Zanzibar, Tanzania – Mtuzi wa Samaki

by Verdzekov Bernard

Meals are of different kind, some of which will even taste same, but have different names. These meals that taste same or that have same ingredients and just few added or subtracted, have different ways of preparation. Good food is what keep most men in Africa. The qualities of a good woman, cooking is one and is one of the strong points. No man jokes with that point. Unlike in the western world, the men there don’t have time as to what their wife’s cook. Most of them even eat outside in restaurants. In Africa, we eat in restaurants, not that our women can’t cook, but that we just want to have fun or socialize. Most African women cook well. And if you don’t know how to cook, your chances of getting married are slim and even if you do, your husband will complain all the time. We love good food and we love when that good food is cooked by our wife/s. 

Finmail has made it possible for meals to be written and published. Make good use of it. 

Most origins of cuisines came about as a result of the movement of people from one locality to the other and from one continent to the next. Trade may serve as a strong factor to this movement of people. This has resulted to sharing ideas, share cultural believes and styles and habits, this has led to new ideas. This cuisine, Mtuzi wa Samaki originates from the small island of Zanzibar. This is eaten and valued by the Zanzibar people and for those who have tried the meal out and who love it. To prepare this meal, follow guide below;

Ingredients

• Fresh fish 
• Salt to taste
• Maggi 
• Red and green bell paper
• Tomatoes
• Curry powder 
• Garlics
• Ginger
• Fresh pepper 
• Lemon juice (optional)
• Onions
• Coconut milk 
• Vegetable oil 

Procedure

• Prepare your fish by removing the fins and scales from the body. Remove gills. Cut the fish into half’s and remove all the bile products from its belly. Rinse thoroughly with water and keep aside. 
• Chop your tomatoes and onions and keep aside.
• Clean your ginger and garlic and blend. Keep aside.
• Blend your pepper separately.
• Season your fish with salt and pepper.
• Heat your oil in your main cooking pan.
• Turn your onion and fry for about 2min, add in your tomatoes and fry until there are translucent. Add garlics and onions and stir well. Allow pot for about 2min while stirring.
• Add your coconut milk, and stir.
• Add curry powder. Stir, add salt, your chop or blend green bell and red bell pepper.
• If you have lemon juice, add 3 spoons, stir well, add your fish stir gently. 
• Add 1 cup of water, close pot and allow fish to cook while all ingredients blend to. This should take 10-15min. Open pot and check if it will be needing water. Add maggi and salt to taste. Close pot for 5 more minutes. Soup is ready.
• Serve with rice or boiled ripe plantains.

Enjoy…