Xawaash Spice (Somalian Spice Blend)

Description

In the southern regions of Somalia, Xawaash refers to the spice mix that is added to savoury dishes: meats, stews, soups, etc. However, in the northern parts of Somalia, Xawaash is used in a broader sense and it refers to any spice mix, even the spices that are added to tea and coffee. Xawaash (pronounced Hawash) comes from the Arabic word Hawaâ and can be translated as requirements or essentials.

Ingredients:  Toasted Ground Cumin, Toasted Ground Coriander, Ground Cardamon, Ground Turmeric, Oregano, Basil, Cilantro.

Occupying the coastal plain of the famed Horn of Africa, Somalia’s seaward orientation has led to a legacy of culinary mingling. African, Italian, Persian, Arab & South Asian influences color the national cuisine and lend themselves to a unique mélange where spaghetti, banana, samosas, herbed rice, yogurt and sourdough bread all coincide.

Accordingly, Somali cuisine features a rich palette of spices and ingredients  (including the famed xawaash spice blend) that are widely used across Africa, the Middle East, south Asia, and southern Europe. Drawing from this rather broad expanse of culinary heritage, popular Somali dishes include:

• Anjero (also known as Canjeero or Lahooh), a type of sourdough pancake that is similar to, but smaller than the Ethiopian Injera. Somalis often eat these for breakfast with sugar and butter.
• Sambusa/Sambuus are triangular, deep-fried pastries filled with beef, onions, cilantro and an aromatic spice blend known as xawaash. They are often eaten with asariye, or Somali afternoon tea.
• Suugo & Baasto – Spaghetti sauce & pasta. A Somali take on the Spaghetti Bolognese brought by the Italians to Somalia. Unlike its European counterpart, it includes aromatic spices from the aforementioned xawaash spice blend, cilantro, green pepper and sometimes potato.
• Nafaqo is a deep-fried egg dish that resembles a Scotch Egg. A hard-boiled egg is rolled in mashed potato seasoned with cumin, coriander and turmeric and is then coated with bread crumbs and deep-fried until crisp. These tasty little morsels are often eaten for a breakfast or as snack.

As you can see, quite a unique mix of ingredients and cooking traditions have influenced the cuisine of Somalia. But an ingredient that’s nearly ubiquitous, a spice blend that we’ve touched upon above gives Somali cuisine and one dish in particular a uniquely zesty taste.

Xawaash: the Somali Spice Rub par excellence

The array of Somali spices is exemplified by the traditional Xawaash spice blend: it features cumin, coriander, cardamon, turmeric, oregano, basil and cilantro. Xawaash also sometimes includes black peppercorns, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and fenugreek. Its name is thought to derive from the Arabic word “Hawa’ij“, which means “essential” or “required” and hints at its importance as a spice cabinet staple in Somali cookery.

What Dishes is Xawaash Used in?

Bariis Iskukaris is a Somali dish that incorporates not only Xawaash, but also a unique combination of ingredients that hint at its Middle Eastern influence: raisins, cilantro, meat and rice. Lamb, chicken, goat or ground beef can be used as Xawaash-rubbed meaty additions to the recipe. The word Bariis means “rice” in Somali – an apt description of the dish.

Xawaash can be used in other dishes, as mentioned, and is also excellent for roasting or grilling meats with a traditional Somali flair. Rub your chicken, beef, lamb or goat with some xawaash for a smoky, spicy African twist at your next cookout!

A Recipe for Somali Bariis from a Member of the Niblack Foods Team

As promised, we’re bringing you the perfect recipe for your newly-purchased xawaash blend. A comforting and healthy jeweled rice with Middle Eastern influences, Bariis is one of the most popular dishes in Somalia, and is unequaled when it comes to having a balanced flavor profile. Warming cinnamon, cooling cilantro, the complexity of xawaash and some hearty meat and rice round out this recipe that you should you need to try, stat!

Somali Bariis