Mombasa street food scene

Chicken and beef mshikaki

According to the Kenya Travel Guide, the street food in Mombasa, Kenya,  beats most of their restaurant food,especially those restaurants which specializes on local swahili cuisine.  And now as we approach Mombasa cultural festival, Many will prove  me right because we are going to see Mombasa finest  Street foods  on this event which is usually held once a year. 

Chicken tikka

A selection of sensational street eats includes flavour-packed Pigeon Pea Curry in Coconut Sauce;  golden Cassava crisps, chips mayai(traditional of Italian fritata) ; delicious Roasted Corn; mshikaki and for sweets, delectable Mandazi (African-style doughnuts), mkate sinia (Kind of rice cake) etc. 

Samosas, Viazi Karai, and Bhajia along Bordering area. 

While in Mombasa you will observe that, street food scenery is evident in most streets  within CBD, Market area,  otherwise known as Marikiti and its invirons. As Early as 7am you will find variey of breakfast eats  such as mbaazi ya nazi(Pigeon Peas/ cowpeas with coconut cream), Beans, Mahamri,etc on display. 

In the evening walk through Mwende tayari area you will find “buffet tables” lined with assorted swahili pastries which includes spiced cakes and  dumplings. Mombasa boasts  diversity in Food culture and be sure to treat yourself with fresh street food while  in this tourist town. 

Fried Cassava and cassava crisps.

Dont be left out, just Drive to Mama Ngina  drive during this time of MCF2016  and get the best of Mombasa’s  Homely Culinary Heritage .

Mbaazi ya nazi(pegionpeas in Coconut Cream) 

Maharage  ya kuugwa(buttered beans) 

Mombasa County Government brings you the fourth edition of MICF this coming August. We are celebrating ‘Art, History & Culture’…Tukutane Mombasa!!!

Feta and spinach chicken roulade “Sous vide”

Sous vide cooking is one of the element  of molecular gastronomy approaches for a healthy eats. I have given this roulade a healthy approach,recipe simple and easy to follow. There are many cooking version of a roulade  i.e some chefs will roll and bake,  while others will pass it through bread crumbs and deepfry , but  the end product is the same ~ a roulade. 

YOU NEED:
I chicken breast, flattened 

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1 leave spinach blanched 

1/2 pc red onion juliene (sauteed)

1/2 cup feta cheese (crumbled)

1 lemon (zested)

salt, mixed herbs and pepper (to taste)

-mustard sauce

FOR GARNISH

Pinch of Chilli powder 

1 lemon (cut in wedges)

3 cucumber slices. 

PROCEDURE :

-Put your ingredients together:The chicken breast, spinach, cheese, herbs, garlic, sauteed onions and seasonings. 

The chicken breast should be placed on a covered cutting board, skin side down, carefully slice open (without slicing the chicken all the way through) 

and spread the flesh of the chicken out so you will be able to pound it out into a single thin piece on which you will place stuffing and then roll up.

With the cling  film  under the chicken roll tight  pinching both sides of the roll and the a know to avoid opening. Again cover the roll on top of the cling wrap and pinching it tight. 

Season the breasts with salt and pepper.  Finally layer the spinach , cheese herbs,garlic  and the sauteed onions. 

-In your pot put water into boil   to cover the roll , let it boil for 20 minutes. Remove from pot and let it rest for 5-10mins. Unwrap and cut into  1/2 inch slices. 

-Serve sprinkled with Chilli powder for that spicy kick and mustard sauce. You can as well serve with any of your Favourite sauce/gravy and your Favourite accompanment. 

Tapas cielo

While in Mombasa and you are looking for a place to have some drinks and quiet dinner unperturbed, I would t hesitate recommending Tapas Cielo(if you are along those areas)  in  Nyali mall at the naivas supermarket building along Malindi Mombasa road.I happened to give the place a  visit and never was disappointed.

Tapas (Spanish word) are a wide variety of appetizers , or snacks, in Spanish cuisine . They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese ) or hot  such as fried squid. Tapas bars encourage people to connect ,

How and why they chose that Name for the pub I dont know, but however the concept is closely related to people coming together and share a discussion or drink.Thats for another day. 

Back to my main point:From comfort to music, Drinks(wine list is elaborate) and food is on point. Security in and out is guranteed. Service being the main Experience to a client is also not left back. 

I would say that i enjoy every moment while at Tapas Cielo. Kudos to the Management and staff. 

Honey glazed Chicken wings served over rucola  leaves left my friends  wanting some more,  But however they were too sweet for my mouth….  may be because i was Having a whisky,Probably are wrong combination. 

I will give  Tapas 8/10 on a mean scale . 

DHOKLA(Gram flour Steamed snack)

Besan dhokla is a Gujarati snack. Being steamed  is a healthy and nutritious too. I give credit  to one Rita Amin for spending her time teaching me  some Gujarat foods. Though I did not get it right from the photos, its worth a try recipe
Ingredients :
350gms Gram flour (Besan)
1 cup Curd (Stirred)
1 tsp Green Chilies (paste)
1 tsp Ginger (paste)
Salt to taste
1 tsp Soda bi-carb / Eno fruit salt
1 Lemon juice
1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
1 tbsp Oil
For Tampering:
Few Curry leaves
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
4 tsp Oil
Coriander leaves (chopped)
1-2 green chilies (vertically slit)
How to make besan dhokla:
In a bowl add gram flour (besan), Curd and water.
Mix well and make a smooth batter. The batter should be of thick consistency

Add salt and set aside for 4 hours covered with a lid.
Take the ginger and green chili paste and add to the batter. Also add turmeric powder and mix well.
Keep the steamer or cooker ready on gas.

Grease a baking dish (it should fit in the steamer or cooker).
Now in small bowl take a tsp. of soda bi-carb or eno, 1tsp oil and lemon juice and mix well.

Add this to the batter and mix well.
Pour the batter into the greased pan and steam covered for 10-12 minutes or till done.

Cool for sometime and cut into big cubes.

Heat little oil in a small pan and add mustard seeds and curry leaves allow to splutter. Remove and pour it over dhoklas.
Garnish the besan dhokla with coriander and slited green Chillies.

SERVE with coconut  chutney.

Mzedu Kitchen

Viazi karai

Viazi Karai (Potatoes in Gram Flour)
Happy idd al fitri everyone!
Here is a recipe of one of my all time favorite snack to end Ramadhan month with.
Viazi karai are basically boiled potatoes coated in a batter made of white flour, gram flour and saffron or turmeric powder then deep-fried. They are then served with tamarind chutney (but any other chutney would do).
These potatoes are a major street food snacks in the Kenyan coast and are among other beloved snacks in the Kenyan cuisine. They can also be served for breakfast or as a side dish.
Below is a simple recipe to enjoy at home,. I have given it a different twist by stuffing some lemon Chilli paste on the potatoes(Make some Chilli powder paste by mixing Chilli powder, salt and lemon juice, then make a deep cut on Potatoes, stuffing a pinch of the paste using a teaspoon, deep in the Gram flour mixture and fry,) But if you don’t need it chilly then skip the stuffing.
Ingredients :
6-8 large potatoes
1 cup of flour (white or all purpose)
¾ cups of gram flour
1 cup of water
1 teaspoon safron, turmeric or yellow food colour
salt to taste
Oil for deep frying
Procedure :
Place unpeeled potatoes in a sauce pan. Add enough water to cover them and boil for 15-20 minutes or till done. Drain, peel and quarter them

And fill the potatoes with Chilli paste

In mixing bowl, add flour, gram flour and salt. Combine together

Add water and whisk to make a smooth lump free batter that is not very thick.h

Heat up oil in a wok and reduce heat to medium
Dip potatoes in the batter and cover them with the batter then drop them in the hot oil

Fry the potatoes evenly turning from time to time till crispy. Drain on a paper towel.

Serve hot with Tamarind chutney or any other chutney of your choice.

Mzedu Kitchen