Food of Comoros

The Comoros islands share a spice-island style: coconut milk, vanilla, cloves, cassava and fish. Dishes feature fish in coconut, plantain and rice, and sweet snacks with cardamom. Meals are shared among family and friends.

National dish

Langouste a la vanille

A traditional dish of Comoros made with lobster, vanilla, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Staples

  • rice
  • cassava
  • plantain
  • fish
  • coconut
  • breadfruit

Signature flavors

  • vanilla
  • cloves
  • coconut
  • ginger
  • cinnamon
  • lime

Main dishes

Langouste a la vanille

A traditional dish of Comoros made with lobster, vanilla, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: lobster, vanilla
Poulet au coco

A traditional dish of Comoros made with chicken, coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: chicken, coconut
Mkatra foutra

A traditional dish of Comoros made with flour, coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flour, coconut
Pilao
Pilao

A traditional dish of Comoros made with rice, cloves, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: rice, cloves
Ntsambu

A traditional dish of Comoros made with fish, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: fish
Matoke

A traditional dish of Comoros made with plantain, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: plantain

Breakfast

Mandazi
Mandazi

A traditional breakfast dish of Comoros made with flour, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: flourFull guide →
Cassava with coconut

A traditional breakfast dish of Comoros made with cassava, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: cassava

Street food

Sambusa
Sambusa

A traditional street snack of Comoros made with pastry, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: pastry

Desserts and sweets

Gateau coco

A traditional sweet treat of Comoros made with coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: coconut

Drinks

Ylang tea

A traditional drink of Comoros made with tea, ylang, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: tea, ylang
Coconut water

A traditional drink of Comoros made with coconut, enjoyed at home and from local vendors.

Key ingredients: coconut

Fruits and produce

Vanilla
Vanilla

Vanilla is a well-loved fruit or crop in Comoros, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: vanilla
Breadfruit
Breadfruit

Breadfruit is a well-loved fruit or crop in Comoros, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: breadfruitFull guide →
Coconut
Coconut

Coconut is a well-loved fruit or crop in Comoros, eaten fresh or used in juices, snacks and home cooking.

Key ingredients: coconutFull guide →

Dish guides from Comoros

Breadfruit
BreadfruitFruits
Coconut
CoconutFruits
Mandazi
MandaziBreakfast
Explore Comoros on Geographical EffectMaps, capital and cities, population, climate, landscapes and landmarks.

More cuisines of Eastern Africa

About this page

Descriptions written by Intercontinental Chef. Dishes are listed as commonly eaten today; many are shared across neighbouring countries.

Photo credits
  • Afghan Palo: Jost Wagner, CC BY-SA 1.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Bowl of mandazi: The original uploader was ChildofMidnight at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Samosas, snack food at Wikipedia's 16th Birthday celebration in Chittagong (01): Moheen Reeyad, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Vanilla planifolia (6998639597): Malcolm Manners from Lakeland FL, USA, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Artocarpus altilis (fruit): Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
  • Cocos nucifera - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-187: Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)