On Sept 26 & 27, we were treated to a Sudanese feast by Ikhlas Mohammed and her mom, Magboula.
Salata Aswad
This dip is the most common way South Sudanese enjoy their eggplants. Grilled eggplant is mixed with bell peppers, seasonings, and peanut butter. Served with grilled bread. Vegan. Gluten-free: Salata Aswad with Plantain Chips
Shoubra
This soup is a popular dish for breaking fast during Ramadan, because it eases your stomach back into eating. Green beans, potatoes, peppers, and parsleys are cooked in beef broth. Gluten-free. Vegetarian option available
Kofta Pita Bites
Special occasions like weddings and baby showers call for kofta, Sudanese meatballs. Grilled ground beef is mixed with onions, lime and an assortment of Sudanese spices. To make them a party-ready finger food, they’re served on pita bread with tomatoes, lettuce, and onions. Vegetarian: Zucchini koftas Gluten-free: Kofta lettuce wraps
Asida with Fish Mullah
In Sudan, this stew would be made with dried tilapia. But since she can’t find it in the states, Ikhlas is substituting smoked catfish. The ground fish is cooked with fried onions, tomato paste, garlic, seasonings, and finished with okra powder. It’s served with asida, Sudan’s version of fufu made from sorghum and cassava flour. Gluten-free. Vegan mullah available.
Nanna’s Sudanese Chicken Pizza
A bold twist on pizza, this dish introduces Sudanese flavors. The tangy tomato sauce pairs with caramelized onions, a hint of chili, and chicken. This dish is both surprising and familiar. Vegetarian: Sudanese Cheese Pizza, Vegan option available. Gluten-free option: rice flour crust
Basbousa Known as Hareeseh (Palestine, Lebanon), Namoura (Lebanon), and Revani (Turkey, Greece), basbousa is a sweet, syrup-soaked semolina coconut cake popular throughout the Middle East. It’s popular during festive occasions, holidays like Eid al-Fitr, and family gatherings. Gluten-free and Vegan versions available.
Sudanese Zalabia
Zalabia is a popular Middle Eastern sweet fritter or doughnut, enjoyed across the Arab world, including West Asia, and parts of Europe and North Africa. It's a fried dough dipped in syrup and is known by various names such as awameh, luqaimat, or luqmat al-qadi, and luqmat al Kkadi. These fried bite-sized golden balls of dough are crisp on the outside and light and airy inside, bathed in flavored syrup and topped with flakes of coconut. Vegan. Gluten-free version available.
About our Chefs
Ikhlas Mohammed was born in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Her mother, Magboula , was one of four wives, and she was one of twenty children. Since she was little, her mom Magboula (Nanna) has been her biggest inspiration.
Magboula was determined to give her children a good life and an education. For twenty years, she sold coffee, tea, and zalabia (a Sudanese doughnut) on the streets. Despite harassment and extortion from local officials, Magboula provided for her children and looked out for unhoused children she met on the streets.
Ikhlas learned both how to cook and how to live with purpose from her mom. Before moving to the U.S., Ikhlas worked with the UN and nonprofits advocating for women’s rights and earned a master’s in Gender Studies from Ahfad University. In Atlanta, she founded Circle of Resilience, wrote The Women of Resilience, and hosts the CR Talk Podcast. As a program manager at New American Pathways, Ikhlas supports refugee women and families rebuilding their lives.
In 2022, Magboula moved to the U.S. to live with Ikhlas and her family. Ikhlas started Nanna’s Sudanese Cuisine to celebrate her mom’s legacy and share a piece of Sudanese culture. They are regulars at Chow a la Carte and we’re so excited to welcome them to Chow Club.