Food in Namibia: These 7 dishes you must know

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Are you interested in the food in Namibia? Then you are exactly right here! The further you travel and leave your home country behind, the more often you encounter unfamiliar habits, customs and traditions. To get to the African country, many travelers have to go a long way. And yet, the culinary arts surprise most tourists. While you may have imagined exotic dishes and unusual ingredients, the local menu features German home cooking.

Many have long forgotten that Namibia was once a German colony and therefore the cuisine was strongly influenced by the colonial period. Therefore, take a look at the menu before you enter a restaurant. But let's leave the European influences aside, because Namibian cuisine has much more to offer than Eisbein, Kasseler, Schnitzel and Sauerkraut!

Fish & Seafood: The famous Lüderitz lobster

The quality of the fresh hake is excellent and is another highlight of Namibian cuisine. Together with clams, squid, carrots, onions and salt, you get the delicious dish "hake in squid sauce". If you happen to visit Lüderitz during your Namibia trip, you should definitely try the typical Lüderitz-Languste which are prepared in the restaurants very tasty. Annually even the Lüderitz Crayfish Festival Another culinary highlight is the region of Swakopmund, which is known for its oysters. The oysters here have a particularly high quality and are a must for tourists, as well as the locals themselves.

Biltong

Food In Namibia: Biltong

Air-dried meat is a perfect snack for in between meals and a real specialty in Namibia. Elandfleisch, Kudufleisch, Springbockfleisch or beef is cut into fine strips, provided with a spice mixture and air-dried for one to two weeks. In many stores you can choose your own piece of meat and have it cut into small pieces.

Meat skewers

In Namibia, a lot of meat is eaten and the dishes are prepared from the meat of different animals: from ostrich to antelope, crocodile, zebra, giraffe, lamb or beef. Mostly the meat is grilled as a skewer and served with different spices, lemon, chili, peanut butter, cashew nuts or coconut milk and various delicious sauces. 

Bullfrog

Bullfrogs are eaten mainly in the north of the country and are probably one of the most exotic dishes for us Europeans. Traditionally, they are cooked and the pots are covered with wood to prevent poisoning.

Potjiekos

Potjiekos is also present in South African cuisine and is a typical stew. Potjiekos, consists of game meat, poultry, cauliflower, white cabbage, pumpkin and potato starch mixed with fresh herbs and spices. The special feature is the small, traditional iron pot, which is placed over an open fire with its three legs.

Omagungu: Mopane caterpillars

If you want to try something out of the ordinary, don't skip Mopane Caterpillars. They are deep fried and taste a little like peanut flips, but are much more nutritious: they contain 60 % protein and 15 % fat. 

Pearl millet soup

The soup is a traditional dish of Namibian cuisine. Pearl millet (mahango) forms the basis here and is prepared with fish, goat or lamb meat and rice. Some tribes, such as the Ovambo, feed mainly on this dish.

You want to try the food in Namibia?

If you're a meat lover, you'll love Namibian cuisine, although one or two dishes might take a little courage. Who a little homesick during the Namibia trip there are still the numerous German and other international restaurants where one can order a Schnitzel and a German beer.

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