Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

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.

  • Achari ya embe

    Green mango cured with salt, chilli and spices until soft and sour. Ready in 40 min prep and 10 min…

  • Bhajia

    Gram-flour-battered potato slices fried crisp, Indian-Kenyan favorite. Ready in 20 min prep and 25 min cooking. 4 servings. A street…

  • Biriani

    Layered coastal rice with spiced meat, saffron-tinted and served at weddings. Ready in 45 min prep and 1 hr 30…

  • Busaa

    Thick sour maize beer drunk warm through a shared straw from a pot. A wine & spirit recipe from Kenya.

  • Changaa

    Harsh clear spirit distilled from maize or millet mash, potent and cheap. A wine & spirit recipe from Kenya.

  • Chapati

    Layered wheat flatbread fried in oil and eaten with beans or tea. Ready in 20 min prep and 25 min…

  • Chips masala

    Fried chips tossed in a spiced tomato and chilli sauce. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 30 minutes cooking. Serves…

  • Dawa

    Vodka, honey and lime crushed with a honey-coated swizzle stick. Ready in 5 min prep and none cooking. 1 drink.…

  • Githeri

    Boiled maize and beans, often fried with vegetables; Kikuyu staple. Ready in 15 min prep and 2 hr cooking. 6…

  • Irio

    Mashed potatoes with peas and whole maize kernels. Ready in 25 minutes prep and 45 minutes cooking. Serves 6. A…