Somali Food Names

Some Popular Somali Dishes to Get You Started:

🍛 Main Dishes:

• Bariis iskukaris – Spiced Somali rice often served with meat.

• Canjeero / Lahooh – Fermented flatbread, similar to Ethiopian injera.

• Baasto – Somali-style spaghetti with a spiced meat sauce.

• Muufo – Cornbread, traditionally baked on a clay pan.

• Sabayad / Malawax – Somali flatbread or sweet pancake.

• Suqaar – Diced meat sautéed with onions and spices.

• Hilib ari – Roasted goat meat, a Somali favorite.

• Kac Kac – Fried Somali cookies/snacks.

🍲 Soups & Sides:

• Marqa – Traditional Somali stew.

• Basbaas – Hot chili sauce, served alongside many dishes.

• Isku-dheh karis – One-pot dish with rice, beans, and meat.

🍢 Snacks & Street Food:

• Sambuus – Delicious Somali samosas with meat or veggies.

• Bur – Fried dough, a crunchy Somali snack.

• Kebab – Grilled skewered meat, perfect for street food lovers.

🍰 Desserts:

• Xalwo (Halwo) – A sweet treat made with sugar, cornstarch, and cardamom.

• Buskud – Somali cookies, often enjoyed during holidays like Eid.

🥤 Drinks:

• Shaah – Spiced tea brewed with cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves.

• Qaxwo – Somali coffee, served with a traditional touch of spices.

• Cambe / Tufaax juice – Homemade mango or apple juice.

What’s Your Favorite Somali Dish?

Do you have a favorite dish that you absolutely love? Perhaps a recipe that’s been passed down through your family? Share it here! Don’t forget to include tips or pictures of your homemade meals if you can!