I'm still here

I'm sorry I havent posted any recipes in awhile. I have been pretty busy with the baby and helping my husband with the translations. But, hopefully I will be adding some more recipes in the near future. Thanks to everyone for all your kind comments and support!

Recipe for Eggs with Tomato Sauce

I am not sure if this is an actual Somali recipe or not. I have seen a lot of Somali's make this for breakfast and it is very quick and easy. It is really nice if you serve it with french bread, sabaya, anjera or toast.

Cook Time about 7-10 minutes
Serves about 2


4 Eggs
1/2 Cup of Tomato Sauce
1/4 Cup of Chopped Green Peppers
1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
1 Tablespoon of Oil
Pinch of Chili Powder (optional)


Add the oil to a non-stick pan on medium high heat.

Once the oil is warm add the peppers and cook until soft.

Add the eggs, tomato sauce, salt and chili powder (if using). Stir well and make sure all the eggs are stirred through.

Turn the pan up to high heat and continue to stir until the egg is cooked all the way and any liquid is absorbed.

Serve.

Somali Hot Sauce (Shigni)

This is a nice hot sauce that is usually eaten with rice or spaghetti. The Tamarind/Xamar/Raqay can be found in most Indian grocery stores. If you cannot find the paste then you can add extra of the regular Tamarind.

Cook time about 5 minutes

Serves about 15-20

2 Large Chili Peppers

2 Roma Tomatoes or 1 Large Tomato

1 Tablespoon of Cilantro

1 1/2 Teaspoons of Lemon Juice

1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

1 Date

1 Tablespoon of Tamarind/Xamar/Raqay Paste

1 chunk (about 1 Tablespoon) of Tamarind/Xamar/Raqay

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high for 3-4 minutes.

Open the blender and scrap the sides to make sure all the Tamarind/Xamar/Raqay is well blender.

Blend for another 3- seconds to 1 minute

Serve.

Refrigerate any leftovers.

Somali Tomato Rice with Meat

This is a nice recipe because everything is cooked together in one pan. It is simple and yummy! The meat gets so soft and tender because it gets boiled a lot. You can substitute the Tomato sauce with about 1 tablespoon of tomato paste if you want.



Cook Time about 1 hour 10 minutes

Serves about 4



1 1/2 Cups of Suqaar Meat

2 Cups of Rice

4 Cups of Water

2 Medium Tomatoes, chopped

1/2 Small Onion, thinly sliced long ways

1/2 Cup of Tomato Sauce

1 Tablespoon of Cilantro, crushed

1 Clove of Garlic, crushed

1 Teaspoon of Cumin Powder

1 Chicken Cube

1/2 Cup of Oil

1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

1/4 Teaspoon of Chili Powder (optional)





Boil the meat for about 30-45 minutes until it is tender and cooked. Drain.



Add the oil to the pan and add the onions and cook on medium heat until the meat is brown and the onions are tender.



Add the tomatoes, cover and cook until the tomatoes are reduced.



Add the Chicken cube, cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt and chili powder. Stir well.



Add the rice and stir. Add the tomato sauce.



Add the boiling water, stir and cover. Cook for about 7-8 minutes on high or until there is only a small amount of liquid left.



Put it in the oven on 275 degrees and cook for 10 minutes.



Serve.

Express Somali Butter Cake

I call this express because it is really fast and easy to make. It tastes just like the homemade butter cake but it is a lot easier to make and less ingredients.


Cook time about 45 minutes
Serves about 10


1 Package of Yellow cake mix
1 Teaspoon of Cardamom Powder


Follow the recipe on the box of the cake mix (usually eggs, water and oil).


Add the Cardamom Powder.


Mix well with an electric mixer until all lumps are gone.


Spray a bundt cake pan (a circle cake pan) with non stick spray (spray entire pan well).


Pour cake mix in the pan and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.


To make sure the cake is cooked all the way through insert a tooth pick or knife in the center of the cake if it comes off clean the cake is done.


Serve.

Somali Pasta Sauce with Vegetables

This is a nice recipe, it can be eaten with many things. Mostly it is eaten with spaghetti but it can be eaten with white rice, bread or anjera. It's a good recipe to get it started and let it simmer while you do other things.


Cook Time about 1 hour 10 minutes
Serves about 4-5 people


1 Cup of Suqaar Meat
1/4 Cup of Oil
1 Teaspoon of Coriander Powder
1 Teaspoon of Cumin Powder
1/4 Teaspoon of Chili Powder (optional)
3/4 Cup of Chopped Carrots
3 Cups of Chopped Potatoes
1 Tomato cut in Chunks
1 Chicken Cube
1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
1 Cup of Pasta Sauce
2 1/2 Cups of Water (more may be needed)
1 Large clove of Garlic (smashed)
1 Tablespoon of Cilantro (smashed)


Boil the meat for about 30 minutes, drain.

Add the oil and Onions and cook on medium high until onions are tender.

Add the tomato and cover. Cook until dissolved, about 2 minutes.

Add the Chicken cube and stir until dissolved.

Add the Cilantro and Garlic, cumin powder, coriander powder and salt. Stir well.

Add 1 cup of water, stir.

Add the carrots and potatoes and the remaining water.

Cover and bring to a full boil.

Stir and reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 15 minutes.

Stir and make sure it is not sticking. Cover and cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Stir and make sure it is not sticking. The vegetables should be cooked. Let it boil for 5-7 minutes to reduce some liquids.

Serve.

Somali Sesame Seed Sweet (Sisin)

This is a very easy sweet to make and it tastes very good! It goes by very quickly so it is easier to get things prepared before starting.


Also, once it is completed it very sticky and it sticks to the pan but it if you let the pan and spoon soak in water it comes right off.

I used Brown sesame seeds, they are the same as regular sesame seeds just a brown color. These are the only sesame seeds available in my area. I tried using toasted sesame seeds before but in my opinion it was not as good as the regular seeds.

Cook time about 10 minutes plus 30 minutes for cooling

Serves about 8-10 people

1 1/8 Cups of Sugar

1 Cup of Sesame Seeds

Before starting, prepare a sheet of wax paper and spray it with a non-stick spray. Also, spray a baking dish or cookie sheet (anything with a flat surface) and a towel or oven mitt.

Get a non-stick pan and add the sugar.

Cook on medium high (about a 6)

Stir constantly until all the sugar is melted. (Use a wooden or metal spoon, a plastic spoon will melt)

Add the Sesame Seeds and stir quickly to coat all of it with the melted sugar.

Immediately drop it in the sprayed dish.

Use the wax paper and towel or oven mitt to press down and flatten the Sisin.

Cool for about 30 minutes.

It will be very hard so I cover it and hit it with a rolling pin to break into small pieces.

Serve.