31 January 2023
Most people know Zanzibar for its lovely white beaches and clear, sparkling blue sea. Yet have you ever sampled food from Zanzibar?
Beautiful beaches and incredible food
Its natural beauty alone is reason enough to come to Zanzibar, and may well leave you keen to plan a luxury stay on the island.
There is, however, one more thing Zanzibar is very well known for: its food.
Forodhani Gardens in Stone Town, for instance, is a good spot to taste local Zanzibar dishes.
Zanzibar is the home of quite a few delicious dishes. If you plan to travel here, these are foods you really should try.
Read on to discover which dishes to taste on your luxury trip!
Top 10 Zanzibar food dishes
1. Zanzibar Pizza
We start this list of Zanzibar food with something everybody enjoys: pizza! Around the globe you will find many variations on the classic Italian pizza, and this one is Zanzibar’s own take.
It is quite unusual, but also very tasty!
To make Zanzibar pizza, you take a piece of dough and shape it into a ball.
Next, you fill the dough ball with the fillings of your choice, so that they sit in the middle.
The ball is then cooked in the way you would cook a crêpe, crisp on both top and bottom, and cut into little squares before you eat it.
2. Coconut Bean Maharage
Coconut bean maharage is eaten in most parts of Tanzania, but if you want the most authentic bowl of this flavourful dish, make your way to Zanzibar.
This low-fat vegetarian dish is full of nutritious ingredients. People often call it brown beans in coconut, and it is commonly eaten with rice or ugali.
If you want to eat clean and feel healthy on your trip to Zanzibar, coconut bean maharage is a good choice. It is also vegan!
So if you are vegan and finding it hard to come across something to eat on your travels, this meal suits you perfectly.
3. Octopus and Fried Cassava
Octopus is regarded as a luxury dish in many countries, and Tanzania is no exception. On Zanzibar it is normally boiled and served with fried cassava.
Looking for a dish full of different flavours? Then this is for you! We know octopus is not to everyone’s taste, but if you would like to dive into Tanzanian culture, do try it on your trip to Zanzibar.
4. Chips Mayai
In much of the USA, French fries count as fast food, but on Zanzibar they go into this tasty Chips Mayai recipe. Put simply, the recipe combines French fries and eggs to make an omelette.
Omelettes are usually linked with breakfast, but you can eat this dish at any hour. What we like most about this recipe, though, is how easy it is to make again yourself once you are back home!
5. Urojo Soup
Urojo soup gets its very distinctive flavour from potatoes, limes and seasoning. It is a well-loved street snack on Zanzibar, and people often eat it around 5 pm.
The recipe for Urojo is fairly simple, but the flavour is rich. It is savoury and spicy at the same time, and thoroughly delicious. Be sure to taste it on your trip!
6. Wali Na Maharage
While you are on Zanzibar, be sure to also make time for the National dish of Tanzania. Wali Na Maharage is made from beans that have been cooked in coconut milk, and it comes served with maize.
It is a very simple dish, yet a tasty one! Sometimes simple dishes turn out to be the best, which is why this recipe deserves a try.
7. Mishkaki
Many of the recipes we have covered so far are vegan or vegetarian. If you would rather eat meat, though, Mishkaki is one to try.
Mishkaki is made from beef with a mix of seasonings. In short, the beef is seasoned and then cooked much like a shish kebab. If you want a safe choice on your trip to Zanzibar, this dish is ideal.
8. Vitumbua
Fancy a slightly sweeter Tanzanian dish? Then Vitumbua is for you. It is basically a Tanzanian version of doughnuts, and it is quick and simple to prepare.
Every dish we have covered up to now has been savoury, so if you are in the mood for something sweet, go for this one. Did we say it is vegan as well?
9. Zanzibar Biryani And Pilau
Or, if you would like to try a rice dish, this Zanzibar Biryani and Pilau is an ideal pick.
Love Indian food? Then this recipe is for you, as it uses many of the spices typical of that cuisine.
As with several of the recipes in this guide, Zanzibar biryani works for vegetarians, making it a good option if you would rather not eat meat.
10. Mandazi
Last on the list is Mandazi, a sweet recipe whose taste is actually a little like Vitumbua.
Like Vitumbua, Mandazi is quite close to what we would think of as doughnuts.
So if Vitumbua was not really to your liking, try Mandazi on your trip to Zanzibar instead.
Summary: the best Zanzibar food
To sum up, this guide has covered 10 luxury dishes you must taste on your Zanzibar holiday for a genuinely authentic experience.
Thanks for reading!
