Kenyans often order their favorite local dishes using Kiswahili or vernacular names. However, these dishes also have English names that are less commonly used.
Here are 10 popular Kenyan dishes with their English names:
- Ugali (Cornmeal mush): Made from cornmeal and water, ugali is a staple food in Kenya, often served with vegetables or stew.
- Irio (Mashed peas and potatoes): A staple food in some Kenyan communities, irio is made from boiled and mashed peas and potatoes, mixed with whole kernels of maize.
- Sukuma wiki (Kales): Also known as collard greens, sukuma wiki is a popular vegetable dish in Kenya, often cooked with oil, tomatoes, and onions.
- Chapati (Flatbread): Influenced by Indian cuisine, chapatis are a special type of Kenyan food, made with flour dough and fried on a skillet.
- Mandazi (Kenyan doughnut): A sweet snack, mandazis are made from deep-fried dough and often served with tea or coffee.
- Chips mayai (French fries and eggs): A combination of French fries and omelet, chips mayai is a popular dish in Kenya and Tanzania.
- Matoke (Plantain banana stew): A staple food in Uganda, matoke is also popular in some Kenyan communities, made with plantain bananas, oil, and spices.
- Pilau (Spiced rice): A favorite among coastal communities in Kenya, pilau is a combination of rice and meat cooked with spices.
- Wali wa nazi (Coconut rice): A popular dish in the coastal region of Kenya, wali wa nazi is made with white rice and grated coconut.
- Omena (Silver cyprinid): A delicacy among some Kenyan communities around Lake Victoria, omena is a type of fish often served with ugali and vegetables.
