Maandazi, Sambusa, Wali Wa Nazi & Chai
Tanzanian cuisine isn’t complete without its array of snacks, desserts, and drinks. From crunchy samosas to sweet maandazi, these treats punctuate daily life, offering joy in every bite.
1. Maandazi (Swahili Doughnuts)
Soft, fluffy, and lightly spiced, maandazi are perfect for breakfast or tea time.
- Ingredients: Flour, sugar, cardamom, coconut milk, and yeast.
- Instructions: Combine ingredients into a dough, let it rise, then cut into shapes and deep-fry until golden. Serve warm with tea or coffee.
2. Tanzanian Samosas
Savory pastries filled with spiced meat or vegetables.
- Ingredients: Ground beef or vegetables, onions, garlic, curry powder, and flour for dough.
- Instructions: Prepare a filling by sautéing the ingredients. Roll out dough, cut into circles, fill, and fold into triangular pockets. Deep fry until crispy.
3. Sweet Rice with Coconut Milk (Wali wa Nazi)
A comforting dessert or breakfast dish.
- Ingredients: Rice, coconut milk, sugar, cardamom.
- Instructions: Cook rice in coconut milk with a pinch of cardamom and sugar until creamy. Garnish with raisins or nuts.
4. Spiced Chai (Tea)
No Tanzanian meal is complete without a cup of chai.
- Ingredients: Tea leaves, milk, sugar, ginger, and cardamom.
- Instructions: Simmer tea leaves with water, milk, and spices. Strain and serve hot.
Tanzania’s Sweet Heritage
Bites, desserts, and drinks are more than indulgences—they’re moments of pause, hospitality, and community.
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