Sudanese cuisine is greatly affected by the historical cross-cultural influences of Arab, Nubian, Egyptian, Turkish, and Levantine cuisine in

Sudan Sudan ( or ; ar, السودان, as-Sūdān, officially the Republic of the Sudan ( ar, جمهورية السودان, link=no, Jumhūriyyat as-Sūdān), is a country in Northeast Africa. It shares borders with the Central African Republic t ...

. Many Sudanese foods have been around for thousands of years. The most common meats eaten are lamb and chicken, in accordance with the Muslim halal laws. Most meals are communal and often shared with family, neighbors, and guests, as part of Sudanese hospitality. Breads such as (or ) and (or )—a thin pancake-like bread similar to a crêpe—are eaten with savory stews (), cheese (), fava beans, and

falafel Falafel (; ar, فلافل, ) is a deep-fried ball or patty-shaped fritter in Middle Eastern cuisine (especially in Levantine and Egyptian cuisines) made from ground chickpeas, broad beans, or both. Nowadays, falafel is often served in a p ...

(). There is also (or ), a fermented bread similar to Ethiopian injera, but thinner and smaller.

Influences

Egyptian cuisine has greatly influenced Sudanese cuisine. Both share dishes such as

(), which is made with chickpeas in Sudan instead of fava beans as in Egypt; , the national dish of both Sudan and Egypt; , a thick soup made from boiled leaves; , a meat liver stew eaten in Sudan, Egypt and Tunisia; and desserts such as and . , a soft white cheese, is also eaten. Turkish cuisine has also influenced Sudanese cuisine, giving it a distinct flavor. Turkish foods found in Sudanese cuisine include kebabs, kofta, and shawarma, as well as sweets such as

baklava Baklava (, or ; ota, باقلوا ) is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey. It was one of the most popular sweet pastries of Ottoman cuisine. The pre- Ottoman origin of the ...

. Levantine and Egyptian sweets also entered Sudanese cuisine and are known as ''oriental'' (or ''Levantine'') ''sweets''.

Appetizers

Meals include and , which are dishes made from sheep's offal (including the lungs, liver, and stomach), onions, peanut butter, and salt. They are eaten raw. A peanut salad called is also eaten.

Soups and stews

A popular Sudanese (savory stew) is , a red mincemeat sauce that is eaten with , a dish consisting of boiled

wheat flour Wheat flour is a powder made from the grinding of wheat used for human consumption. Wheat varieties are called "soft" or "weak" if gluten content is low, and are called "hard" or "strong" if they have high gluten content. Hard flour, or ''bread ...

molded into a ball. is eaten across

North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...

. Other will sometimes use , special sauce made from crushed okra and , a spice mix that gives some a sticky yet flavorful texture. Dried is sometimes used as a seasoning in the . Most Sudanese will have either meat or other

vegetables Vegetables are parts of plants that are consumed by humans or other animals as food. The original meaning is still commonly used and is applied to plants collectively to refer to all edible plant matter, including the flowers, fruits, stems, ...

legumes A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock fo ...

. Sometimes seasoned meats such as —made of dried meats, onions and dried okra (crushed )—is added to most types of . Several stews, including ', , and , use (a Sudanese spice mix) and dried okra. is a stew made from sheep's fat, onions, and dried okra. is made from dried meat, while is made from dried fish. In

Equatoria Equatoria is a region of southern South Sudan, along the upper reaches of the White Nile. Originally a province of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, it also contained most of northern parts of present-day Uganda, including Lake Albert and West Nile. It ...

(now in

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...

), soups include , made from cattle or sheep

hooves The hoof (plural: hooves) is the tip of a toe of an ungulate mammal, which is covered and strengthened with a thick and horny keratin covering. Artiodactyls are even-toed ungulates, species whose feet have an even number of digits, yet the rumi ...

with vegetables, and , made from

liver The liver is a major Organ (anatomy), organ only found in vertebrates which performs many essential biological functions such as detoxification of the organism, and the Protein biosynthesis, synthesis of proteins and biochemicals necessary for ...

, flour,

dates Date or dates may refer to: *Date (fruit), the fruit of the date palm (''Phoenix dactylifera'') Social activity *Dating, a form of courtship involving social activity, with the aim of assessing a potential partner **Group dating *Play date, an ...

, and spices.

Beverages

The most popular drink is tap or bottled water, traditionally offered free of charge for anyone in large claypots in the streets. Strong coffee, sometimes served in Sudanese coffee pots called , and black tea, often with milk, are also popular. These are sold in the streets by "tea ladies". Especially on hot days, traditional cold

hibiscus tea Hibiscus tea is a herbal tea made as an infusion from crimson or deep magenta-colored calyces (sepals) of the roselle (''Hibiscus sabdariffa'') flower. It is consumed both hot and cold. It has a tart, cranberry-like flavor. Consumption Africa ...

, called , is made in homes.

Alcoholic beverages

Historically, Sudan was one of the few predominantly Muslim countries that allowed traditional and Western alcoholic drinks. Men drank

millet wine Millet wine () is a common wine in East and Southeast Asia. It is also the oldest wine in Taiwan and a traditional beverage of Taiwanese aborigines. It is often used in harvest festivals, as a symbol of harvest. Cultural background For aboriginal ...

, (an alcoholic drink from fermented dates), and . In the 20th century, some Sudanese were influenced by Europeans and began drinking whiskey and beer. In September 1983, former Sudanese President Gaafar Nimeiry enacted

Sharia Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the H ...

, marking the occasion by dumping alcohol into the

Nile river The Nile, , Bohairic , lg, Kiira , Nobiin: Áman Dawū is a major north-flowing river in northeastern Africa. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Nile is the longest river in Africa and has historically been considered the longest rive ...

. Since then, the purveying, consumption, and purchasing of alcohol has been banned in Sudan. Being lashed 40 times is the penalty for breaking the prohibition on alcohol. Nevertheless, , an alcoholic gin made from

, continued to be illegally brewed in defiance of Sharia. In 2019, the Transitional Government passed a new law, allowing alcoholic beverages for non-Muslims.

Gallery

File:Kisra maker.jpeg, A woman preparing File:Algazaltain tea tins.jpg, Algazaltain black tea File:Roselle drink.JPG, Cold (

) drink File:A young south Sudanese girl cooking at home.jpg, A young women cooking in South Sudan

References

External links

Sudan Cookbook

Food of Sudan from the Sudan Embassy in Washington DC
{{Authority control North African cuisine