I love cooked green bananas. There are many varieties of recipes that use green bananas in Tanzania. Cooked green bananas are staple food in Bukoba, Moshi and Kigoma region.
Most people in Tanzania associates the word futari with Ramadan. It could be because futari recipes have one common ingredient; and that is coconut. Since coast, coconut and Islam all go together in Tanzania, I can only guess that, this is the reason why futari recipes, are thought to be Ramadan recipes.
Please do not use plantain for this recipe. Green bananas and plantain are two different things.
Click here to get Green banana futari recipe.
October 8th, 2007
Uji wa Pilipili Manga
Black Pepper Porridge
By: Miriam
Ramadan is the 9th month of the Muslim Calendar. This is the time when Muslims (excluding Children, elderly, sick and pregnant women) fast and strictly follow Islamic teachings. During this period a Muslim must avoid greed/selfishness, anger, envy, lust, and etcetera. The main reason is to allow a Muslim to be close to God. Not to forget, Muslims use this season to strengthen ties with their communities. This includes sharing food.
Did I say food! Yes, food. I remember when I was about 5 to 6 years old in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Our neighbor who was from Zanzibar (the island of Tanzania) would always bring us food during Ramadan season. Sure the lady could cook. One thing I never understood at that age was that; This family would stay without eating anything for the whole day, then when it was time to eat, they would first drink ( very light) Uji wa pilipili manga (Black pepper porridge) . Even though I loved this porridge, but as a five year old, I thought they were insane; After not eating for that long, I could have run and eat pilau, ugali, bhajia, samosas and etcetera.
Now I can understand the scientific facts of why this family did break their fast by having a light porridge known as Uji wa pilipili manga. After not eating for the whole day, basically the intestine shrinks. It is not good after not eating for long hours to eat something heavy. To help the intestines expand without causing any stomach pain, it is always healthy to have something very light and warm. I guess that was why our neighbor would break their fast during Ramadan by having this light porridge.
Karibu, more will follow. Please click here to get the recipe of Uji wa pilipili manga.
I did receive a few requests to post recipes for Ramadan season. In the past, I always found myself very busy during Ramadan and Christmas season so I never post anything for those great seasons. This is special for Camilya, Shanice, Mkuu and all my Muslim visitors and I promise to add more, for now I say:
first comes first,
lets break the fast
Peace during this season.
September 14th, 2007
