Kachumbari
Kachumbari is a fresh tomato and onion salad dish that is popular in the cuisines of the African Great Lakes region. It is an uncooked salad dish consisting of chopped tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers.[1] Variations of kachumbari can be found in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and in the Southern African countries of Malawi and Congo.
Kachumbari | |
Course | Salad |
---|---|
Region or state | African Great Lakes |
Main ingredients | Tomato, onion, |
Ingredients generally used | Chilli and salt |
Variations | Lime/lemon juice, coriander, parsley, cucumber, avocado, gin, vodka |
Similar dishes | Pico de gallo, salsa fresca |
The Swahili word kachumbari originated from the Indian word cachumber.
Uses
Kachumbari is used as a salad side dish for a main meal. In Kenya, it is used as a condiment served with pilau (pilaf),[2] mukimo,[3] or a meal of nyama choma (roasted meat) and ugali. In Tanzania, it is eaten with rice pilau or biryani. In Malawi, it is usually eaten on its own like any other salad dish, while in Uganda it is normally eaten with nyama choma.
Variations
Other ingredients, such as lime or lemon juice, fresh cilantro (coriander or dhania), parsley, avocado, or cucumber, and in some cases gin or vodka, can also be added. Some recipe variations also call for habanero or Scotch bonnet peppers, with a touch of ground cayenne pepper.[4]
Kachumbari is popular throughout the African Great Lakes region and can be eaten with African pilaf and African biryani. In Malawi, it is called sumu or shum or simply "tomato and onion salad".
References
- Sheen, B. (2010). Foods of Kenya. A Taste of Culture. Greenhaven Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-7377-4813-0. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
- Bala, Nithu. "Kachumbari - East African Salad". nithubala.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
- "Recipe: Mukimo". African Cook. Archived from the original on 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
- Bala, Nithu. "Kachumbari - East African Salad". nithubala.com. Retrieved 24 July 2012.