Laxoox
Encyclopedia
Lahoh, also spelled laxoox in Somali
, is a spongy, pancake
-like bread originating in Djibouti
, Somalia
and Yemen
. It is also popular in Israel
, where it was introduced by Yemenite Jews
who immigrated there. In Yemen, it is often sold on the street by peddlers.
of plain flour
, self-raising flour, warm water, yeast
and a pinch of salt. The mixture is beaten by hand until soft and creamy, then left out to ferment
. Sorghum
is the preferred flour for making lahoh. There is a sweet-tasting variety of the dish, as well as another variety that is made with eggs.
Lahoh is traditionally baked on a metallic circular stove called a daawo. Lacking that, it can also be baked in an ordinary pan.
and a cup of tea. During lunch, lahoh is sometimes also consumed with soup or stew.
Somali language
The Somali language is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family. Its nearest relatives are Afar and Oromo. Somali is the best documented of the Cushitic languages, with academic studies beginning before 1900....
, is a spongy, pancake
Pancake
A pancake is a thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter, and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. Most pancakes are quick breads; some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Most pancakes are cooked one side on a griddle and flipped partway through to cook the other side...
-like bread originating in Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
and Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. It is also popular in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, where it was introduced by Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews are those Jews who live, or whose recent ancestors lived, in Yemen . Between June 1949 and September 1950, the overwhelming majority of Yemen's Jewish population was transported to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet...
who immigrated there. In Yemen, it is often sold on the street by peddlers.
Preparation
Lahoh is prepared from a doughDough
Dough is a paste made out of any cereals or leguminous crops by mixing flour with a small amount of water and/or other liquid. This process is a precursor to making a wide variety of foodstuffs, particularly breads and bread-based items , flatbreads, noodles, pastry, and similar items)...
of plain flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
, self-raising flour, warm water, yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
and a pinch of salt. The mixture is beaten by hand until soft and creamy, then left out to ferment
Fermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
. Sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
is the preferred flour for making lahoh. There is a sweet-tasting variety of the dish, as well as another variety that is made with eggs.
Lahoh is traditionally baked on a metallic circular stove called a daawo. Lacking that, it can also be baked in an ordinary pan.
Consumption
For a typical Somali breakfast, three pieces of lahoh are often eaten along with gheeGhee
Ghee is a class of clarified butter that originated in South Asia and is commonly used in South Asian cuisine....
and a cup of tea. During lunch, lahoh is sometimes also consumed with soup or stew.