Some years ago I went to Tanzania. I had always felt that as a person of African descent, I wanted to make a personal political statement of landing in the Motherland before ever setting foot on the soil of our British colonizers. Instead of those with ambitions of seeing Europe, I simply desired to see and experience Africa. Africa is a continent of wonder for me. My paternal grandmother’s twin sister, Aunty Madge was a missionary in Africa and I grew up seeing the wooden figurines of the wild animals she would bring back for grandma and grandma would recite exciting stories of Aunty Madge’s experience in Africa. I even inherited a dashiki dress, which I wore with glee in my teens and up to my twenties when it got ripped. Yes, I was the only 17 year old in a dashiki in Jamaica and that did not bother me one bit.
So, when I finally got the chance to visit Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar, I was over the moon! And yes, I returned to the Motherland before ever setting foot in Europe.
ONe thing I loved about Tanzania is that I never needed a visa. I was simply welcomed home.
Tanzania is sort of a melting pot -over 100 tribes of strong east African people coming together along with a few imports from Omani/Yemeni descent (largely in Zanzibar) and all speaking the unifying language of Swahili. Perhaps one of the most visible and iconic tribes in Tanzania and Kenya is the Maasai.. who still wear their woven scarves and make the most beautiful beaded jewelry and sandals to this day. I bought some and still have them. That’s how great they are.
Immediately I noticed so many things. The resilience. The creativity. Yes things were hard for many but they were very creative. And there was the food. The food was fresh and oh so packed with flavour! I was living in Dubai at the time, a country in which the vast majority of the food supply is imported and it was great to get locally grown fresh produce that was so tasty that very little hd to be done to it to make exceptional dishes. One salad, that brings me back to Dar Es Salaam is Kachumbari, a very simple salad served as a condiment or side especially perfect with grilled meats. One thing I loved about Tanzania was that there was no fast food chain. Literally, all the street food was local and fast food was homemade. Even chips were homemade, hand cut local potatoes. It was just sensational!
I found the food to be very spicy and so tasty. FLavours are quite robust and the heat is really on with the use of scotch bonnet peppers in the cuisine of Tanzania. Scotch bonnets add such a different level of both heat and flavour that is unmatched by other peppers in my opinion. As a Jamaican who uses, scotch bonnets, it resonated with my palate. When I got my hands on some Jamaican grown scotch bonnet peppers seasoning from Highnoon Spice, I immediately thought of making Kachumbari!
It was served with these grilled beef skewers that reminded me so much of jerk pork in Jamaica. Honestly, I was in foodie haven. I am honestly salivating as I write this.
So, one of the souvenirs I have brought back with me is this wonderful Kachumbari. It is made in several different ways by several different people. It just depends how you like it. The pic below shows all the possible ingredients. However I like to keep mine very simple. I find that it is the presence of scotch bonnet peppers that truly makes this dish stand out. This is another dish in which my Highnoon Spice Scotch Bonnet Pepper really, really shines.
Some people add cucumbers and also some add cilantro to their kachumbari. Try and make it a few different ways and then settle on the one you like best. I am not trying for mine to taste like salsa so I left out the cilantro and furthermore, I had it the exact way it was prepared at the popular local barbecue street foot joint I had it first in Dar Es Salaam.
Tanzanian Kachumbari Tomato Salad
The perfect, spicy way to enjoy tomatoes in the summer and perfect side or condiment for barbecues and cookouts.
Ingredients
- 500 g tomatoes
- 1 small red onion
- 1 lime
- Highnoon Spice Scotch Bonnet Pepper to taste
Instructions
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Cut onion in half then slice each half into thin slices
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Squeeze some lime and add a pinch of salt and a little water to onions and let sit for about 5 minutes. This gets out the intense rawness of the onions.
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Drain the onions and release excess water
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Combine onions and tomatoes, add salt and Highnoon Spice Scotch Bonnet Pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy. It intesifies as it sits.
I shot images and created this recipe for my client Highnoon Spice, a company that reached out to me to give them feedback and I literally fell in love with their products. You can shop for their spices on their website or on Amazon. They are willing to deliver internationally too… so all of you who cannot get your hands on scotch bonnet peppers, you are finally in luck. It is absolutely worth every penny. I am about to go on vacation for two months and I am not leaving home without them. This product is an artisanal product from a a family farm in Jamaica, and honestly you know how much I love supporting great artisanal products.
This looks and sounds incredible. I loved the story of your visit to Africa. I’ve been all over the world and although not of African descent, I am always struck by the welcoming nature of the people. Not to mention – the amazing street food!! Going to try this Kachumbari this weekend!
Thanks for reading and for your very encouraging comment! You are going to love it.
There is nothing better than a fresh homegrown tomato salad in the summertime. I can’t wait to try your spin on one of my very favorite salads.
Yes, with some yummy Texas steaks, you are in for a superbly tasty meal Kelly!
I have a fair few tomatoes to use up at home and I love a bit of spice, so perhaps I’ll try this out this week!
Yes! Way to go!
Fantastic photographs! Love the tomato salad. I can see me putting that on a burger, or as a side with almost anything this summer.
Thanks for your compliments on my photography.
I love how easy this recipe is using fresh vegetables and just a little bit of heat to it.
I major in easy with extra doses of tasty!
What a great story attached to this delicious recipe. I love the photos, absolutely stunning, thanks so much for sharing this!
Thanks for reading my story and your kind regards for my photography! I put a lot of love in my work.
I really loved this post. So thankful you were able to visit Tanzania. I would love to go one day! Really interesting that they also use scotch bonnet peppers in their food too. Where do they originate from? I think I may actually buy some for myself!
Scotch bonnets are heavily used in Jamaican, Caribbean and African cooking. Will have to research to see their origin
Best and healthy salad option for dinner. Have to make some for family.
Yes, because it is so healthy. Leave out the scotch bonnet for the kids unless that are used to scorching hot heat.
I can definitely understand your desire to see your Motherland. And I am so interested and intrigued by Africa, it is such a diverse continent. This kachumbari looks absolutely fantastic, I love tomato and onion salads.
I would love to tour all of Africa and even live there one day!
I love how fresh the ingredients are, and it looks so flavorful. The added spice sounds awesome!
Yes, simple fresh ingredients kicked up with the well preserved Highnoon Spice Scotch Bonnet Powder.
I love the sound of this salad, I normally add fresh green chillies but that scothch bonet … oh la la! I would love so much to try this salad when my garden tomatoes are coming along 😉
You are going to rock at this!
What an interesting post!! My eyes bugged out when I saw Scotch Bonnet Pepper! WOW! That is some hot pepper. Use with caution. But I do love trying new seasonings — and your kachumbari looks so delicious. I’d love to make it with our barbecues pork this weekend.
Yes definitely use with caution especially if you don’t know how potent scotch bonnet is and this has all the seeds. But the flavor is unbelievable!
Yum! so simple, just how it should be. Doesn’t need anything else in my opinion. Looks like the perfect side!
You hit the nail right on the head!
I love anything with tomatoes, and when you add a hot pepper to it, yum! Tomatoes are just coming in season I will be sure to make this soon! And your photos are beautiful!
Thanks for the compliments about my photography. Much appreciated!
I loved that you were able to visit a place so important to your roots! This tomato salad looks wonderful too. I am completely intrigued by the scotch bonnet pepper seasoning!
Jenni you MUST get your hands on it and experiment with it!
I really love that this can be used as a side in our summer BBQs. There is a shortage of healthy sides in my family. I am totally bringing this tomato salad with me to our summer BBQs.
It is absolutely the PERFECT BBQ side dish!
This is such a great twist on tomato salad! I love spicy food so I can’t wait to try this. I bet it tastes amazing!
It is…and that is why I love to travel.
I love tomato and onion salad and it’s a staple salad for us in the summer when we have our own tomatoes! I’m looking forward to trying it the Tanzanian way!
I would love to incorporate this with some of your pasta dishes too.
I love love love this post. Street photos are just unbelievable and they set such a great tone for the recipe itself. I will definitely give this salad a try – it looks and sounds phenomenal.
Mirlene, thanks ever so much for your kind words regarding my photography and writing. Much, much appreciated feedback!
I’ve never been to Tanzania, but it sounds like an amazing place. And that photo of the guy grilling is an incredible shot! Really tells the story. I’m so glad you shared this delicious recipe, so I can get a taste of the food until I get a chance to visit.
Amanda, happy to give you a chance to visit vicariously in this post. Thanks for your compliments re my photography.
This looks so delicious and it has the fewest ingredients?! The pictures of your vacation are beautifulby the way 🙂
Thanks ever so much for your compliments about my travel photography 😀
This sounds so fresh, spicy, and delicious! I love the backstory that you tell us. It is really interesting to learn more about the roots of a person, and the different foods that have influenced them,
Thanks for taking the time to read. That’s one of the things I love about blogging as a platform.
Literally bursting with freshly grown tomatoes over here so I need lots of good things to make with them!!! This is on the list!
Happy to have given you a new idea to let your harvest shine in new ways!
Love tomatoes this time of year when the are in season. This salad is perfect way to enjoy them. I love the flavors and simplicity. So good. I must give this a try.
Have fun making and eating this salad!
The tomato salad looks totally refreshing. I wonder how the scotch bonnet pepper taste. Is it super hot or mild?
It is super hot. Like green chilies but much more aromatic and flavourful. I cannot actually handle green chilies but I can use scotch bonnets 😀
Sounds like you had a great trip! And what an interesting recipe to come out of it. Tomatoes, onion, lime, and a peppery spice – it sounds so simple, but simple things are often so delicious.
Tomato and lime sounds like a good combination. And who doesn’t love a little bit of spice? Loved your story.
In my Opinion, the perfect meal for a hot day