Soibum ga Nga ga Thongba (Fermented Bamboo Shoot cooked with Fish)

Ingredients- "Soibum ga Nga ga Thongba"

Soibum (Fermented Bamboo Shoot) is another Manipuri food item which is fermented before consumption like "Ngari & Hawai Jar" and like me most Manipuri's just love "Soibum Eromba". Eromba is the most common dish from Soibum but its also added in Pork curry and Nga- Soibum Kanghou (Kakching ge Nga- Soibum Kanghou is really famous), few weeks back a fren of mine invited me for lunch and she had made this curry....it was not only yummmm and I was having it for the first time. I liked it so much that I decided to try it myself...the final verdict of my 1st attempt very......really good.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 Pieces of fried fish (Rohu/Katla/Karpu (Nga Pukloubi).
• 2 Potatos.
• 1 cup of soibum (Washed atleast 5 times and squeeze the excess water )  
• 1 Tomato
• 1 Onion (chopped)
• 3-4 Garlic cloves.
• Green Chillies (4-5)
• Sa Maroi (Also called Awa-Phadigom)
• Jeera 1 tbsp (optional)
• Turmeric powder
• Machal Masala ( Special type of masala powder available only in Manipur made by this SHG group called Kangla) or Garam Masala
• Salt to taste.
• 2/3 tbsp Mustered oil.
• Coriander  Leaves for garnish.

Method:

• In a Kadhai add 2/3 tbsp of mustered oil, once its smoking hot add the chopped Garlic. Fry for 1-2 mins and add the chopped Onion, fry till it turns golden brown.
• Add the chopped Green Chillies and jeera. Fry for 2-3 mins in low flame.
• Add the cube Potato's, chopped tomato and Soibum, mix it with the other ingredients. Cover the Kadhai and cook on low flame.
• Check after 10-12 mins if the potato's are half cooked. Add 1 small tbsp of turmeric powder, sa- maroi and the Machal Masala/ Garam Masala. Stir it well and add the fried fish & 2 cups of hot water, keep the kadhai covered and continue cooking on low flame.
• After 10 mins check if the potato's are cooked  and once its done add salt.
• Garnish with Coriander leaves.
• Serve hot with rice and oo-morok metpa. Yummmmmm

Cooking Time: 40-45 mins.

Serves: 4 

* I prefer adding turmeric powder towards the end to avoid food from sticking in the Kadhai when cooked in a non stick cookware.