Comorian Cuisine

Browse All Comorian Recipes: Comorian Appetizers | Comorian Soups | Comorian Salads | Comorian Vegetarian | Comorian Meat Dishes | Comorian Snacks | Comorian Desserts

Overview of Comorian Cuisine History
The small country of Comoros is situated in the East part of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Over the years this country territories have been repeatedly invaded by numerous other people and groups like those from the coast of Africa, Indonesia, Madagascar and Persian Golf. Even the Portuguese explorers have visited this country in the early 16th century. All these people left their mark over the Comoros cuisine by bringing with them all kind of ingredients and flavors. Some of the influences brought by these people are still being used nowadays in the Comoros cuisine. French people left as well their mark over the Comoros traditional cuisine during the colonization period. Also the Arab people came on this lands and introduced to the Comoros cuisine many different types of spices and exotic ingredients as well as a new way of preparing rice steamed with spices, the usage of cloves, saffron, cinnamon and pomegranate juice.

Cuisines of Comoros


Anyone who decides of visiting the beautiful country of Comoros must know that here they can find a culinary paradise. This thing is possible only because of all the people like French, Arabs or other African people, that came on this lands and left their mark over the Comoros cuisine. A typical Comoros meal should always contain rice and meat, seasoned with one of the many locally produced ingredients like vanilla, coriander, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Also very famous in this country are fish dishes like the one called “Langouste a la vanille” a very rich dish made with lobster boiled in vanilla sauce. Anyone who wants to try a very stodgy dish can always have a stew made with all kind of Indian ingredients and vegetables like curries, chapattis, Lentil soups and a large variety of pickles. On this island there can be easily found and used in cooking any dish all kind of exotic ingredients and fruits like peppers, maize, chiles, tomatoes, bananas, pineapples, limes and oranges.

Preparation Methods for Comorian Cooking
Preparation methods for Comoros cooking imply using methods like baking, boiling, roasting, spicing or mashing. Comoros cuisine uses elements from various cooking traditions borrowed from their neighbors and developed from their own traditional dishes. While there are no specific or unique preparation methods for Comoros cooking, we should point out that attention to detail is important in the Comoros cuisine. Using the right amount of spices for example is essential – either for spicing up the taste or for coloring the dish. The diversity of vegetables and cereals found in Comoros is also noticed in the delicious dishes belonging to their cuisine. The visual attractiveness of the dish is also important, and a balance between colors and proportion differentiates. Each traditional dish has a special cooking method, which is more or less general in all of Comoros’s regions. Meat is one of the main elements of most Comoros dishes and cured and smoked hams are often parts of delicious dishes.

Special Equipment for Comorian Cooking
Most of the Comoros equipment for cooking is traditional ones. Manly this equipment is hand crafted and woods is the prime material used. Still, besides this tools many more are used ranging from cake pans, can openers, colanders, egg rings, poachers and holders, food dishers & portioners, food pans & food containers. Other kitchen utensils, such as food scales, food scoops and fryer baskets & accessories, are being used in the Comoros cuisine in order to produce the most sophisticated Comoros dishes. You should consider insulated food carriers if you are transporting the food and a full set of kitchen linens and uniforms if you wish to look like a pro. Here are a few other items that will come handy while cooking Comoros food: juicers, kitchen knives, kitchen slicers, kitchen thermometers, measuring cups & measuring spoons, miscellaneous utensils, mixing bowls and skimmers & strainers. Essential utensils like serving spoons; spatulas, forks, turners, scrapers and tongs should also be part of your cooking "arsenal".

Comorian Food Traditions and Festivals
The Comoros island is an Islamic country with many traditional festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Some of the most important public holidays are: Eid al- Adha or so called the feast of sacrifice held on 21st of January, Muharram or the Islamic New Year on the 10th of February and the Christmas Day on 25th of December. Other important celebrations are Ashoura, Anniversary of the Death of President Said Mohamed Cheikh, Independence Day and Eid al-Fitr that celebrates the end of Ramadan. These Muslim celebrations are held with a lot of pomp and good food. Comoros cuisine is complex and with deeply rooted traditions. Mainly during any celebration light dishes with fish or poultry are served. Soups are very famous here during festivals as well as salads served with spicy and salty sauces.

People in Comorian Food

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Skilled chefs of Comoros are creatively using and mixing the basic traditional ingredients and cooking method in order to produce the most delicious and original food variations. Comoros chefs are passionate about their traditional dishes and they enjoy presenting them to foreigners who has never tasted them before. Whether they are cooking dishes that go back in time for centuries or brand new, modern dishes, Comoros chefs take pride in what they do, and this is readily noticeable in the unforgettable taste of their cooking.