Malwax (sweet pancake)

(Little fact; x is in fact sounded as h in Somali writing. So malawax can be said as malawah)

When I asked my mother what I should write about next, her immediate response was malawax. Malawax is a very common East African delicacy, celebrated by different countries. Malwax is a flat pancake, with its thin and round body, followed by its soft texture. From my time living in Somalia, I learnt that malawax can be made in various ways, something that’s quote common in the Somali community. From my research, I’ve noticed that Somali recipes can be made in different ways, something that has gone on for generations. I asked my grandmother why this could be and she informed me that in her family, recipes were passed down through word of mouth. Now if you have heard of the game Chinese whispers, then it’s pretty clear that these recipes were lost in translation. With each generation being informed about the malawax, the exact ingredients and method of making the delicacy has been lost. Malawax can be served as a sweet dish, usually accompanied by butter, honey or sugar. Or it can be served a savory dish, accompanied by a vegetable or meat filled stew.

As a new and upcoming vegetarian, I was delighted to find out that malawax can also be prepared without milk and eggs, instead using water.

From my understanding, the traditional malwax is surprisingly the vegan one, water and flour only. This recipe is very easy and quick to make. I have made this myself before and usually mix the flour, water and sugar, then whisk it all together and off it goes to be made on the pan. Malwax is most commonly showered with honey/subag (ghee) or sprinkled with sugar, very tasty when combined with a cup of tea or milk. Malawax is very common in my household, especially during Ramadan. This is something we usually eat when breaking our fast, making it a family tradition. My mum always reminds us how it was like breaking her fast in Somalia, wrapping her somosa with malawax (a common combination). As a young child, my mum would always have malawax waiting for us during Ramadan, when coming back from school. Her reason for this being, is that she wanted to continue her family tradition into ours. A very enjoyable tradition.

I was recently reading a book about Somalia, written by Mike Graf, where he mentioned how “a typical Somali breakfast [would include] fried liver with onions and bread” (Graf, 13). What he doesn’t know, is that malawax can be used as a substitute for bread in this case. My first experience eating liver and malawax was a funny one. I was mortified at the combination, but soon came to the realization that it’s a delicious duo and one that cannot be had without the other.

The vegan recipe:

-        Three cups of water

-        Two cups of flour

-        A pinch of salt

Regular recipe:

-        Two and a half cups of milk (or coconut milk as a substitute)

-        Two large eggs

-        Two cups of flour

-        A pinch of salt

Have a go at making this yourself, I promise you won’t regret it!





Reference:

Graf, Mike. Somalia. Makato: Capstone Press, 2002. Print.