ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Sudan
Five dishes to try in Sudan, the most typical first. Five are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Sudan
Ful medames فول مدمس
Stewed fava beans mashed with oil, cumin and toppings like cheese or egg.
How to have it: The everyday breakfast; eaten from a shared bowl with bread at small cafes.
Kisra كسرة
Thin fermented sorghum flatbread, soft and slightly sour.
How to have it: Served with stews like mulah or okra; tear it to scoop up the sauce.
Asida عصيدة
Firm dome of cooked sorghum or wheat dough served with a stew poured around it.
How to have it: Common at family meals and festivals; eat it with a meat or okra sauce.
Tamia طعمية
Deep-fried chickpea fritters seasoned with herbs and spices.
How to have it: Bought hot in sandwiches from street stalls, often alongside ful.
Karkadeh كركديه
Deep red infusion of dried hibiscus flowers, served hot or iced.
How to have it: Sold chilled and sweet in markets; a refreshing break from the heat.
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Questions
What food is Sudan famous for?
Ful medames (stewed fava beans mashed with oil, cumin and toppings like cheese or egg) comes first on our list, followed by Kisra, Asida, Tamia and Karkadeh.
What is the national dish of Sudan?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Sudan is Ful medames: stewed fava beans mashed with oil, cumin and toppings like cheese or egg. The everyday breakfast; eaten from a shared bowl with bread at small cafes.
Which dishes in Sudan are vegetarian?
All five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Ful medames, Kisra, Asida, Tamia and Karkadeh. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Sudan?
Tamia (deep-fried chickpea fritters seasoned with herbs and spices).
What do people drink in Sudan?
Karkadeh: deep red infusion of dried hibiscus flowers, served hot or iced.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Sudan
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.