Mozambique is a beautiful Southern African country. The country is famous for its long coastline on the Indian Ocean, which is home to some breathtaking beaches. The beaches have often overshadowed the country’s cuisine, but there are many Mozambique Food that are mind-blowing and waiting to be discovered. 

What Is Special About Mozambique Food?

Mozambique cuisine is heavily inspired by Indo-Portuguese culture. In fact, this is one of a select few African Portuguese-speaking countries, and as such many of their foods carry Portuguese names. 

You will also find Arab influences in Mozambique foods due to the trade route across the Indian Ocean. Some staple ingredients in Mozambique food include garlic, cinnamon, turmeric, and chili peppers, among many others. The country has embraced these different heritages to create its own unique Mozambican food culture.

National Food Of Mozambique

Xima (Corn Porridge)

Xima is one of the most popular foods in Mozambique and is widely considered the national dish of Mozambique. This food is popular in many African countries, although it goes by different names. 

Xima is a porridge made with corn and water. It has a mild flavor and goes well with different stews and soups accompanied by meat or fish.

To enjoy the Mozambican experience, you should eat this food with your hands like the locals. It has a stiff texture, so it’s easy to mold and scoop. Alternatively, you can also use cutlery, but hey, it’s always more fun to do as the locals do.

Famous Traditional Mozambique Food

Peri-Peri (Chili Hot Sauce)

This chili hot sauce is popular in many African countries and is well-loved in Mozambique. Some say it originated from Angola, while others say the Portuguese ancestors of Mozambique invented this sauce. Regardless of the origins, the versatility and taste of this hot sauce make it such a staple in the Mozambique food scene.

Peri-Periis commonly used for marinating food before cooking. However, you can also use it to accompany many fried foods. The key ingredients in this tasty sauce are chili peppers, vinegar, lemon, oil, and garlic. 

Galinha Asada (Chicken Roast)

This is one Mozambique food influenced by the Portuguese. Galinha asada in Portuguese means “roast chicken.”Oddly, galinha asada in Mozambique usually features grilled or barbecued chicken instead of roast chicken. That said, locals prepare this food in different ways. Depending on the region, the ingredients may differ, so don’t be afraid to try it in many different places. 

One common ingredient in this popular Mozambican food is piri-piri. It is used to marinate the chicken before preparing it. However, in the Zambezi region, the chicken is marinated in fresh coconut milk before preparing it. 

Pao (Fresh Bread)

Bread is a staple food in Mozambique. There are mass-produced loaves of bread in supermarkets nationwide, but locals love fresh bread, so it is common to find bakeries in almost every neighborhood across the country.

Standard fresh breads in Mozambique are soft and fluffy inside and a little crispy outside. You can try pao in Mozambique with butter, fresh milk, or a cup of coffee. 

Mucapata

Mucapata originates from the Quelimane province. It is a popular starchy food in Mozambique made from a combination of rice, mung beans, and coconut milk all mashed together.

This sumptuous dish has a pudding-like appearance, and it is more of a side dish than a main dish. You can enjoy mucapata with curry or stew. You can also add meat, fish, or vegetables if you like.

Prawn

Given its proximity to the ocean, Mozambique food includes many kinds of seafood, like grilled fish, octopus, and crumbed calamari, but the poster boy is the grilled prawn. 

Grilled prawn marinated with peri-peri is one of the best dishes in Mozambique. Prawns are an expensive delicacy on the menu in many countries, but that is not so in Mozambique, as they are more widely available.

You can enjoy delicious grilled prawn with peri-peri or cooked as curry with coconut milk without breaking the bank. 

Mozambique Food: Soups, Stews And Sauces

Feijoada (Mozambique Bean Stew)

Feijoada is a popular bean stew in Mozambique. This dish typically includes beans, tomatoes, and onions as a base, and can be cooked with pork, beef, chouriço sausage, and/or ham hock. It is heavily influenced by Portuguese cuisine. 

This hearty dish has a meaty flavor enhanced by local spices and garlic. 

There are several different variations, including seafood bean stew, where calamari, clams, and/or prawn replace the meat.

You can enjoy this food anytime in Mozambique. However, it is a popular Sunday lunch food, often paired with rice or xima. 

Dobrada (Portuguese Tripe And Beans Stew)

Dobrada is a food that originated in Portugal, but Mozambique has adapted it based on their local taste and ingredients and made it their own. The Portuguese version is a combination of boiled tripe served with chickpeas, white butter beans, and chorizo. These ingredients are not common in Mozambique, so they are substituted with onions, potatoes, chilies, green peppers, and tomatoes.

This Mozambican dish is often served with rice or xima. When eating with xima, it is best enjoyed with hands, and literally offers a finger-licking experience.

Matapa Or Matata (Cassava Leaves Stew)

This traditional Mozambique food has become a local favorite throughout the country. It is another dish influenced by their Portuguese ancestors.

This tasty stew contains cassava leaves, coconut milk, ground peanuts, and garlic. These ingredients are ground together to make a green sauce. The sauce is then cooked with seafood like crab or prawn to give it an immense flavor. 

You are likely to find this local delicacy in most Mozambique restaurants. It is typically served with rice or fish for a filling meal.

Chacuti

Chacuti is a staple dish in Mozambique cuisine. It originated in the Portuguese state of India. 

It is a curry dish that can be prepared with chicken, lamb, beef, or crab. Often, it includes coconut, which gives it a distinct and lovely aroma. You can enjoy chacuti with rice or Indian bread; these are great for soaking up all the delicious curry. 

Mozambique Food: Snacks, Light Dishes, And Street Food

Chamussas (Mozambican Samosas)

One of the lesser-known facts about Mozambique is that it has the highest Indian population in Africa. As such, you can imagine there are some influences that seep into the culture and cuisine. Chamussas is a popular snack in Mozambique inspired by the Indians

It is a replica of the famous Indian snack Samosas; this is a triangular dough pastry with fillings that can be vegetarian or otherwise. But typically, beyond meat, fish, or vegetables, the filling is a mixture of potatoes and cheese. You can enjoy this snack all year round in the country.

Rissois De Camarao

This is a popular appetizer in Mozambique that you can also enjoy in Portugal. It’s a croquette with creamy shrimp sauce. Some recipes also include peri-peri. 

The dough of this food is dipped in egg wash, covered with breadcrumbs, and then fried. You can enjoy the snack hot or cold. You can buy this common street snack from roadside sellers or street-side stalls in Mozambique.

Fofos De Arroz

This famous Mozambique food is a deep-fried rice ball that serves as a convenient yet fulfilling snack. The aromatic rice is stuffed with fillings like shrimp, onions, garlic, and chili that gives it a kick of flavor. After that, it is dipped in egg wash and sprinkled with breadcrumbs before it is deep-fried, like many snacks in the country.

Fofos are often enjoyed warm with a glass of milk or a glass of juice. 

Mozambique Prego Rolls

Prego rolls are another mouthwatering food in Mozambique inspired by Portuguese cuisine.

They have a similar appearance to a hamburger but with fewer fillings and no dedicated bread. Prego rolls consist of Pao (fresh Mozambican bread) filled with a steak and peri-peri sauce. While it sounds simple, you will be surprised how tasty it is.

You can enjoy this Mozambique food with a glass of milk but beware of the peri-peri sauce if you cannot handle hot spicy food.

Badjias

Badjias is an Indian-inspired Mozambique food. This deep-fried snack is one loved by kids in the country. It’s a typical street food made with Nhemba (bean flour) and often sold with bread, making it a popular Mozambican breakfast. 

It’s similar to the bean fritters that are common in other parts of Africa, except badjias have yeast in them. The flavor is enhanced by piled garlic and Indian saffron, among other seasonings.

Within the Indian community in Mozambique, this snack is known as bhajji. It’s a staple in restaurants across the country and you can find it all year round. 

Mozambique Food: Sweets, Desserts, And Pastries

Bolo Polana (Cashew And Potato Cake)

This is one of many authentic traditional Mozambique foods originating in the country. Bolo polana is a sumptuous dish made from cashew and potato. It has a rich nutty flavor, soft texture, and appealing appearance.

This Mozambique dessert is named after the suburb of Maputo (Polana), the country’s capital city. You can enjoy this cake with fruit juice, tea, or coffee.

Etoritory

Etoritory is a sweet peanut fudge often sold as street food in Mozambique. It has an appealing nutty and creamy taste, as the Mozambican version is made of peanuts and coconut milk.

This sweet is cherished across the African continent. You will regularly see it during mini gatherings and family reunions, they are so easy to snack on while hanging out. 

Green Mango Achar (Mango Pickle)

This special Mozambican food influenced by Indian cuisine is also incredibly popular in Asia. It is probably due to the fact that mangoes are more commonly available in tropical countries. 

Unripe mangoes are sliced and preserved with oil, peri-peri, mustard, and fennel seeds. The longer you allow it to soak in the oil, the stronger and spicier it becomes. This dish goes well with curry and any stew. It is an easy side dish to get addicted to with sharp flavors.

Pudim 

Originating from Portugal and Brazil, this is a popular dessert in Mozambique that is served at almost every festival across the country. It is known as flan in Latin American countries, and very common throughout South America. 

It is a creamy dish you can have in between or after meals. The Mozambican version is made from eggs, sweetened condensed milk, and coconut milk. It is simple and tasty, and can be served plain or with dried fruits.

Iconic Drinks In Mozambique Cuisine

Laurentina (Mozambican Beer)

This is the most popular beer in Mozambique, and rightly so. It is the country’s oldest beer brand, serving Mozambicans since 1932. 

This drink has three different variations: dark lager, premium, and pale lager. It goes great with a bowl of grilled prawn or peri-peri chicken. 

Tipo Tinto (Rum)

Tipo tinto is an iconic drink in Mozambique. It is a locally brewed rum loved across the country by locals and travelers. This rum has a distinct African taste like nothing you will ever find in Europe. 

To avoid a hangover, don’t take this rum straight. For the best experience, you can adopt the locals method and mix the rum with coke or other sodas. 

The most common way to enjoy tipo in Mozambique is by mixing it with a raspberry drink. You can get this drink at Mozambique beaches, resorts, and hotels. 

Discovering Traditional Foods In Mozambique

Mozambican foods are known for their special blend of Portuguese and Indian cuisine, creating exciting food experiences to savor. If you are looking to embark on an adventurous culinary journey, this is one cuisine to take a deeper look into. Mozambique foods offer different delicacies both for meat lovers and vegetarians, so there is plenty to sample and discover regardless of your preference.

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