Holiday Foods in Kenya

Christine Kinori is a queer journalist living in Kenya. Because this is ‘pot luck’ season in Canada, we asked her to tell us about some holiday foods enjoyed in her country.

There is a famous saying that there is no party like a +254 party. It is always a good time when Kenyans get together socially to celebrate the blessing of different moments in life. Christmas is special for most Kenyans, people travel far and wide to get to their family and spend the day with them. With any Kenyan celebration , food is a big part of what brings people together. Here are the must-have Christmas dishes in Kenya.

Chapati

This is Kenyan version of roti. These traditional African flatbreads are an indicator that a celebration is about to go down. A party without Chapatis is like a movie with no actors , it makes no sense. It is actually one of the first things that is prepared. To make chapatis you only require four ingredients ; all purpose flour , cooking oil , salt and sugar. The twist comes in making sure that they come out soft. A bad chapati can literally ruin the vibe of the party as it's one of the main dishes and can be served with any side dish. In most cases, it is served with a different meat stew.

Nyama choma (Roasted /barbecued meat )

Nothing unites Kenyans like their love for nyama choma. Kenyans find literally any excuse to eat nyama choma that is why it is considered the unofficial national meal. Most people prefer goat meat or beef and they grill it in an open fire. The men are normally in charge of slaughtering and grilling the meat. It is one of the ways the men bond while sharing drinks and catching up. A party officially starts once the nyama choma has been served.

Kachumbari

This is a fresh onion and tomato salad seasoned with salt. Every family has their own version but we all agree that it is a must-have. It is very easy to make, I personally grate the tomatoes, chop the onions finely then I add fresh chopped chillies. My daughter likes to add avocado and coriander to her Kachumbari. It is used as a condiment and is one of the first dishes to be placed on the table.

Mukimo

This is a really famous traditional meal in Kenya. It is served in every kind of celebration from birth ceremonies to funerals. It is made by mixing mashed potatoes, corn and green vegetables such as pumpkin leaves, spinach and green peas. In most cases, this is also a main dish and is served with everything.

Pilau

Pilau is one of my favourite dishes of all time. It is a Swahili dish made by cooking rice in a broth of meat and a variety of spices. It is really flagrant and savory and the tenderness of the meat just makes the dish more wholesome. As with any traditional recipe that has been passed from one generation to another , there are many versions of a pilau. Every family has their own guarded secret mix of spices.

Beef stew

It is one of the classic hearty stews served during different celebrations. It accompanies every meal served and is always bursting with flavor. It is made by cooking meat with tomatoes , potatoes and adding spices such as cumin, coriander ,garlic and many more to give it more flavor.

Chicken

I remember when I was young , Christmas was the only time I could have as much chicken as I wanted. Chicken is either grilled, deep-fried or used to make stew in most Kenyan homes during Christmas. No matter how it is cooked , it is always finger-licking good. You really can’t go wrong with chicken.

Ugali

Ugali is the official staple food in Kenya. It doesn't matter whether it is an ordinary day or a celebration for a king , there has to be Ugali. It is considered rude in some families if you don’t serve Ugali as one of the main dishes during Christmas. The good thing is that it is so easy to make and doesn't take up a lot of time.

These are the Christmas meals we cherish here in Kenya. They are simple but they also define our Kenyan cuisine. I hope you can try out some of these dishes and let me know if you liked them or not.

Christine Kinori is a queer travel freelance writer. “I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new culture. I believe in equality and I want my daughter to live in a better world.”