 minutes prep and 45 minutes cooking. Serves 6. A…