Getting ready to travel to Kenya? Wondering what you will be eating if you decide to book a trip to Kenya? The food in Kenya may be unfamiliar to you but it does not make it any less delicious. Whether you are traveling to Nairobi, Masai, or doing a Kenyan Safari your tastebuds will go wild over these 10 must-try foods in Kenya!
1. Ugali
Ugali is undoubtedly the most famous and staple food in Kenya. It is very common and put with many dishes. It is made with maize flour (very similar to cornmeal but ground down to a finer texture getting a different textural result) by adding it to boiling water until you get a dough-like consistency. It is a fantastic bodybuilding food that you can even make after you return from your trip!
2. Sukuma Wiki
Sukuma Wiki is probably the most popular vegetable dish in Kenya. It is often confused for kale as it looks very similar. It is a dish made of collard greens that are cut into thin slices and sauteéed with onions and tomatoes. It can be flavored with some mchuzi mix (a Kenyan flavoring salt) or stock cube flavoring. It is a simple dish but flavor packed. In Swahili it means “week-pusher” since it is such an affordable meal.
3. Chips Mayai
The most common description of this dish is a Kenyan French Fry Omelet. It starts with Kenyan chips (french fries, similar to how England calls fries chips) placed in a frying pan and covered in a generous amount of beaten egg and cooked into an omelet. They often eat it with a tomato sauce.
4. Mutura
Mutura is a sausage made up of a combination of fresh ground meat parts and blood. Certain spices and ingredients like ginger, scallions, garlic, and chillies can be added. The sausage is then boiled until it is almost cooked all the way through then thrown on the grill. It is similar to a Blutwurst(blood sausage) in Germany if you have ever been there and had it; if not you should also check out our many European trips!
5. Pilau
Pilau is also one of the more popular dishes. It is served in most social gatherings. It is simply rice cooked in a flavored broth with meat and/or vegetables. They flavor it with many different spices as well so you will never have the same Pilau twice.
6. Irio
This is another food that is one of the most famous dishes. It originated in Kikuyu and quickly spread throughout the whole country as a national favorite. It is a mix of mashed potatoes, peas, and corn. Green peas and potatoes are boiled then mashed up together then whole corn kernels are added for texture and taste. It is usually eaten with grilled meat.
7. Samosas
Looking for something to snack on during your Kenya Safari? Then Samosas will become your best friend. Samosas are triangle-shaped pastries that are deep-fried and are usually filled with minced spiced meat or vegetables. These golden-brown pastries are a perfect snack for any time of the day and are available almost everywhere you go.
8. Maharagwe
Maharagwe is red kidney beans cooked in coconut milk. It is served hot and can be served with ugali, rice, or flatbread. It can be prepared in both sweet and savory versions. It can be boiled with different ingredients such as cardamom, cinnamon, onions, tomatoes, garlic, curry powder, or peppers depending on what flavors you want to emphasize.
9. Kuku Paka
If you are a fan of curry, then Kuku Paka is for you! Kuku Paka is a dish made with chicken in a coconut curry. What sets this curry apart from other curries with chicken is that the chicken is grilled before being added to the coconut-based curry giving it more of a charred and smokey flavor.
10. Mabuyu
We are ending the list with a dessert (Finally!) that is one of the most popular candies in Kenya. Mabuyu is baobab seeds that are coated with sugar. Baobab is a tree fruit from the Mbuyu tree, hence the name. Once the fruit is ripe, it is harvested and the seeds are scooped out. You can eat the seed natural but it is most commonly coated in sugar and flavored in such flavors as chili, strawberry, vimto, and blackcurrant. The candy is home to the coastal regions of Kenya and is best when bought from street vendors.
Kenya is a beautiful place with a rich culture. Foods can tell you a lot about the place you are visiting and the culture there. These mouthwatering dishes are just a sample of what you could be having if you book a trip with us to Kenya. You don’t have to just read about the foods, go out there and try it for yourself!