+255 734 074 840 info@tranquilzanzibar.com

Login

Sign Up

After creating an account, you'll be able to track your payment status, track the confirmation and you can also rate the tour after you finished the tour.
Username*
Password*
Confirm Password*
First Name*
Last Name*
Birth Date*
Email*
Phone*
Country*
* Creating an account means you're okay with our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step

Already a member?

Login
+255 734 074 840 info@tranquilzanzibar.com

Login

Sign Up

After creating an account, you'll be able to track your payment status, track the confirmation and you can also rate the tour after you finished the tour.
Username*
Password*
Confirm Password*
First Name*
Last Name*
Birth Date*
Email*
Phone*
Country*
* Creating an account means you're okay with our Terms of Service and Privacy Statement.
Please agree to all the terms and conditions before proceeding to the next step

Already a member?

Login

Zanzibar Cuisine

Zanzibar cuisines have borrowed heavily from the food traditions of its visitors. From the Indian sub-continent (Pakistan inclusive), Zanzibaris got chapatis, biriani, a number of snacks, and miscellaneous other specialities.

Perhaps, Pilau, the famous spicy rice found in Zanzibar, was brought by Arabs but Persians could lay a successful claim to the origin of this spicy dish. A lot has been written about Pilau (see for example The Congo Cook Book, which presents versions of Pilau by different Chefs.

Apart from Indians and Persians, the Yemenis are famous for their halua and bokoboko. In addition, there is a wealth of sweets and refreshing drinks owing their introduction into Zanzibar by the Arabic and Indian traders.

The Comorians have enriched the banana eating traditions of Zanzibaris whereas the other Swahili neighbours from the coast of East Africa have added a number of dishes that are now part of Zanzibar cuisines. Ugali, stiff porridge, made either of maize or cassava meal is a notable example. However, there are some food types not quite popular to our neighbours but are important staples in Zanzibar. Cassava, sweet potatoes, yams, cocoyams and breadfruit are some examples.

Although credit should be given to the visitors, one needs to acknowledge the local initiatives of modifying the original recipes into colourful, delicious dishes unique to Zanzibar. Many years of experimenting with available ingredients have given Zanzibaris their own dishes. Furthermore, the uniqueness is largely attributed by the plentiful supply of coconuts, a variety of seafood, and several types of spices. For example, coconut milk has largely substituted ghee and vegetable oils in most dishes. In Zanzibar, a typical traditional meal is not complete without using coconut milk either in the main dish, the sauce or the desert. It is not an exaggeration that, in the past, women had difficulties making family meals in the absence of coconuts. A coconut grater or mbuzi in Swahili is an essential household item for any family in Zanzibar.

Seafood has also made its impact on Zanzibar cuisines. A kingfish pilau is as good as the one made of meat or chicken. Stews and fried products from oysters, clams, octopus, and squids are just delicious. Last but not least, all the delicacies in Zanzibar are seasoned with a nice collection of spices.

With these few remarks, we hope you have an idea of what makes Zanzibar cuisines unique from those of its visitors. Whether you are a curious or serious reader, this website should answer many questions with regard to cooking traditions in Zanzibar.

Traditional Staples

  • Rice: – Rice is, perhaps, the staple food of Zanzibar and goes by many nicknames such as ubwabwamtee, etc. It is produced locally but due to its high demand much of it is imported. It is used as a main dish (e.g. pilauwali wa naziubwabwamseto, etc.), a bread (e.g. mkate wa kumimina), porridge, texture (e.g. pepeta), and even pasta.
  • Cassava: – For many this is the real staple food of Zanzibar. It is produced locally and used as a main dish (e.g. muhogo wa nazi literally translates to “coconut cassava”, ugali, etc.), crisped as a snack, or grilled. The latter is a popular snack at the Zanzibar waterfront (Forodhani). Ugali, made of cassava flour, is common among fishing communities of northern Zanzibar and southern Pemba. Its leaves are also chopped and used as a vegetable.

Support groups and self Dosage and Prices cheapest cialis help methods also prove to be effective in treating this disorder as something highly embarrassing and distressing. Till this time whoever has levitra price used this drug says it decreases their libido and sometimes may result in erectile issues. March 2011: Exactly three years later, a young Indian states that Sonia and click for info viagra sans prescription Rahul Gandhi in its board members have 38% stake. But the fast paced modern world lifestyle has its lowest price on levitra reference own demands and one need to be aware of the Side Effects of the Medication Like all medication, there are certain side effects associated with Kamagra jelly.

Zanzibar Appetizers

Appetizers are the mouthwetters.

  • Salads & pickles
    • Mango Chutney (Kachumbari ya Embe)
    • Mango pickle
  • Soups & stews
    • Pea Soup
    • Sweet Potato Soup
    • Shorba Bulghur Wheat Soup
    • Octopus Soup
  • Seafood
    • Garlic Prawns (Kamba wa Vitunguu Thomu)
    • Green Mix with Indian Ocean Fruits
    • Clams & oysters
  • Others
    • Chicken Liver Pate

Zanzibar dishes

  • Breads & Pastries
    • Rice Bread (Mkate wa Kumimina)
    • Rice Cup Cakes (Vitumbua)
    • Ghee Chapati
    • Oil Chapati
    • Mango Tartlets
    • Fried Burns (Maandazi)
    • Sesame Bread (Mkate wa Ufuta)
    • Mofa Bread Rolls
    • Crepes Zenj (Mikate ya Maji)
    • Onion Crepes (Mikate ya Maji na Vitunguu)
    • Minced Meat Crepes (Mikate ya Maji na Nyama ya Kusaga)
  • Rice dishes
    • Zanzibar Pilau
    • Zanzibar Coconut Rice (Wali wa Nazi)
    • Zanzibar Birian (Biriani)
  • Banana dishes
    • Banana Gratin
    • Banana Salad with Beetroot and Poached Egg
    • Ndizi na Utumbo (Banana with Calf Tummy)
  • Sauces and Curries
    • Mchuzi wa Kima (Minced Meat Stew)
    • Comorian Beef Spinach Stew
    • Benn’s Honey Chicken
    • Zanzibar Coffee Glazed Chicken
    • Citrus Goat Meat Stew
    • Goat with Mango Fruit and Roasted Vegetables
    • Sweet and Sour Goat Meat Casserole
    • Poisson Aux Coco

Zanzibar Snacks

  • Zanzibar Kashata
  • Groundnut Rusks

Zanzibar Deserts

  • Zanzibar Plantains in Coconut Milk (Ndizi)
  • Zanzibar Kashata
  • Cashewnut Cake
  • Zanzibar Apple served with Rambutan Cream
  • Fruit Salad
  • Tropical Fruit Cake
  • Sweet Dumplings (Kaimati)
  • Sweet Meat (Haluwa)
  • Comorian Ladu
  • Comorian Black Forest Cake

Zanzibar’s Forodhani Delicacies and Grills

Forodhani is a popular waterfront on the heart of Zanzibar town. Every evening, it is filled with people wishing to cool down from the heat of the day by tasting a collection of delicacies and grilled foods and finishing up with cool cold drinks.

Forodhani is a no-miss for everyone but be careful as the hygiene standards might be very low. It is, however, a good experience!

Take a look at the recipes describing how to make some of these wonderful dishes from the spice island of Zanzibar.

  • Zanzibar Shish Kebabs (Mishkaki)
  • Zanzibar Grilled Fish (Samaki wa Kupaka)
  • Swahili Roasted Beef
  • Grilled Zanzibar Queen Prawns