As Deborah Cater once so wisely said, "You have to taste a culture to understand it."
When you picture Kenya, you might imagine prides of lions traversing the vast plains of the country Serengetihuge hippos bathing in Lake Naivasha, or the dizzying migration of wildebeest, antelope and zebra in the Masai Mara. Kenya It is undoubtedly one of the best places in the world to go on safari. But if you want to experience Kenya's rich and vibrant culture, you need to eat.
From melted meat slowly grilled over hot coals to creamy coconut chicken curry, here are 10 dishes you must try on your trip to Kenya.
1. Angles
First we have Ugali - a staple of Kenyan cuisine. Made with white or yellow cornmeal, salt, and hot water, this spongy, starchy side dish is served with almost every meal. It is usually served on a plate in the middle of the table so that everyone can have some. The best way to eat it is to tear off a piece, roll it into a ball, and scoop out the middle with your finger to use as a spoon. It's the perfect way to top off stews, soups, and grilled meat or fish. Plus, food tastes so much better when you eat with your hands.
2. Irio
Irio (pronounced eer-eo), also known as mukimo, is originally a dish of the Kikuyu people of central Kenya, and is now a family favorite all over Kenya. Made from a nutritious blend of mashed potatoes, corn, peas, and sometimes spinach, kale, or beans, it's an upgrade on standard mashed potatoes and is served with stews or grilled meats and fish—though you can simply dig into a bowl of it with a spoon.
3. Jethery
Jythri is another dish originating from the Kikuyu people. This comforting one-pot soup is popular in many parts of Africa, but the Kenyan version is made with red beans, potatoes, onions, meat, and corn in a tomato-beef sauce richly spiced with curry powder, paprika, and chilies. It can be served as an appetizer or main meal with chapati or rice. It is a popular lunch in Kenya and you can often see and smell it boiling in a big pot on the street.
4. Matuk
Matoke is a type of green cooking banana native to southwestern Uganda. This dish is a firm favorite across East Africa, and you'll find it on the menu in most restaurants in Kenya. Kenyan matoke soup is a rich mixture of green bananas, tomatoes, onions, garlic and flavorful spices that are cooked in a large pot until the bananas are soft and make a thick gravy. It is served with rice, ujali or chapatti, and also tastes great with grilled meat.
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5. Nyama Choma
Nyama choma means "grilled meat" in Swahili, and is considered the unofficial national dish of Kenya. This dish is about as simple as it gets: the meat (the traditional favorite is goat, but beef, chicken and fish are also popular) is seasoned with salt and slowly cooked over hot coals. The meat is ridiculously succulent and will melt in your mouth. You can dig into nyama choma on its own, but it's also delicious with rice, chapati, and kachumbari—a tangy hit of red onion, tomato, cilantro, chilies, and lime juice. You'll find nyama choma everywhere from the best restaurants in Nairobi to local street vendors cooking up a storm. The smell alone is enough to make you salivate!
6. Niyama
Nyama, or Kenyan stewed beef, is one of those dishes that will taste different every time you eat it. Every family and restaurant has its own taste in the dish, which is why it is great to try it a few times on your trip. The basic ingredients include braised beef, onions, tomatoes, and carrots, but it may also contain an array of other vegetables such as potatoes, peas, and bananas. Then it is seasoned with spices and left to boil over the stove until all the flavors blend and the sauce thickens. Enjoy the nayama with ukama wiki and a generous helping of chapati to soak up the sauce.
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7. Motura
Mutura is one of the most popular Kenyan snacks. Somewhat similar to Irish black pudding or Spanish morcilla, it is made from the intestines of animals—usually goat, cow, or lamb—and is stuffed with a mixture of meat, onions, herbs, spices, and animal blood. It is then rolled into a sausage spiral, boiled and grilled over hot coals to impart a smoky flavour. It's an acquired taste, but you might like it if you like the salty, greasy taste of meat. Tastes great with chilled beer.
8. Sukama Wiki
If you love greens, you will be addicted to sukama wiki. This fragrant, earthy side dish is made with leafy greens or kale, garlic, onions, tomatoes, and spices like turmeric, cayenne pepper, and paprika. It's healthy, full of flavor, and tastes delicious with nyama choma, or anointed with ugali.
9. Coco Paca
Koko Baka is a Kenyan take on chicken curry. It is popular along the East African coast and is a prime example of Kenyan culinary influence from India. This creamy bowl is made with charcoal grilled chicken cooked in a pot of coconut milk, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger and various other spices to give it an aromatic and slightly fiery kick.
10. Mandazi
To finish off we have Mandazi, Kenya's favorite dessert. Mandzi is similar to donuts, except that it is filled with fragrant coconut and cardamom, and fried in the form of samosas. Eat like the locals and have one (or two) for breakfast with a cup of tea or coffee, or have one on the go as a sugary snack.
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