Baking using (Tanzanian) charcoal stove

By Miriam


A few people wanted to know how they could bake with out electrical or gas oven. It happened that I do know to bake using Tanzania charcoal stove that we use for everyday cooking. This may seem very hard at first, but it will get easier eventually. Also visit my blog for different types of wood / charcoal oven.
I was blessed to watch one of my relatives (home economics teacher), baking using Makaa (Charcoal). She baked nice cakes and bread at home using a regular (Tanzanian) charcoal stove. I also helped once or twice, I hope these instructions will help a few people.

Since the Diagram is labled in Kiswahili. Here is the translation.
•Makaa ya moto = Hot charcoal.
•Mfuniko = Lid.
•Sufuria ya keki = Baking dish.
•Sufuria kubwa = Big pot.
•Mchanga = Soil.
•Keki = Cake

 Jiko la Mkate

Instructions
    You will need the following (As shown in the above picture)

  • Sand (big particles). Mchanga.
  • Big pot for sand (which is used as an oven). Sufuria Kubwa.



  • Baking dish. Sufuria ya keki
  • Lid / cover for the big pot. Mfuniko
  • Place the sand in a big pot, then put the pot on the stove. Drop a few drops of water to check if the sand is very hot (Please be at the distance when doing this). The water will evaporate with strong steam if the sand is very hot.
  • While you are waiting for the sand to be hot, prepare your cake mixture and pour on the baking dish. When sand is ready, place the baking dish in the middle of the big sand pot as shown on the picture.
  • Place the lid and hot charcoal on top of the big pot. Make sure the lid covers the pot very tight.
  • Check and change the charcoal on top of the pot often. Make sure it is always very hot.
  • Use a thin wood stick (a little wider than the needle) to see if the cake is baked. If nothing sticks on the wood then your cake is ready)

NOTE:
You may need to try this a few times before you get it right because it is hard to control the heat on charcoal stove, but you will learn as you keep trying. Send me a picture of your cake.