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Soor (Stiff Maize Porridge with Ghee and Milk)
A hearty, comforting white cornmeal mash beaten to a smooth firmness, served with a central well of spiced ghee and fresh milk.
The story
Soor is the vital sustenance of the agricultural Somali Bantu (Gosha) and riverine communities inhabiting the fertile floodplains of the Shabelle and Jubba basins. Consumed predominantly as a restorative midday lunch or evening meal after long hours in the fields, it provides sustained energy for farmers. The authentic culinary technique requires rhythmic beating against the pot's walls with a flat wooden stick (mushwaaq), which gelatinizes the corn starches without creating lumps.
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