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Geesh (Spiced Beef Tripe and Offal Stew)
A rich, slow-simmered Somali stew of beef tripe and kidney infused with aromatic xawaash spices, garlic, and ripe tomatoes.
The story
Cooked across inland market hubs such as Beledweyne and Baidoa, Geesh is the defining centerpiece meal shared by livestock traders and pastoralists on bustling market days. It honors whole-animal butchery by transforming economical organ cuts into deeply flavorful comfort food after morning auctions. The traditional technique requires boiling the tripe with wild garlic and crushed dried limes prior to stewing, which strips away any harsh gamey odors while tenderizing the dense collagen matrix.
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