First encounters with this black stew known to most people as “Mbongo Tchobi” can be disconcerting for Westerners – I must admit I was taken aback with it’s gray black color the first time, I was actually offered a plate of this dish. But now, I am a big fan and most people who actually try them find them quite appetizing.
Mbongo Tchobi, also known, as bongo is an earthy spicy black tomato based sauce with smooth, thick, and velvety texture. It’s distinctive taste and color is achieved by burning “hiomi” (Mbongo stick) over hot open flame. Then it is blended and incorporated into the tomato stew with other spices.
The most basic ingredients consists of: Hiomi, back of mbongo tree (the star ingredient in the soup), njansa, a nutty spice (used in some West African countries), alligator pepper also known as: grains of paradise, African nutmeg or, ehuru, (a spice widely grown in West Africa and some Caribbean countries).
I intensify the flavor of the stew by lightly frying the njansa; added garlic, basil and parsley.
In contrast to the past, you can purchase the ground spices in little sachets with the work already done for you. All you need to do is; add to the tomato stew with any firm white fish (Catfish is the fish most often used).
Unfortunately, if you live abroad this spice blend is only available in some African stores and online- sold as mbongo spice in Western Countries.
This spicy stew is a popular dish that is frequently cooked in the homes and restaurants in Cameroon, specifically in the littoral province among the Bassa Tribe.
Serve it with boiled sweet plantains or any starchy side.
Watch How To Make It
Mbongo Tchobi (Spicy Black Sauce)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds of white fish cut up in steaks
- Njansa – 10
- ½ large onion
- 4 large tomatoes
- ¼ cup parsley
- ½ cup basil
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 green onions
- ½ - 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4-6 tablespoons mbongo spice
- 1 tablespoon bouillon powder or 2 Maggi cubes
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- 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
- Lightly fry njansa for about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Adjust for seasonings with salt or Maggi.
- Serve warm with boil plantains.
Nutrition Information:
Hannah Agbor says
I made MBONGO TCHOBI last and my husband absolutely loved it. i followed everything on your recipe and it was so good.
God bless you dear.
i’ll definitely try out more recipes on your blog.
imma africanbites says
Glad you love it, Hannah. And thank you for letting me know. 🙂
Polianthus says
wow – I consider myself pretty well educated when it comes to spices and herbs, but in your article I discovered many I had not encountered before, possibly because they are named differently to how I know them, but very possibly also, because they are new to me. Great article. Poli
Leesha says
Thank you so much for all your receipes. I am keen reader and fan and i must admit i have used your receipes to cook many dishes. am gonna cook mbongo tchobi now
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome! Thanks for giving my recipes a try. Do let me know how this works for you.
Jessica says
Was just wondering if I could substitute the fish with something else?
ImmaculateBites says
Yes, I have seen it done with chicken before.
gwen says
Hi , I love your website and thanks for bringing these amazing recipes to us.
Your presentation is very easy to follow!!
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Gwen, glad you like them. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Nullacia says
Thanks for all your awesome recipes! So my mom sends me already ground njansang paste… so would you say about 1 or 2 tablespoons would be enough?? Thanks
ImmaculateBites says
Yes, 1-2 tablespoons would do just fine. Please let me know how it turns out. Thanks!
Della says
hello, am elated with ur recipe but what are green onion, parsley and basil? i mean in lay language. thks
carine says
hey thanks so much for tthe recipe. i wish to find out if i can cook mbongo with fried fish cus i don’t eat boiled fish. thanks in advance
ImmaculateBites says
Carine, It would not hurt to fry your fish.
billie says
so i’m a single male right, i got a friend who just came back from Africa and brought these Mbongo Spices. It’s my traditional dish, but i don’t know how to cook it… yes i know, not cool. I’m taking a challenge with this recipe now. i hope it works cuz my girl is one of the judge. lol
ImmaculateBites says
I will keep my fingers cross…. I know it is going to taste great and your girl will give you the thumbs up! Let me know how it works for you!
billie says
i hope so too
Fanny says
From the moment I came upon your blog, I have been amazed at the recipes you present. You give excellent tips for some people like us who are unable to make These dishes just like we remember them from home. I had been looking for an alternative to making Ekwang using other green leaves, and been searching for kondre and Achu recipes for ages! Finally thanks to your blog, my search has been brought to a happy end. Thank you so so much for all of these wonderful recipes, and ideas.
Kelseya says
Finally made this. Taste really good, unfortunately for me I am almost out of the spice. Where I live I can’t find it anywhere. Anyway, when ever I go back home will bring more. Thanks.
Mispa says
Hi I love your website!!! Someone from Canada referred me to your website for the Mbongo Tchobi recipe. I love what you’re doing and I will try this recipe tonight. Thank you for doing this. I like the portion sizes as well as the fact that you’re not just limited to just African food. I wish more people would know about your blog, will pass this along. The presentation is professional!
ImmaculateBites says
Mispa, thanks for writing and for such high praise. I am super excited to hear you would spread the word about Immaculatebites.
Glenda says
Nice
Emmoni says
What is Njansa and where can I purchase it?
Africanbites says
Njansa is an oily seed used as a flavoring agent in most West African countries. They are available in some African stores depending on your location.
Emmoni says
Thanks for your response, and I love your page by the way. Do you think I can purchase it online?
elodie says
hi thanks for the tips i just finished cooking it and its the most delicious mbongo tchobi i ve ever stewed
Africanbites says
Thanks elodie, am glad you enjoyed your bongo.
kelsey says
Thank you so much for this recipe. I have Mbongo Tchobi spice at home but didn’t know how to prepare it. I will use it now with this recipe. I saw you have quite a bit of Njansa on the pictures. Did you mean 10 grains of Njangsa? Thanks!!
Africanbites says
Yes, 10 grains not more than 15, njansa can be very over powering sometimes.I was making a large amount of this sauce .By the way it tastes even better the next day.
Benazir says
I am in Chicago where can I buy njansa and mobongo spice I have afrien in real who is from Cameroon plus I enjoy cooking
ImmaculateBites says
Benazir, I do not know anyone that sells these spices in Chicago. I will be on the look out.