Kenya is known for its wildlife safaris, beautiful landscapes, and of course, delicious food. The food in Kenya is a diverse mix of ethnicity and tradition. Undeniably, the most common Kenyan food staple is ugali. Ugali is made from cornmeal that has been added to boiling water and heated until it turns into a dense cornmeal paste. For many Kenyans, ugali, along with a small number of cooked vegetables or saucy stew, is a normal meal. One of the most popular vegetable Kenyan dishes is sukuma wiki. The nutritious green leafy vegetable is often cooked in oil with a few diced tomatoes, onions, and flavored with a sprinkle of mchuzi mix or stock flavoring.
Would you like some food recommendations that I tried while on my trip to Kenya? Below is a list of food that are unique to Kenya and are delicious! I highly recommend trying the local cuisine while in Kenya.
Foods To Try
Ugali
Githieri
Matumbo
Mandazi
Samosas
Ugali
Ugali (cornmeal porridge) is the favorite dish in Kenya. Ugali, also known as ugali pap, nsima and nshima, is a type of maize flour porridge made in Africa.
Githieri
Githieri (maize and bean mix cooked in broth), also called muthere or mutheri, is a Kenyan traditional meal of maize and legumes, mostly beans of any type mixed and boiled together. The maize and beans are mixed together in a sufuria or pot, water is then added and the mixture boiled until the food is cooked and ready to eat.
Matumbo
In Kenya, matumbo (tripe) is very affordable and it is actually really delicious if done well. Matumbo wet fry is often served with Ugali.
Try some street foods like mandazi (sweet bread) and samosas (fried pastries with sweet fillings).
Mandazi
Mandazi, is a form of fried bread that originated on the Swahili Coast. It is also known as bofrot or puff puff in Western African countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. It is one of the principal dishes in the cuisine of the Swahili people who inhabit the Coastal Region of Kenya and Tanzania.
Samosa
A samosa is a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, cheese, beef and other meats, or lentils. It may take different forms, including triangular, cone, or half-moon shapes, depending on the region.
I would love for you to try these dishes for yourself! Click on the link below and I will be happy to help you start planning your sensational vacation to Kenya.
Before you indulge your taste-buds and taste your way through Kenya, here's everything you need to know about the country to prepare for a fantastic visit. Click on the link below for our Kenya Destination Guide.
Kenya