Djibouti food is highly affected by neighboring countries like Somalia and Ethiopia and other European countries like France. For spices, Djibouti locals often use Indian spices or better taste and flavor; this makes their cuisines distinct.
There are a lot of cuisines to try in Djibouti, and you must not miss any. However, in this article, we have picked the 10 most popular foods in Djibouti along with their recipes, so try and enjoy them.
1. Sambussa
Sambussa, also known as samosas in some countries, is a delicious appetizer, one of locals’ favorite dishes. It is used almost everywhere around the country. The dish consists of thin slices of dough wrapped in onions, vegetables, and minced meat. Then, the doughs are fried and then served with a tomato paste, hot harissa, or chili sauce.
2. Injera
Injera is a traditional flatbread from Djibouti. This dish is also available in other countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, and Yemen, but they call it different. Injera is a spongy flatbread made with a combination of yeast and teff flour.
3. Fah-Fah
Like most Djibouti dishes, fah-fah is also influenced by the Ethiopian dish. As meat, locals prefer using lamb, camel, and goat. While some may also add fish and other seafood. It is the best dish you can try in Djibouti if you are not a vegetarian.
4. Banana’s Fritters
If you love trying desserts, then you must try these delicious banana fritters from Djibouti. It is made of bananas, flour, nutmeg, eggs, and milk. However, you can skip eggs if you want. The pancakes are cooked until golden brown. Locals also spray cinnamon or sugar powder.
5. Harira
Harira is another must-try soup from Djibouti. It is a hearty meal often eaten during the night. Muslims often eat it after fasting. For making harira, you will need chickpeas, tomatoes, onions, meat, flour, lentils, tomato paste, and different spices like cumin, saffron, celery, parsley, and salt and pepper.
6. Cambaboor
Cambaboor is made during festivals and celebrations. The key ingredients required are teff or cornflour, onions, anise or nigella, and garlic. For enhancing its fragrance, locals also add Curcuma. Cambaboor is served with sweet-sour yogurt and subag, a fatty butter.
7. Mukbaza
Mukbaza is a popular Djibouti fish. It has a folded structure that looks like the mukbaza bread. The fish is stuffed with chutney and onions before cooking. Other spices, lemon, bananas, and honey, are also added. Banana and honey are added by few locals only.
8. Niter Kibbeh
Niter kibbeh is used more as a seasoning rather than a full meal. This food is clarified butter that is simmered with different kinds of spices like cinnamon, garlic, nutmeg, cumin, and cardamom. There are various recipes for niter kibbeh.
9. Skudahkharis
Skudahkharis is the national dish of Djibouti. It is a delicious lamb stew prepared during Islamic festivals and holidays in the country. The key ingredients needed for making this dish are lamb, rice, and a combination of spices like cardamom. Some people also replace lamb with chicken, fish, or beef.
10. Xalwo
Xalwo is a sweet dish cooked often during Eid celebrations and weddings, etc. It is cooked in almost every home in the country. For making xalwo, you will need a date-stuffed dough baked in vanilla, nigella, milk, and nutmeg.
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