Swahili Dishes Everybody Has To Try

The coast. Warm sandy beaches, the sound of the ocean, the preserved culture, just thinking about it, makes me want to go on vacation! Well, if you’re too busy to travel down and experience it all, the easiest way to get your Swahili vibe on is to indulge in some popular coastal dishes from the comfort of your Nairobi home (before you go on vacation that is). Whether its the biryani or bhajias or the tasty mahamris, coast has had a great impact on Kenyan cuisine.

Here are some coastal dishes you should definitely try

Swahili Coconut Chicken Curry

If you’ve never tried ki.chens swahili coconut chicken curry, you’re probably missing out on possibly the greatest swahili dish ever created. It is an absolute favourite here at the office. The dish is simple, delicious and heart warming during the cold weather. It consists of chicken breast pieces cooked in a sauce of coconut milk and their special yellow curry with a gentle spice. It’s best served hot with a portion of basmati rice with a flourish of cumin and coriander.

Bhajia

I don’t think there’s a single human out there who doesn’t love bhajias. I think they should replace fries all together. These potatoes are sliced up and battered with seasoning, deep fried, and served with a Kenyan tomato salsa that is worth boasting about

Mahamri/Mandazi

I’ve never known which is which, whether you call it mandazi or mahamri, you definitely have to indulge in this coastal pastry.   Mandazi’s usually make a great snack or a light breakfast with a cup of sweet chai (tea) for most Kenyans.

Biryani

I love biryani. Everything from its sweet aroma to its delicious taste, biryani is a must have. Popular among the Muslim faithful, this is one meal every foodie has to dig in to. The trick to this dish is to use long grain basmati rice. The longer and finer the grains, the better.

Samosa

Samosas are small triangular like pockets of spiced meat or vegetables that is put in a pastry wrapper and deep fried until it is golden brown. To make it more tasty you can squeeze lime juice on a samosa for ultimate yummy experience.