Ongeipi, I’m so glad you are here.
My name is Ester. I was born and raised in Namibia, but now residing in Germany with my husband and our daughters. At the end of last year, my debut cookbook, Africa Made Easy, was published in German by Christian Verlag, a leading cookbook publisher in Germany.
I started this food blog in 2018, a few months after becoming a first-time mum. What began as a hobby has grown into a place where I share our family’s favourite recipes from around the world, with a special focus on authentic Namibian and German cuisine.
My Love for Cooking
I grew up in a small village in northern Namibia, where I learned to cook traditional dishes such as Oshifima, Oshingali, Fat Cakes and Marathon Chicken with freshly made marula oil from my mother, both of my grandmothers and my aunts. This is where my love for cooking began.
Even back then, my relatives used to rave about my food. I still remember my cousin Kondja telling me how much he missed my cooking whenever I returned to boarding school after spending the weekend at home.
In my early twenties, after earning my bachelor’s degree in Geology and working for a few months, I received a scholarship to study for a master’s degree in Germany. It was my first time leaving Namibia, and my first time on a plane.
When I came to Germany, my plan was to complete my master’s degree and return to Namibia. But life had other plans. I met my now husband, Jo, and instead of moving back home, I settled in Bavaria, in southern Germany, where my mother-in-law, Beate, an incredible cook and baker, introduced me to authentic Bavarian home cooking.
If you’ve ever wondered why the hands in many of my German recipe step-by-step photos aren’t mine, now you know, they belong to Beate!
What to expect from this blog
On this blog you’ll find delicious and easy-to-follow recipes with photos, from busy-day dinner, Sunday roasts, cakes, drinks to DIY.
Whether you’re looking for authentic Namibian recipes, German classics or dishes inspired by my travels, I hope you’ll find something you’ll love.
A Little More About Me
In 2018, I appeared on the German TV show Das perfekte Dinner (the German version of Come Dine with Me). I also had the honour of representing Namibia at two international beauty pageants.
Whenever we travel, I love discovering local food and taking cooking classes.
In my free time, I sing in a choir, teach Afro dance classes to children as a volunteer at our local sports club, and serve as the chairwoman of Kwafa Namibia e.V., a non-profit organization dedicated to improving schools and educational opportunities in my hometown in northern Namibia.
One of my proudest achievements was learning German from beginner (A1) to fluent (C1/C2) in just five months after completing my master’s degree.
Growing up, I couldn’t wait to leave my little village in northern Namibia. It inspired me to work hard and pursue my education. Funny enough, now that I’m older, I love going back home and appreciate the simple village life more than ever.
I’m also a true foodie. I rarely eat out unless the food is exceptional, and I’ll happily plan an entire trip around discovering new flavours and cuisines.
And by the way, “Ester kocht” simply means “Ester cooks” in German.
Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope my recipes inspire you to try something new and bring a little extra joy to your kitchen.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!
Happy cooking!
Ester
Good morning,
Your food looks amazing 😉
Just wondering if you have a Facebook page as I would love to follow that too.
Wow, thank you so much Carole! Of course I have a Facebook Page: @ester kocht.
Wonderful German recipes, thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the German recipes. Happy cooking, and I hope you continue to find more favorites here!
Hi Ester, came looking for the Nusszkopf and stayed for other treats!
Hey, what is the dish you’re pictured making at the bottom of your bio? Tomatoey sauce that you’re breaking eggs into? Just wondering…
Thanks for the recipes.
Blair
Hi Blair, thanks so much for your comment! 😊 I’m glad you found the Nusszkopf and stayed for more treats! The dish you’re asking about in my bio is Shakshuka—a delicious, tomatoey dish with poached eggs. It’s one of my favorites for a hearty and flavorful meal. Thanks again for stopping by, and happy cooking! 🍅🍳
Hallo Ester, eine coole Seite hast du!
Ich bin über das äthiopische Berbere auf deine Seite gekommen, aber du hast auch noch viel mehr zu bieten. Weiter so!
Hallo Danial, vielen lieben Dank für dein tolles Feedback! 😊 Es freut mich sehr, dass du über das äthiopische Berbere auf meine Seite gestoßen bist und dass dir auch die anderen Rezepte gefallen. Ich freue mich, wenn du weiterhin reinschaust! 💛 Ganz liebe Grüße!
Dear Ester, I have just made your vegan Momos. They taste absolutely delicious!! Thank you so much for your recipie. I have never eaten Momos before, but now they are my favorite!
Dear Susa,
Thank you so much for trying out the vegan Momos from my dear friend Kabita. Your comment brought a smile to my face, and I know Kabita would have been overjoyed to hear that you enjoyed her recipe and that the Momos turned out absolutely delicious.
I am deeply saddened to share that my dear friend Kabita recently passed away, but it warms my heart to know that her recipe continues to bring joy to others, just as she had always intended. Kabita was truly passionate about sharing her love for cooking, and I’m grateful that her legacy lives on through her delicious creations.
It’s wonderful to hear that Kabita’s recipe introduced you to the world of Momos, and I’m thrilled that they have become your new favorite! The joy of discovering and savoring new dishes is one of the beautiful things about cooking and sharing recipes.
With warmest regards,
Ester
Aloha from Hawaii. Thank you for the wonderful recipe. My whole family absolutely can’t get enough. I’ve made this cake 10 times in the last month. We have a lemon tree in our yard and that helps too. It tastes really good when chilled!
Aloha Jane,
Thank you so much for reaching out! I’m thrilled to hear that you and your whole family have been enjoying the recipe. Making the cake 10 times in just a month sounds incredible, and it warms my heart to know that it has become a favorite in your household.
Having a lemon tree in your yard sounds fantastic and must be a real blessing. Freshly picked lemons definitely add an extra burst of flavor to the cake.
I’m glad you’ve discovered that chilling the cake enhances its taste. It’s always nice to find little tips that make a dish even more delightful.
Warmest regards,
Ester
Very excited to see authentic German recipes. I’m 50% German on my mother’s side and have my grandmother’s (German) recipe box that I cook things from.
Thank you so much for your comment! 😊 How wonderful that you have your grandmother’s recipe box—that’s such a treasure! I’m glad you’re excited about the authentic German recipes here. I hope you enjoy trying them out and would love to hear how they compare to the ones from your grandmother!
dear mee estela, i am a single dad raising four kids,me and my elder boy have a kind of streetfood vending spot, pls teach us that recipe of vetkoek with mince jnside
Hello Tate Gerson,
Thank you for reaching out! It’s wonderful to hear about your street food vending spot with your elder boy. I’d be delighted to share the vetkoek with mince recipe with you. In fact, I have a detailed recipe for fat cakes (vetkoek) and mince on my blog. You can find it here: https://www.esterkocht.com/recipe-for-vetkoeks-and-mince-fat-cakes-with-minced-meat-sauce/.
I hope you and your family enjoy making and selling this delicious dish.
Best regards,
Ester
Hi Ester,
As a German in the UK, I was looking for something wholesome from my childhood. This hit the spot! Thank you.
Happy cooking, merry Christmas and a great 2026 from West Yorkshire!