East Africa · Dessert
Mkate wa Sinia (Cardamom-Spiced Rice and Coconut Cake)
A fragrant, honeycomb-textured Zanzibari rice and coconut cake scented with green cardamom and baked to a golden crust.
The story
Celebrated across coastal Swahili towns and the spice island of Zanzibar, Mkate wa Sinia translates literally to 'bread of the tray'. It is an esteemed fixture of celebratory gatherings, afternoon teas, and the evening Iftar table throughout the holy month of Ramadan. Historically, Swahili home bakers achieved its signature two-tone crust by cooking the pan over charcoal embers while piling glowing coals onto a flat metal lid placed directly above.
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