Baku Kitchen! An independent reference of traditional food

Namibia

Namibia’s food is built around kapana street beef, mahangu millet porridge and game meat meet German baking and southern African braai traditions. Look for Kapana (flame-grilled beef strips sold sizzling at open markets with chili salt), Oshifima (stiff pearl-millet mahangu porridge, Owambo staple) and Windhoek Lager (clean pale lager brewed to malt, hops, water and yeast alone). Strips of beef grilled over open fires at Windhoek’s Katutura single quarters market and eaten straight off the grill with chili salt. This atlas has 25 Namibia dishes catalogued below, from everyday cooking to food kept for festivals and special occasions.

25 dishes.

ApfelstrudelApfelstrudelPaper-thin strudel pastry around spiced apples and raisins.BiltongBiltongair-dried spiced meat, often from kudu, oryx or springbokBratwurstBratwurstGrilled pork sausage eaten in a roll with mustard.DroëworsDroëworsThin coriander-spiced sausage air-dried until brittle, snapped and eaten dryEembeEembeTiny sweet-sour bird plum berries eaten fresh or dried into cakesEendungaEendungaMakalani palm fruit chewed for its sweet fibrous fleshKalahari trufflesKalahari trufflesdesert truffles unearthed after rains, boiled or grilledKapanaKapanaflame-grilled beef strips sold sizzling at open markets with chili saltLüderitz rock lobsterLüderitz rock lobsterCold-water crayfish grilled with garlic butter on the southern coastOmaereOmaereHerero-style naturally soured milkOmagongoOmagongoMarula fruit juice fermented a few days into a cloudy tart wineOmagunguOmagungumopane worms dried, fried or stewedOmajovaOmajovagiant termite-mound mushrooms sautéed in butter, rainy-season delicacyOmaloduOmaloduHome-brewed mahangu millet beer, thick, sour and served in a calabashOmbikeOmbikeClear home-distilled spirit made from wild palm fruit or berriesOmbogaOmbogadried wild spinach rehydrated into a hearty relishOryx steakOryx steakLean dark gemsbok steak, grilled rare and served with pepper sauceOshifimaOshifimastiff pearl-millet mahangu porridge, Owambo stapleOshikandelaOshikandelaSweetened cultured drinking yoghurt sold in flavoured sachetsOshikunduOshikundulightly fermented mahangu and sorghum drink, tangy and refreshingPotjiekosPotjiekoslayered meat and vegetable stew slow-cooked in cast-iron potTafel LagerTafel LagerLight pale lager brewed to the German purity law, drunk very coldVetkoekVetkoekfried dough cakes filled with mince or jamWalvis Bay oystersWalvis Bay oystersPlump fast-growing oysters shucked fresh on the lagoon shoreWindhoek LagerWindhoek LagerClean pale lager brewed to malt, hops, water and yeast alone

  • Droëwors

    Thin coriander-spiced sausage air-dried until brittle, snapped and eaten dry. A charcuterie & cured recipe from Namibia.

  • Eembe

    Tiny sweet-sour bird plum berries eaten fresh or dried into cakes. Ready in 10 minutes prep and none, or days…

  • Eendunga

    Makalani palm fruit chewed for its sweet fibrous flesh. Ready in 5 minutes prep and none cooking. Varies. A snack…

  • Kalahari truffles

    Desert truffles unearthed after rains, boiled or grilled. Ready in 20 min prep and 25 min cooking. 4 servings. A…

  • Lüderitz rock lobster

    Cold-water crayfish grilled with garlic butter on the southern coast. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 15 minutes cooking. Serves…

  • Omboga

    Dried wild spinach rehydrated into a hearty relish. Ready in 15 minutes prep and 40 minutes cooking. Serves 6. A…

  • Omalodu

    Home-brewed mahangu millet beer, thick, sour and served in a calabash. A wine & spirit recipe from Namibia.

  • Ombike

    Clear home-distilled spirit made from wild palm fruit or berries. A wine & spirit recipe from Namibia.

  • Omagungu

    Mopane worms dried, fried or stewed. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 30 minutes cooking. Serves 4. A snack recipe…

  • Omajova

    Giant termite-mound mushrooms sautéed in butter, rainy-season delicacy. Ready in 20 minutes prep and 15 minutes cooking. Serves 4. A…