Take a culinary journey to the East of Africa with these mouthwatering 20-plus top Kenyan Food recipes!! Combining ethnic, Arabic, and Asian flavors, these traditional recipes are comforting, flavourful, and you will absolutely love each of them!
Anyone who has tried food from Kenya will tell you that it is incredibly delicious, nutritious, and healthy. There is so much that this Swahili-speaking country has to offer but because I wanted to keep it short and sweet, I selected these top 25 dishes for you to start with!
What is a typical Kenyan meal?
A typical Kenyan day comprises three meals; that is breakfast, lunch, and supper (dinner). Compared to lunch and dinner, breakfast is significantly lighter but this also depends on location and means. For example, those in the village tend to have heavier breakfasts such as Githeri which is normally meant for lunch or dinner, because it is more affordable and they need the energy to work in the fields.
Lunch and dinner are normally warm/hot meals. Dinner is mostly special as this is the time the family gets to sit and enjoy a meal together.
Table of contents
Kenyan Breakfast Recipes
These Kenyan breakfast recipes are the perfect way to start the day!
Kenyan Lunch and Dinner Meals
These Kenyan meals combine the flavors of the traditional locals, Arabic, and Asian cuisine. Unlike the West-African cuisine which is known for its bold use of hot peppers, Kenyan food is more centered on the use of aromatic herbs and spices. These are used to enhance the taste and smell of the food. Chilli peppers are hardly cooked directly in the food, rather, they are sliced and served separately to those who like their food spicy.
As we all know, every good thing must come to an end. There are other recipes that are just too good not to mention so I suggest you definitely check out these as well:-
- 23. Mukimo - is a hearty and comforting Kenyan meal made by mashing boiled potatoes with corn and green vegetables, such as pumpkin leaves. Mukimo is nutritious, very, easy to prepare, and perfect to serve with stews and fried or grilled vegetables and meat.
- 24. Matoke - basically refers to cooked green bananas particularly popular in the African Great Lakes Region, especially in Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. Cooked to a stew, enjoy matoke as it is as a main dish, or serve it alongside other dishes.
- 25. Mutura (mtura) - these are cow or goat intestines, which are stuffed with ground meat, blood, and seasoning, then roasted slowly on a charcoal grill (jiko). Mtura, which is a great part of Kenya's street food culture, is also commonly available to purchase at the local butcher's.
Kenyan Food Summary
Kenya is known for its hospitality, diverse culture, breathtaking regions, and safaris, and these are all reflected in the food. So, whether you are making these meals at home, getting them from a local street vendor or kiosk, or planning a trip to Kenya, you will love the bold flavors of Kenyan food!
Did I leave out your favorite Kenyan dish? Not to worry, at all. Let us discuss it in the comments section below and I will make a point of including it in the next edition. Happy cooking!
More African Food to Explore!
Don't just stop here, check out these other delicious African food recipes!
Leave a Reply