In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers from the Eight African Countries that Touch the Indian Ocean
By Hawa Hassan and Julia Turshen
Ten Speed Press, 2020
Publisher Description
Grandmothers from eight eastern African countries welcome you into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of family, love, and tradition in this transporting cookbook-meets-travelogue.
In this incredible volume, Somali chef Hawa Hassan and food writer Julia Turshen present 75 recipes and stories gathered from bibis (or grandmothers) from eight African nations: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, and Eritrea. Most notably, these eight countries are at the backbone of the spice trade, many of them exporters of things like pepper and vanilla. We meet women such as Ma Shara, who helps tourists "see the real Zanzibar" by teaching them how to make her famous Ajemi Bread with Carrots and Green Pepper; Ma Vicky, who now lives in suburban New York and makes Matoke (Stewed Plantains with Beans and Beef) to bring the flavor of Tanzania to her American home; and Ma Gehennet from Eritrea who shares her recipes for Kicha (Eritrean Flatbread) and Shiro (Ground Chickpea Stew).
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Recipes
Eritrea
- Ma Ghennet’s Kicha Eritrean Flatbreads
- Kicha Fit Fit Torn Flatbreads with Spiced Butter and Yogurt
- Ma Ghennet’s Zebhi Hamli Stewed Spinach
- Ma Ghennet’s Shiro Ground Chickpea Stew
- Shahan Ful Mashed Limas with Onions, Tomatoes, and Chiles
- Ma Abeba’s Firfir Stewed Ingerra with Meat, Tomatoes, and Onions
- Berbere Spice Mix
- Doro Wat Stewed Chicken Legs with Berbere and Eggs
- Ma Ghennet’s Buna Eritrean Coffee
Somalia
- Digaag Qumbe Chicken Stew with Yogurt and Coconut
- Xawaash Spice Mix
- Ma Halima’s Sabaayad Somali Flatbreads
- Somali Cilantro and Green Chile Pepper Sauce
- Canjeero Sourdough Pancakes
- Ma Halima’s Beef Suqaar
- Bariis Basmati Rice Pilaf with Raisins
- Ma Sahra’s Spiced Chicken and Onion Samosas
- Suugo Suqaar Pasta Sauce with Beef
- Somali Beef Stew
- Shaah Cadys Somali Spiced Tea with Milk
Kenya
- Kachumbari Tomato and Onion Salad
- Ma Kauthar’s Mango Chile Sauce
- Ma Penny’s Sautéed Cabbage
- Ma Penny’s Mukimo Mashed Green Split Peas, Corn, and Potatoes
- Sukuma Wiki Greens with Tomatoes
- Ma Kauthar’s Chicken Biryani
- Ma Wambui’s Mukimo with Onions and Greens
- Kunde Black-Eyed Peas and Tomatoes in Peanut Sauce
- Ma Kauthar’s Basboosa Semolina Cake
- Ma Kauthar’s Fresh Carrot Drink
Tanzania
- Kdizi Kaanga Fried Plantains
- Ma Shara’s Ajemi Bread with Carrots and Green Pepper
- Zanzibar Pilau Rice Pilaf
- Ma Vicky’s Matoke with Steamed Spinach Stewed Plantains with Pink Beans, Beef, and Coconut Milk
- Ma Shara’s Quick Stewed Eggplant with Coconut
- Ma Shara’s Spiced Fried Fish
- Harees with Chicken Stewed Cracked Wheat and Chicken
- Ma Vicky’s Famous Lasagna
- Date Bread
- Fresh Mango Juice
- Ma Shara’s Kaimati Crispy Coconut Dumplings in Cardamom Syrup
Mozambique
- Ma Mara’s Tseke com Peix Frito Local Spinach with Curry Sauce and Crispy Fried Fish
- Ma Maria’s Coril de Peix com Coco Marinated Fish in Coconut Sauce
- Rum with Homemade Berry Soda
- Ma Maria’s Xima Smooth Cornmeal Porridge
- Ma Maria’s Mbowa Leafy Greens in Coconut Sauce
- Piri Piri Sauce
- Prego Rolls Steak and Piri Piri Sandwiches
- Ma Josefina’s Plantains with Coconut and Prawns
- Bolo Polana Cashew and Potato Cake
South Africa
- Chakalaka Spicy Vegetable Relish
- Denningvleis Sweet-and-Sour Braised Lamb with Tamarind
- Chakalaka and Cheddar Braaibroodjies Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
- Ma Khanyisa’s Imifino (Wild Greens with Corn Porridge)
- Malva Pudding Cake
- Iced Rooibos Tea with Orange, Cloves, and Cinnamon
Madagascar
- Mofo Gasy Yeasted Rice and Coconut Pancakes
- Ma Jeanne’s Carrot Salad with Vinaigrette
- Ma Jeanne’s Tsaramaso Malagasy Traditional Malagasy White Beans
- Lasary Legioma Tomato Relish
- Akoho Misy Sakamalao Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Ginger, and Coconut Oil
- Ma Jeanne’s Braised Oxtails
- Ma Baomaka’s Katilesy Beef and Potato Fritters
- Ma Baomaka’s Kadaka Akondro Green Plantains with Braised Beef
- Ma Baomaka’s Mofo Akondro Banana Fritters
- Sliced Papaya with Vanilla Cream
- Ginger Spritz
Comoros
- Sweet Pea Soup with Coconut and Ginger
- Ambrevades au Curry Curried Pigeon Peas
- Roti ya Houma Pampa Salt Cod with Tomatoes and Onions
- Ma Mariam’s M’tsolola Fish, Yuca, Green Plantain, and Coconut Milk Stew
- Grilled Lobster Tails with Vanilla Sauce
- Sweet Vermicell Noodles with Cardamom and Butter
- Ma Zakia’s Roho Comorian Wedding Sweet
- Watermelon Juice with Lime, Ginger, and Mint
