Description
Matemba and Sadza is a traditional dish featuring dried fish served with maize meal, offering a delicious and nutritious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups dried matemba (small dried fish)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup maize meal (cornmeal)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon additional salt (for sadza)
Instructions
- Rinse the dried matemba under cold water to remove any excess salt and impurities. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the rinsed matemba to the skillet and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fish is heated through and slightly crispy. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a separate pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Once boiling, gradually whisk in the maize meal, stirring continuously to prevent lumps.
- Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring until the mixture thickens, about 5-7 minutes. Add the sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt, mixing well.
- Once the sadza is thick and pulls away from the sides of the pot, remove from heat. Cover and let it sit for a few minutes to firm up.
- Serve the matemba alongside the sadza, using a spoon to scoop the sadza and enjoy with the fish.
Notes
- For added flavor, consider marinating the matemba in lemon juice and spices for a few hours before cooking.
- You can substitute maize meal with instant polenta for a quicker preparation of sadza. Just follow the package instructions for cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: African
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Matemba, Sadza, Dried Fish, Maize Meal, African Cuisine