East Africa · Street food
Mabawa (Barbecued Spiced Chicken Wings)
Succulent charred chicken wings crusted with crushed fiery chilies, garlic, and citrus-spiked aromatics over glowing coconut charcoal.
The story
Sold on street corners across Moroni at dusk, mabawa is the premier street snack of Grande Comore (Ngazidja). Night vendors fan brazier fires using woven palm leaves, turning skewers over intense heat while patrons gather after evening prayers. The wings are heavily scored across the meat to allow the acidic lime and aromatic crushed bird's eye marinade to tenderize deep into the joint fibers before high-heat searing.
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