What Foods Do Swahili People Eat?

What foods do Swahili people eat?  Swahili foods, which are highly spiced, have African, Middle Eastern, and Indian influences. Rice (their staple food) is cooked with coconut milk, and served with tomato based meat, vegetable stews, or beans. Meals use locally-available vegetables (egg-plant, okra, spinach), fruits (mangoes, coconuts, pineapples), and spices (cloves, cardamon, hot pepper). Fish is also important to their diet. Chicken and goat meat are often used for holiday meals. Sweet Tea with Milk is drunken several times a day. 

RECIPE FOR: SWEET TEA W/ MILK

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons loose, black tea
• 1 cup milk (whole or 2 percent)
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons (or more) sugar
• Pinch of ground ginger
• Pinch of ground cardamon

Directions

1. Combine tea, milk, and water in a saucepan. Heat until the mixture is just beginning to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Increase the heat and bring the mixture just to the boiling point again. Stir in sugar (at least 2 teaspoons) and the ginger and cardamon.
3. To serve, pour tea through a strainer into cups.

Recipe from: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Tajikistan-to-Zimbabwe/Swahili.html#ixzz2IctXOKcO