Zanzinet's Zanzibar Staples

Traditional staples

• Rice: - Rice is, perhaps, the staple food of Zanzibar and goes by many nicknames such as ubwabwa, mtee, etc. It is produced locally but due to its high demand much of it is imported. It is used as a main dish (e.g. pilau, wali wa nazi, ubwabwa, mseto, etc.), a bread (e.g. mkate wa kumimina), porridge, texture (e.g. pepeta), and even pasta.
• Cassava: - For many this is the real staple food of Zanzibar. It is produced locally and used as a main dish (e.g. muhogo wa nazi literally translates to "coconut cassava", ugali, etc.), crisped as a snack, or grilled. The latter is a popular snack at the Zanzibar waterfront (Forodhani). Ugali, made of cassava flour, is common among fishing communities of northern Zanzibar and southern Pemba. Its leaves are also choped and used as a vegetable.