Creamy Lime Chilli Omena

 

Ingredients

2 cups of omena

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 a cup of chopped celery

5 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped dania stems

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon of paprika

1/4 teaspoon of turmeric

1 teaspoon of coriander spice

1/4 teaspoon of chili paste

1 teaspoon of lime zest

200 ml of double cream

Finely chopped dania for garnish

Method

Begin by soaking the omena in some hot water along with a splash of apple cider vinegar, just to soften and have the oils released. This is completely optional, and if you prefer not to soak, it is ok to go ahead and cook then straight though I recommend that you soak. The soak is also recommended solely for sun-dried omena. If your omena is fresh, the soaking need not happen.

Soak for about 2-3 minutes, then drain the waiter and set aside.

In your sufuria, sautee the red onion, celery, garlic and dania stems until softened and fragrant. A solid herby base makes for a great foundation to build flavor upon. The celery is optional, however in enjoy having it in savory dishes and for the flowery notes it brings to the table.

Next add the tomato paste, the spices and abit of hot water (or stock) and let the spices cook down.

Thereafter, add the heavy (double) cream along with your lime zest, and let this simmer for another 5 min on low heat. The mchuzi will change from a deep ruby color to a vibrant amber. You can find your cream in any well stocked supermarket in the dairy section. This is a real game-changer for omena and makes it super rich and delectable when you want a delicious, effortless omena wet-fry.

Just as I mentioned in the video, when I say lime zest, I am referring to the grated rind of a lime. That means if you have 5bob in your pocket, then you already have your lime zest too.

Once simmered down, add the omena we had earlier on soaked, mix them in and then let this simmer for 10-15 min on low heat.

Once done, garnish with some finely chopped dania, along with your favorite mboga and some steaming hot ugali.

This is perfect!! I love how the zestiness of the lime really came through and cut through the richness of the cream. I enjoyed the mild, soft heat of the chili and how the creaminess of the dish overall made this a perfect experience. Bite after bite of perfect yumminess!

The veggies I had this with are a mix of [kanzira + managu + terere + tsisagaa].

Perfection on a plate! This is a fish dish that most people do not fancy, but in my opinion, anything and everything can be super delicious when cooked with love and deliberate effort to want to eat delicious! This is my second omena recipe, but you can check out this first one as well and let me know which one you love most but I know you will enjoy both!