Namibian cuisine

The Namibian cuisine has its spread in the city, in southern Africa, Republic of Namibia.

The Namibian cuisine as a fixed term is not clearly defined and based on influences of different ethnicities in the country and the influences of the South African and German cuisine.

Influences on the kitchen

Basically, you can divide the kitchen Namibia in three different influence groups or territories, with the ingredients, dishes and food have mixed over the decades in part.

Traditional Cuisine

The traditional cuisine of Namibia is mainly based on the natural conditions in a desert country. So especially fruits such as the! Nara, leaves, grains and roots, and meat were used by wild animals of the indigenous ethnic groups such as Ovambo, San, Nama, Damara and Herero. In addition, the domestication of cattle more than 2,000 years ago led by the San for the use of beef and dairy products.

As a staple of most traditional ethnic groups now serves the corn meal, which is served in the form of Pap ( " polenta "). In the northeastern regions of Kavango and Caprivi, the pulp is traditionally made from Mahangu.

Imported Kitchen

Introduced cuisine is based mainly on the influences of German cuisine while protecting troops time in German South-West Africa. Even today, many restaurants are dominated in the larger cities of Central and Südnamibias of German cuisine with heavy sauces and dishes like Kassel, roast with red cabbage and sausage dishes. An example of this is Joe 's Beer House in Windhoek.

South African cuisine

In particular the cuisine of the Afrikaners in Namibia is characterized by the Malay -influenced cuisine of South Africa, that is, for example, of sweet accompaniments such as dried fruit.

Meat

Namibia is a country where meat in many populations is the dominant food. Vegetarian or even vegan cuisine is not widely used.

In addition to the meat of domesticated animals such as beef and lamb in particular ostrich, crocodile and other wildlife is the meat of the various antelopes, but also the zebra popular. Poultry is also, pork, however, not widespread. Not least, the braai ( " grilling " ) is one of the most popular pastimes in Namibia.

As in neighboring South Africa (a type of dried meat ), Droewors (dry sausage), boerewors (farmers sausage) and smoked meat (smoked venison ) are very popular in Namibia biltong.

Fish

In the northern regions, especially among the ethnic groups of the Caprivi fishing and thus the consumption of freshwater fish plays an important role. On the coast, shellfish and crustaceans as well as food fish are very popular, but were historically due to the remoteness of the sea hardly used by the Namib desert.

Vegetables and fruit

Vegetables and fruit is among the ethnic groups in the northern regions of Namibia important part of the courts. In other parts of the country it played well into the 1980s, hardly a role, as vegetables and fruit were not grown here due to the climatic conditions and the transport routes and cooling options were limited. Exception to this were, for example, roots, tubers and wild melons - especially at the San - and potatoes, Swiss chard, pumpkin ( squash) and other heat- resistant, undemanding vegetables. Since the early 1990s, and vegetables is being increasingly used in all walks of life.

Desserts

Desserts in Namibia are mainly based on German, South African and British influences. Basically, each dessert is called except ice cream as " pudding ". It is dominated by hearty, heavy and heavily sweetened dishes such as trifle, Malva pudding, Koeksister, Melktert and vetkoek.

Spices

Herbs and spices are used generously. The Indian spices like coriander, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and ginger play in Namibia, in contrast to the South African kitchen, a subordinate role.

Drinks

In Namibia, are served for dinner alcoholic and non - alcoholic beverages. Love drinking it also rooibos tea and rock Shandy. Also popular is a name Savanna Cider. A special role is played brewed according to the German Reinheitsgebot beer.

Known Namibian beers:

• Tafel Lager
• Windhoek Lager
• Windhoek Draught
• Windhoek Light
• Camel Thorn

One of the traditional drinks include, for example Omaere and Oshikundu.

Specialties

Among the specialties are available, which are almost exclusively used in Namibia and sometimes only a few weeks or months of the year, include:

• Omajowa ( Termitomyces schimperi ), a fungus that grows on termite mounds for specific rainfall, temperatures and humidity from December to March.
• Kalahari truffle ( Terfezia pfeilii )
• Green asparagus from Swakopmund