Cameroonian Mpuh Fish Spice Mix
There cannot be a more impactful flavor from such simple ingredients than that which comes from the Mpuh spice mix. Maybe it’s because Mpuh spice mix is a combination of the most uniquely flavorfed West African spices; njangsang, country onion, bush pepper and pebbe. These spices are then combined with dried unripe plantain flour (a.k.a Mpuh) and are used to make a dish known as Mpuh Fish. Mpuh Fish is one of the traditional dishes of the Bafaw and Bakossi tribes in Meme and Kupe Manenguba Divisions of Cameroon. Because the Bafaw and Bakossi tribes share geographic borders with the Oroko tribe (the home of my maternal ancestral lineage), the 3 tribes also share some similarities in traditional dishes. Mpuh Fish is a dish that exemplifies the culinary similarities between these tribes. Although it is known as Mpuh Spice to the Bafaw and the Bakossi tribe and known as Njeti Spice to the Oroko tribe, our family enjoyed it all the same. Mpuh spice is not only captivating in palate but it exemplifies how food pushes past borders and teaches us how to love and celebrate both our differences and similarities as people.
Click play on the video below to cook along with me or scroll past the video to follow the written instructions. Store your Mpuh spice mix in a dry area and stay tuned for how to use it to make Mpuh Fish in the next episode. Enjoy!
P.S- If you're one of the many asking, “What kind of blender does she have that grinds up those kinds of strong head spices into a powder like that?!” The answer is here below! I have had this blender for a long time and it has been my trustee in the kitchen. I’ve used it for both soft ingredient recipes like my Cameroon Banana Cake to tough ingredient recipes like this Mpuh Fish Spice Mix. No matter what I’m blending, it always gives me the consistency I desire when cooking various Cameroonian dishes. Click below to get your Ninja Chef High Speed Blender on Amazon now! Trust me, you will not regret it.
Dish : Mpuh Fish Spice Mix
Country : Cameroon
Geographic Location : Southwest Region
Ethnic Groups : Bafaw and Bakossi
Diaspora Connection : Bafaw Cultural & Development Association, Bakossi Cultural & Development Association
M p u h F i s h S p i c e M i x
C o o k i n g I n s t r u c t i o n s
Ingredients For Mpuh Fish Spice Mix
a. 10 Large Unripe Plantains
b. 1 Cup Njangsang
c. 2 Tablespoons Ground Country Onion
d. 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Bush Pepper
e. 1/2 Teaspoon of Ground Pebbe
Preparation
Wash the plantains to remove sand or dust.
Wash plantains.
2. Peel the plantains and cut them into thin slices.
3. Place the sliced plantains in the oven on warm until the plantains become dry and crispy.
If you are in a tropical location or in a warm weather season, you can place the sliced plantains on a clean tray and lay it outside to sun-dry.
Place sliced plantains into the oven to dry.
Take plantains out of the oven when it is dry and crispy.
4. Blend the dried plantains in a dry blender until it turns into a fine powder. Pour the powder into a bowl and then set aside.
Blend dried plantains until it becomes a powder.
5. Combine all the individual spices (Plantains Powder, Njangsang, Pebbe, Country Onion and Bush Pepper) into a high-speed dry blender and blend in batches until smooth.
6. Store the ready to use Mpuh Fish spice mix in a dry container or Ziploc bag and place it in the dry area for a later use.
