Kenya is characterized by a rich cultural diversity, which features over 40 tribes. Each of these tribes practice entirely different cultures and speak with various dialects. These diversities add to the excitement one feels when getting ready to eat the following Kenyan delicacies.
Here is a list of the ten best traditional, homemade foods found in Kenya.
10. Roasted Maize and Black Tea
A cob of roasted maize is very popular across different traditional Kenyan cultures as well as metropolitan cultures found in towns and big cities in Kenya. It is easily found on the streets and also prepared at home over firewood cookers or using charcoal. At home, it is best served with black tea with no cream and add sugar to taste.
The maize is harvested when it is mature enough and dry enough for roasting over charcoal. Some of the kernels will pop like popcorn while others turn to a dark brown color with a crunchy crisp. You can season with chili lime and salt to taste.
9. Plantain Stew
Plantain Stew or Matoke, as it is most commonly known, is widely available and highly nutritious. The plantain bananas are peeled, and then cooked in pots with a little vegetable oil, onions, and tomatoes, in addition to chili and lemon juice as flavoring.
The Matoke should be soft enough to eat and the other ingredients should form a thick sauce that can be served with other vegetables and stews. It can also be served with rice or chapati.
8. Githeri
Githeri is a blend of boiled maize and beans slightly fried in oil and with onions that are prepared with other ingredients as a hearty stew. The process of making githeri starts with cooking the beans and corn at a ratio of 1:1 in an aluminum pot over charcoal stoves until very tender.
A slight amount of vegetable oil and onions plus tomatoes is cooked in a different pot. One may choose to add spice to the food while cooking other vegetables and potatoes, and then you add the boiled maize and beans and simmer lightly until the potatoes are well cooked. Githeri is best served with tea, and this makes an ideal lunch for the working man.
7. Irio or Mukimo
In some parts of the country, this favorite is known as Irio while in other regions is referred to as Mukimo. This meal is a staple in the central area of Kenya.
It is made of green peas, maize kernels, and whole potatoes boiled together. Some people also include young pumpkin leaves to give a distinct taste and a ruffage texture.
This meal is usually heavy and can be eaten alone or with other vegetables such as kale or cabbage and even with stews of any kind.
6. Coconut Rice
It is commonly known along the Kenyan Coast as wali wa nazi. It is a traditional delicacy which is plain white rice mixed with grated coconut meat that creates a sweet-smelling aroma while cooking.
Wali wa nazi is greatly enjoyed with bean stew, beef, chicken, or fish along with vegetables.
5. Kenyan Spiced Rice
Spiced rice in Kenya is more locally known as Pilau. It is rice that has been seasoned with various spices including, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, cloves, and cardamom.
The preparation process involves boiling the meat until tender, then fry in oil until it is dark brown in color, then add the spicy flavorings and stir to mix the meat pieces. Then the rice is added to pan fry with the spiced meat for a few minutes, then water is added and left to simmer until ready.
Pilau is best served with a fresh vegetable mixture of onions, which are locally referred to as Kachumbari.
4. Matumbo
Matumbo is a variety of organ meats, which include the intestines, kidney stones, lungs, heart, liver, and other edible parts of animals such as goats, sheep, pigs, and cattle. Matumbo is prepared by roasting, frying in oil, or cooking as a stew or pan fry, together with onions, tomatoes, chilies, and spices to taste
Some of the best matumbo is found in local hotels as well as in open markets being sold in small quantities and ready to eat.
Matumbo is served with ugali, rice, or chapatti, and also with kachumbari. Some traditional herbs and vegetables such as the jute plant, kale, spider flower, and pigweeds are the most preferred when served with matumbo. In most instances, the matumbo is sold alongside other animal parts such as hooves, skeleton, and tongue.
In other regions of the country, matumbo for chicken is also consumed along with the gizzard and the necks of the birds, which are sold separately after slaughter.
3. Chapati
Kenyan Chapatis can trace their roots from the influence of the Indian culture that is present in Kenya and Africa as a whole. They are made of flour dough that is coiled first before being rolled into a flat circle. The mixture is then dried on a flat pan or skillet while applying small quantities of oil to give it a crispy but moist texture.
Chapatis are more of a specialty food that is eaten on occasions in most families but is also available on the streets.
They are served best with a plate of fried beans, green grams, cooked cabbage, and vegetables or rolled up with a fried egg. It is a good companion for a cup of tea.
2. Ugali
Ugali is the staple food of most Kenyan families. It is usually made of maize or millet flour or a mixture of both. It is prepared by adding the flour to boiling water and stirred while still cooking until it forms a dense block of paste.
It is served along with any cooked vegetables or any saucy stew such as beef, chicken or fish stew.
1. Nyama Choma
And the ‘Pride of Kenyan food . . . ’ Nyama Choma.
Nyama Choma is the local name for roasted meat. The meat varies from goat, sheep, pig, and chicken or fish meat. The most popular being goat and beef. It is prepared by marinating the meat chunks in flavoring, spices, salt, and barbecue sauce. It is then placed on red hot charcoal and cooked while occasionally turning until the flesh is tender and crunchy.
It is often consumed by dipping it in salt and accompanied by a hot piece of ugali. Some kachumbari mixed with green or red chilies also adds to the serving of nyama choma.
Photo Credits
Cover image by https://pixabay.com/en/masai-dance-tribe-men-africa-1460015/
10. Roasted Maice - by https://pixabay.com/en/corn-grilled-corn-cob-maize-cob-142206/
9. Matoke Fruit - By Wikistallion - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24643528
2. Ugali - By Chen Hualin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8680660
Comments