"Briyani"

Yes, Tanzanian is known for its incredible national parks, wildlife, beaches, and Mount Kilimanjaro. However, one of the most unexpected things about visiting the country is getting to try all the delicious local food. 

Many of the dishes are a mix of the region's many cultures, from the Bantu peoples to Islamic, Indian, and European influences. To eat along the coast of Tanzania is to learn its rich Swahili past.

Swahili represents many things. It is a people, and it is a language. It is a culture. The Swahili region stretches the east coast of Africa from Kenya to the bottom of Tanzania. The language and the culture come primarily from many centuries of interaction between indigenous Bantu and Arab traders. The traders were looking for ivory and gems, and as compensation, they traded spices, clothing, and cutlery. Traders from Egypt, Persia, India, and Indonesia also joined. In the 15th century, the Portuguese came, followed by other Europeans. All of this influenced the way of life and the food of the Swahili Coast.

Today we talk about "Briyani." 

Agnes is a 2018 Graduate of "Give a Heart to Africa" and has since started her own business with the skills she learned at GHTA. On one of my visits to Moshi, she shared with us "Briyani." A favorite meal in Pakistan and India and very similar to Pilau ( pilaf) and established during Mughal—

While biryani is widespread across the globe, the Tanzanian food variation is quite spectacular.

Photo by Gabriele Brown

The rice is prepared with spices such as ginger, cumin, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg. Separately, a curry made of beef, goat, or fish is prepared. Then, the two components are combined to create an unforgettable dish.

Photo by Gabriele Brown

A quick search for biriyani on google, and you're bound to end up with a gazillion recipes to choose from hailing from India or Pakistan. Now I'm not here to start a food war but have you tried Swahili biriyani? From the East African Coast? No? Boy, oh boy, are you missing out on this flavor-packed easy main course!

Let me see how to describe this best. Chicken. Caramelized onions. Rich sauce. Basmati Rice or aromatic rice. Those would be the four words I would use to put what Swahili chicken biriyani is into perspective.

Some of the final ingredients are saffron or curd milk (or, for that unique Swahili twist, coconut milk). The meal is served with some plain yogurt and lemon pickle or kachumbari sauce.

Briyani is mostly eating on special occasions, especially on Muslim holidays.

So now let's cook it.

Ingredients:

Chicken meat sliced into inch pieces

3 medium-size onions

1 tsp garlic paste

2 tsp ginger paste

1 tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp spices, curry ( make your own( peppercorns, Coriander, Tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, muster seed)

2 tbsp natural yogurt

3 medium-size potatoes

2 medium-size tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 carrot

1 green pepper

2 tbsp oil

salt to taste

1/2 cup of heavy cream

3 tbsp coriander leaves, chopped

Rice cooking

1 1/2 kg basmati rice

3 tbsp salt

2 1/2 lt water

1/2 tsp food color

Thank you, Agnes, you are a gem!

https://www.facebook.com/Kili-view-Tanzanian-cooking-class-2800596926647033/about

If you are in Stone Town ( Zanzibar Island), then do not miss Luckmaan Restaurant on New Mkunazini Rd is the place to try Zanzibarian staples like biryani and Pilau. Just point to the dishes you want in the bain-marie, and the staff will plate them up for you for peanuts.

https://www.facebook.com/Lukmaan-restaurant-zanzibar-317641645701910/?ref=page_internal

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