Baasto (Somali spaghetti with spiced beef sauce)
Baasto iyo suugo: spaghetti in a xawaash-spiced beef and tomato sauce, eaten with a banana on the side
SomaliPasta arrived in Mogadishu during the Italian colonial period and was firmly adopted, so that today baasto with suugo is a standard Friday lunch and a staple of the city's restaurants. The sauce is a long-cooked mix of minced beef, onion, peppers and tomato seasoned with xawaash, garlic and a little chilli, closer to a spiced Somali stew than to an Italian ragù. A ripe banana is served alongside and eaten in alternate bites, cooling and sweet against the spice; a green chilli sauce and a squeeze of lime finish the plate. Overcooking the spaghetti is the usual error, because it carries on softening in the hot sauce; drain it a minute before the packet time. For a meat-free version simply leave out the beef and add a tin of chickpeas. Chef's tip: let the beef brown properly before the tomato goes in; that colour gives the sauce its depth.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the suugo
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 onionsfinely chopped
- 16 oz minced beef
- 4 cloves garliccrushed
- 1 green pepperdiced
- 2 tsp xawaash spice mixSomali blend of cumin, coriander, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric; ready-made or homemade
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 14 oz chopped tomatoes1 tin
- ¾ cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 green chilli (optional)chopped
- ⅓ oz fresh coriander (optional)chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pan over a medium heat and fry the 2 onions for 8 minutes until soft and golden.
8 minStep 2: Raise the heat, add the 16 oz minced beef and fry for 8–10 minutes, breaking it up, until the liquid has evaporated and the meat is browned all over.
10 minStep 3: Stir in the 4 cloves garlic, 1 green pepper and 2 tsp xawaash spice mix for 2 minutes, then the 2 tbsp tomato paste for 1 minute until it darkens.
3 minStep 4: Add the 14 oz chopped tomatoes, ¾ cup water and 1 tsp salt. Simmer, half-covered, for 20 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick and the oil rises to the top. The sauce should bubble steadily so the mince reaches at least 160°F. Stir in the 1 green chilli and ⅓ oz fresh coriander.
20 minStep 5: Meanwhile cook the 14 oz spaghetti in plenty of salted boiling water for 1 minute less than the packet says. Drain.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 760 kcal
- Protein
- 34 g
- Carbs
- 104 g
- Fat
- 24 g
- Fibre
- 8 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does baasto (Somali spaghetti with spiced beef sauce) take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of onions?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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