A Lip-Smacking Maasai Meat Dish

The Maasai are one of the oldest communities in the world, residing in Tanzania and Kenya. They were formerly nomadic, but over the years, they have found permanent settlements and become pastoralists. 

With livestock being a key component of their lifestyle, the community depends upon them for food and sustenance. Meat and milk, therefore, are the main source of food for the Maasai. 

Meat helps in building the body and giving strength to the Maasai, especially Morans (Maasai warriors) who often only have two meals a day, as their obligation is to graze cattle, goats and sheep during the day.

Neema and Joseph, two young Maasai from the Losimingori village in Arusha, Tanzania show us how to make the Maasai cook meat, (here beef).

Elisha, our translator went to the Nanja market to buy the meat. 

The vegetables were bought in the market in Losimingiori village. They used onions, potatoes, green capsicum, tomatoes and lettuce.

The knife is sharpened using a stone. The meat and vegetables are washed with water, peeled and then cut into small pieces.

In a cooking vessel, they add tomatoes, onion, capsicum and beef, along with cooking oil. 

Meanwhile, Neema prepared a make-shift stove using dry grass and firewood.

It is then put on the stove to cook for a while, before adding salt and potatoes.

Once the meat releases its fat, the green leaves are added and covered to cook.

The dish is now ready and shared by everyone.

The drought that the village faces has economically weakened the society. Therefore, the meat dish has now become a luxury for them. It is now consumed on very rare occasions, mostly celebrations.