"Bibi's Kitchen: Exploring the Rich Flavors of African Cuisine from the Indian Ocean Coast"

Amazon Customer: great

United States on Aug 20, 2023

K JONES: Wanted more.

United States on Dec 05, 2022

Henoke Tekeste: Wow, just blown away by the beauty of the images and the great diversity of recipes from parts of Africa we rarely hear about. This book is a beautiful cultural artifact and is so much more than just a cookbook because it teaches you about each country and then you get to hear from the bibis themselves. As a second generation Eritrean American, I can't express how much it meant to see my culture displayed in this book, and how authentic and tasty the recipes are! Representation matters, and it's lovely learning about cultural foods in other countries too, ones I might not ever try otherwise. Get this book!

United States on Nov 18, 2022

Ian: Down to earth recipes ideal for winter nights

United Kingdom on Oct 10, 2022

Amazon CustomerAmazon Customer: I don't usually bother to write reviews but this one is so good I just have to!! I have so far made the Shaah Cadays (Somalian spiced tea), stewed spinach (this one is Eritrean, not certain on the exact name), Doro Wat (Eritrean stewed chicken in spices with egg) and Digaag Qumbe (Somalian chicken curry - served with banana). All of them have not disappointed and my entire family - very hard to please, my mum is a trained chef who has eaten and cooked food from many cultures - has enjoyed all of them thoroughly. I have bookmarked so many others to try and look forward to sampling those too. So many recipes in this book look promising and each flavour from the recipes I've tried so far has been unique.

- Dietary requirements: There is a range of different types of food this makes - plenty of gluten free, dairy free or vegetarian recipes too. Obviously if you are vegan there will be many dishes you can't make but there is a substantial amount to please mostly everyone, even those with dietary requirements. A lot of this food is also healthy, full of veggies, spices, grains etc.
Difficulty - I have not had much difficulty with any of them either, I think this is a book...

United Kingdom on Jul 21, 2022

J. Grant: In Bibi's Kitchen is organized by country, and each of the eight countries has its own chapter. They start with an interview to get to know the mothers/grandmothers who have contributed, followed by their favorite recipes to make/eat. The recipes have been adapted in some places (so you can use canned coconut milk rather than making it fresh, or use ingredients like spinach or "any dark leafy green" in place of wild pumpkin leaves and other local ingredients) without affecting the character of the dish. They are accessible, delicious, mostly very healthy, and often super nourishing/comforting.

So far I've made:

Digaag Qumbe (chicken stew with yogurt and coconut) from Somalia (I made this first with chicken but have made since as vegetable stews. It's very easy and versatile.)
Xawaash Spice Mix from Somalia (I don't usually make spice mixes, but we've made up batches of this several times because it's so good!)
Basboosa (semolina cake with coconut, cardamom, and almonds) from Kenya
Kunde (black-eyed peas and tomatoes in peanut sauce) from Kenya (Making this again tonight!)
Quick Stewed Eggplant with Coconut from Tanzania (a favorite)
Tseke com Peix...

United States on Jun 23, 2022

PearlsofSteel: A beautiful book that goes beyond just a cookbook.i am so happy i got this book! I just wish i got it sooner.

Canada on Apr 02, 2022

Nicole: This bookcook is the best I've owned. I love the recipes , as they seem delicious,very exotic and easy because the ingredients are widely available in stores here in Australia
but also the stories of the women who made the recipes are exceptional! What a beautiful cook book ! Unique . Cannot wait to start to cook , Yummy!

Australia on Oct 01, 2021

Amazon Customer: Great stories to go with the recipes.

Canada on Mar 03, 2021

bunnysaver: While enjoying an online interview with a well-known vegan chef/author/food security activist, spotted this book on the shelf behind him. Was intrigued, so took a chance. And am thrilled with it! Beautifully-made book. (Another Ten Speed Press hit!) Interviews and stories from numerous grandmothers from eight West African countries, who share their recipes, techniques and stories about cooking, and their lives. All in heart-warming, clear, beautifully-photographed detail. True home cooking! 95% of the recipes are made with ingredients easily-accessible to mainstream US cooks. (Frozen chopped spinach?! Onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, greens, chicken, plantains, etc.) With recipes for making the specialized spices, if you can't find them locally. (Hint: Oaktown Spice carries a killer Berbere, which you can order online.) Ohhh, yas! Another culinary rabbit hole to go exploring... 🙂

Update: I made the quick Stewed Eggplant with Coconut, the Mbowa, and the Kunde for dinner tonight. SO easy, delicious, vegan, and 'cause I'm single there are leftovers. Cooked the eggplant about 10 minutes too long; as the recipe said, it just got silkier. LOVE this cookbook!!!!

United States on Jan 24, 2021