Mkatra wa Simsim

Name: Mkatra wa Simsim
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Comorian
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1/4 cup sesame seeds; 150ml coconut milk; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 tablespoons coconut oil; 100ml warm water

Mkatra wa Simsim (mm-KAH-trah wah sim-SIM)

Sesame Flatbread

⏱ Prep Time 15 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 261 kcal

A fragrant flatbread studded with sesame seeds and enriched with coconut milk, cooked on a hot griddle until the sesame seeds toast and the bread turns golden. A nutty, aromatic staple.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 7.0g

Carbs 38.0g

Fat 9.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ sesame

Equipment Needed

griddle mixing bowl rolling pin

Presentation Guide

Vessel: bread basket

Garnishes: sesame seeds

Accompaniments: any stew or curry

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sesame seeds
150ml coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons coconut oil
100ml warm water

Instructions

1
Mix flour, sesame seeds, salt, and sugar in a bowl.
2
Add coconut milk and warm water gradually, mixing to form a soft dough.
3
Knead for 5 minutes until smooth. Rest for 15 minutes.
4
Divide into 4 portions and roll each into a thin round.
5
Heat a griddle over medium heat with a touch of coconut oil.
6
Cook each bread for 3-4 minutes per side until golden with toasted sesame seeds.
7
Serve warm.

💡

Did You Know?

Sesame seeds arrived in the Comoros via Arab traders who also brought the technique of pressing the seeds for oil. The seeds became so popular that every Comorian garden has a patch of sesame plants.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

griddle
mixing bowl
rolling pin

Garnishing

sesame seeds

Accompaniments

any stew or curry

The Story Behind Mkatra wa Simsim

Sesame flatbread represents the Arab culinary influence on Comorian baking. Sesame seeds, introduced through the Indian Ocean spice trade, found fertile ground in the tropical archipelago and became a pantry staple.

This bread is simpler and quicker to prepare than mkatra foutra, making it the everyday bread of choice for busy households. The toasted sesame seeds add a distinctive nuttiness.

Mkatra wa simsim connects Comorian bread traditions with the broader Swahili coast and Arabian Peninsula baking heritage.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed breakfast and with meals 📜 Origins: Arab trading era

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