So you are looking for the 10 best Kenyan dishes? Look no further because we got your back. Although they don’t carry the fame of Nigerian, Ethiopian, and Moroccan dishes, Kenyan cuisine has a claim in the best African food contest.
Drawing influences from over 50 tribes and different cultures worldwide, Kenyan dishes have been perfected over the years to make staples enjoyed all over the country. Beyond the rich wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cultures, Kenya offers various flavours through its dishes. When you visit, here are the top 10 best Kenyan dishes you must sample.
1. Ugali and Sukuma Wiki
Source: Ugali Recipe – We Eat At Last
Don’t leave Kenya before you try ugali. It’s the staple Kenyan food made by adding maize flour to boiling water and stirring until it hardens with a sweet aroma. Kenyans mostly pair ugali with sukuma wiki (collard greens) for lunch or dinner. Often, eggs, beef, or goat stew are added for a more balanced meal. This, in our view, is the first in the top 10 best Kenyan dishes and most Kenyans are proud of their staple meal.
2. Githeri
Source: Githeri with potatoes | Gwen Jikoni
Githeri is a simple vegeterian dish made of corn and beans. To ensure the corn and beans absorb each other’s flavors, the two are boiled until ready then fried with oil, onions, and tomatoes. Sometimes potatoes are added to the stew. Avocado is also a favorite side dish.
3. Chapati
Source: Chapati Za Ngozi (Kenyan Soft-Layered Flatbread) – Tara’s Multicultural Table
Chapati is unleavened flatbread inspired by Indian cuisine. Unlike Naan, chapati is thicker and cooked till brown with several layers. It is commonly served with stew such as beef or lentils. Sometimes though, chapati is served with tea for breakfast.
4. Pilau
Source: Beef pilau Recipe by Linda Atiamuga – Cookpad
Pilau is Kenya’s version of rice and meat also inspired by Indian cuisine. It is a Swahili dish, common in the coastal areas of Kenya that has been adopted and loved countrywide. Pilau is packed with a flavorful blend of spices including cumin, cardamom, and cloves.
5. Bhajia
Source: Crispy potato bhajia Recipe by Mitch 👑 – Cookpad
Bhajias are popular street food made with thinly sliced potatoes dipped in flour batter seasoned with herbs and spices such as ginger, cumin, parsley, coriander, and chili powder. It’s cooked until brown to make a delicious crunchy snack.
6. Mandazi
Source: How to make Swahili mahamris
Aside from bread, mandazi is the most common breakfast treat. This delicious pastry is made with leavened dough cut into triangular shapes and deep-fried until brown. It pairs deliciously with milk tea or coffee.
7. Matoke
Source: Matoke~ Kenyan Plantain Green Bananas Stew | simply.food
Matoke refers to unripened bananas before and after cooking. Kenyans have it either as a stew or boiled for breakfast with tea. Matoke is quite filling, nutritious, and easy to cook.
8. Mukimo
Source: How to make Mukimo/Irio (with Pumpkin leaves): – Fancy meals made easy!
Besides rice and ugali, mukimo is a beloved starch in Kenya. Originating from the Agikuyu community in Kenya, this dish is made with mashed potatoes, corn, and greens. It is a great side for stews and grilled meat.
9. Nyama Choma
Source: BBQ Recipe | Nyama choma with kachumbari
This is Swahili for grilled meat, a Kenyan dish associated with celebrations and holidays. The preferred meat is mainly goat though beef also acts as a substitute. It’s served with a side of ugali, mukimo, roast potatoes, and kachumbari (a mix of raw tomatoes, onions, and pepper).
10. Mutura
Source: How To Make Mutura At Home | Miss Kabaki
One of the most popular street foods in Kenya and a must-have. Mutura is the intestines of either goat, lamb, or cow stuffed with fatty meat, animal blood, onions, herbs, and spices. It’s an acquired taste but you are bound to enjoy it if you give it a try.
There you go, the top 10 best Kenyan dishes. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and head to Kenya for your safari. Let us know how it went.
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