Mbongo Tchobi (African Spicy Black Stew)

DifficultyIntermediate

Mbongo Tchobi, also known as Mbongo, is an earthy, spicy sauce based on black tomatoes with a smooth, thick and velvety texture. Its unmistakable taste and color are achieved by burning "Hiomi" (Mbongo stick) over a hot, open flame. Then it is mixed and incorporated into the tomato stew with other spices. It is eaten with bobolo or cooked yellow plantain.

[cooked-sharing]
mbongo
Yields1 Serving
Prep Time15 minsCook Time40 minsTotal Time55 mins
Ingredients
 1 kg white fish, cut into steaks (e.g. pangasius fillet)
 15 g Njanssang or Akpi (approx. 10 pieces)
 1 large onion
 250 g Tomato (approx. 4 tomatoes)
 ¼ cup parsley
 ½ cup basil
 2 tbsp cloves garlic
 2 green onions
 1 cup Vegetable oil
 5060 g Mbongo spice (approx. 4-6 tablespoons)
 1 tbsp bouillon powder or 2 Maggi cubes
 Salt to taste
Preparation
1

If using catfish ,pour hot water over the fish in the sink, let it sit for a minute, then rinse and clean the fish (this removes all the sliminess of the fish). Skip this if you using any other white fish. Set aside

2

Lightly fry njanssang or akpi for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

3

Chop the tomatoes, onions, green onions and place in a food processor or blender- add njansa, garlic, basil, parsley with a little bit of water if using a blender to facilitate blending. Blend until puree.

4

Heat up a saucepan with oil, then add the tomatoes mixture, with very little water, bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

5

Add mbongo spice, fish, Maggi and salt to the mixture; simmer for another 10 minutes or more until fish is cooked through. Add water as necessary to prevent burns.

6

Adjust for seasonings with salt or Maggi.

7

Serve hot with boiled plantains or bobolo.

Ingredients

Ingredients
 1 kg white fish, cut into steaks (e.g. pangasius fillet)
 15 g Njanssang or Akpi (approx. 10 pieces)
 1 large onion
 250 g Tomato (approx. 4 tomatoes)
 ¼ cup parsley
 ½ cup basil
 2 tbsp cloves garlic
 2 green onions
 1 cup Vegetable oil
 5060 g Mbongo spice (approx. 4-6 tablespoons)
 1 tbsp bouillon powder or 2 Maggi cubes
 Salt to taste

Directions

Preparation
1

If using catfish ,pour hot water over the fish in the sink, let it sit for a minute, then rinse and clean the fish (this removes all the sliminess of the fish). Skip this if you using any other white fish. Set aside

2

Lightly fry njanssang or akpi for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

3

Chop the tomatoes, onions, green onions and place in a food processor or blender- add njansa, garlic, basil, parsley with a little bit of water if using a blender to facilitate blending. Blend until puree.

4

Heat up a saucepan with oil, then add the tomatoes mixture, with very little water, bring to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

5

Add mbongo spice, fish, Maggi and salt to the mixture; simmer for another 10 minutes or more until fish is cooked through. Add water as necessary to prevent burns.

6

Adjust for seasonings with salt or Maggi.

7

Serve hot with boiled plantains or bobolo.

Notes

Mbongo Tchobi (African Spicy Black Stew)

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