• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Precious Diary
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
    • Work with Me
  • MY PEN SPEAKS
    • Love n Marriage
    • Singles
    • News n Features
    • Faith
    • Parenting
    • Beauty n Style
    • Blogging
  • Recipe Index
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Popular African Foods
    • Cameroonian Food
    • Carrribean Recipes

Precious Core logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Easter
  • Videos
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Easter
    • Videos
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Precious Kitchen

    PUBLISHED: Dec 6, 2016 · UPDATED: Sep 26, 2018 by Precious · This post may contain affiliate links · 23 Comments

    MBONGO TCHOBI - CAMEROONIAN BLACK STEW

    Sharing is caring!

    6.8K shares
    • Share6.7K
    • Yum this
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Mbongo Tchobi is a spicy black stew typically eaten by the Bassa people of Cameroon. Its deliciousness has made it gain popularity in other parts of the country. The key ingredient is the intensely aromatic mbongo spice, from which the stew derives its name. It is burnt then ground before cooked into a sauce, hence the black colour.

    mbongo-tchobi-recipe

    The already ground black spice is widely sold in Cameroon and colloquially called, "mbongo spice" or "epice mbongo" in French.

    In other parts of the world, it can be gotten from select African shops. Other ingredients used in the stew include tomatoes, onions, garlic, pepper and a nutty seed called njangsa in Cameroon, typically used in making peppersoup.

    mbongo-tchobi

    Mbongo, as it is fondly called is typically eaten with a starchy side like plantains or yams. I ate mine with white yam because there's nothing like some boiled crumbly African yam.

    mbongo-sauce-cameroon

    Watch me whip it up in the video below. Enjoy!

    Recipe

    mbongo tchobi

    Mbongo Tchobi - Cameroonian Black Stew

    This is a black stew typically eaten by the Bassa people of Cameroon. It is spicy, earthy and nutty.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Cameroonian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 572kcal
    Author: Precious

    Ingredients

    • 2 large fish of choice (I used tilapia) about 2 pounds
    • 4 teaspoons ground mbongo spice
    • 30 seeds njangsa
    • 2 seeds African nutmeg (Ehuru/Pebe) peeled
    • 3 small seasoning cubes (Maggi)
    • 1 ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 large tomatoes (or four small ones) roughly chopped
    • 1 large onion
    • ½ celery stalk - chopped
    • ½ stem of leeks - chopped
    • 7 garlic cloves- peeled
    • ½ inch ginger root - peeled
    • ½- 1 cup vegetable oil
    • ¼ teaspoon white pepper (optional)
    • 1 habanero/hot pepper (optional)
    • 2 stems green onions (optional) for garnishing

    Instructions

    • Clean the fish and cut into steaks. Rinse well, sprinkle a pinch of salt over and set aside.
    • Put into a blender the tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger, leeks, celery, African nutmeg, njangsa, mbongo spice, half the onion together with half a cup of water. Blend into a paste.
    • Pour the blended mixture over the fish and let it rest.
    • In a pot, heat vegetable oil. Chop the other half of onion and saute in the oil until fragrant.
    • Add fish and spice mixture into sauteed onions. Scatter Maggi cubes over it and salt. If using white and hot pepper, add them at this stage.
    • Cover and let it cook for about 15 minutes. After that, open and taste to make sure the seasoning is perfect. At this point, you could add a little water to lighten up the stew if it is too thick for you. Allow to cook for another five minutes. 
    • Serve warm with boiled yams or plantains.

    Notes

    You could use chicken or pork instead of fish in this recipe.
    If you wish, blend your hot pepper together with the other ingredients. If not, add it whole.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 572kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 32g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 1095mg | Potassium: 379mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1180IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @preciouscore or tag #preciouscore!
    pre-signature-pro

    YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    • HOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS EKWANGHOW TO MAKE DELICIOUS EKWANG
    • Cameroonian Sese PlantainsCameroonian Sese Plantains
    • FLAVOURFUL FISH ROLLS - CAMEROONIAN FISH ROLL RECIPEFLAVOURFUL FISH ROLLS - CAMEROONIAN FISH ROLL RECIPE
    • CAMEROON DOUGHNUTS RECIPECAMEROON DOUGHNUTS RECIPE

    More Precious Kitchen

    • Square image of cajun salmon.
      Baked Cajun Salmon
    • Square image of Pan Fried Teriyaki Salmon.
      Pan Fried Teriyaki Salmon
    • Square Image of Cameroonian Soya
      Cameroonian Soya Without Skewers
    • Square image of Nigerian Beef Stew
      Nigerian Beef Stew

    Sharing is caring!

    6.8K shares
    • Share6.7K
    • Yum this
    • Email

    About Precious

    Welcome to my core! I am Precious Nkeih, the recipe developer and writer right here on my blog, Precious Core. My goal is to show you insanely delicious recipes you can replicate in your kitchen. And I love to tell stories too. Hope you find recipes here that will make cooking easier for you! Check me out on YouTube at YouTube.com/PreciousKitchen.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bola says

      December 06, 2016 at 3:07 pm

      Nice meal there, and easy to prepare too. Make I quickly go Cameroon go but Mbongo spice.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        December 06, 2016 at 10:54 pm

        So easy, Bola.
        Thanks dear!

        Reply
    2. Pelagie says

      December 09, 2016 at 6:50 pm

      Thank you so much Ma. Pre. If you don't mind me calling you like that.
      I had missed "mbongo" for a very long time.
      I saw the images two days ago on Facebook and I was inspired. After following your recipe, OMG! ?.
      Thank you so much. I enjoyed and keep thanking you in my heart.
      God bless you and the work of your hands.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        December 09, 2016 at 11:38 pm

        Oh Pelagie, for some reason a lot of people started calling me Ma Pre right from my teens. Looks like I can't run from the name.
        Thanks so much for coming back to let me know. Your comment totally made my day.
        God bless you, dear.

        Reply
    3. Mary says

      January 13, 2017 at 2:05 am

      Wow! I love this so much but didn't know how to prepare it.thnks a lot

      Reply
      • Precious says

        January 14, 2017 at 10:39 am

        You're most welcome, Mary!

        Reply
    4. Mary says

      January 20, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      May God !!! Aunty Pre I don't know how to say thank you for this wonderful dish.I have never done it on my own but made it today and sweetie and his friend were like "demm, baby you.......in fact short of words to put there lol .Thank you mummy. I feel like a real African woman?

      Reply
      • Precious says

        January 22, 2017 at 10:08 am

        Awwww Mary!
        This warms my heart so much.
        Thanks for coming back to let me know.

        Reply
    5. Melanie says

      January 24, 2017 at 1:04 pm

      Thank you so much for posting your recipes!! My husband is from Cameroon and I am American. He longs for foods like this, as you can imagine. I am so excited to try making this one in particular since he was asking for it just the other day. Hopefully, I can make is just like a "Cameroonian" woman. 🙂

      Reply
      • Precious says

        January 18, 2018 at 4:22 pm

        Melanie, I can't believe I missed your comment. So glad to help, dear. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

        Reply
    6. Juliana says

      January 18, 2018 at 4:28 am

      Ma Pre i don't how to thank you. Infact your post made me know how to cook mbongo after thinking that i don't know and would never know how to cook mbongo be cause i thought it is very hard to cook. Thanks you and may God bless you and your hand work.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        January 18, 2018 at 4:23 pm

        Thank you, Juliana. Comments like yours are the reason why I keep going. God bless you.

        Reply
    7. Landry Tafang says

      July 27, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      Ma Precious,

      I am so thankful for you kindness. I can't count now how many times de this following your recipe. my husband can't focus at work when he knows that he is coming home to this LOL.

      Thank you so much

      Reply
      • Precious says

        July 27, 2018 at 2:37 pm

        Haha you are welcome, Landry! Now I feel like making some. Thanks for the feedback!

        Reply
    8. ekeh desmond says

      March 03, 2019 at 12:22 am

      wow!!! thanks so much. mbongo tchobi is my favorite .but don't know how to prepare. from your post i surely belief i can now. may GOD keep inspiring you.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        March 03, 2019 at 3:18 pm

        You are most welcome. Hope you enjoy your Mbongo!

        Reply
    9. Manny says

      March 07, 2019 at 6:13 pm

      Nice food, well presented. Yummy!!!!
      It reminds me of my young age as a primary school pupil from the age 5 at Boa Balondo Government school. As school children we walked all the way from Boa to Mbongo for a Sunday Church service, and on our way back the then wife of the Chief of Boa, Mr Martin Fete will prepare same food which we share before going home to our parents. However we grab the sweet yam because were hungry and the old woman will share the fish to us. I hope you have not forgotten another type of dish of green plantain, dry fish and pepper? Things must have changed now because these were my experience between 1968 to 1975. I will try to talk to someone from either Boa Balondo, Boa Camp or Mbongo.

      Reply
      • David says

        April 27, 2022 at 2:57 am

        Thanks mum it is really interesting I need to try it right away hope the results will be superb

        Reply
    10. Cindy says

      November 03, 2020 at 7:19 am

      I made this today for my Cameroonian husband. I used chicken instead, and boy oh boy it was deeeeeeelicious. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Precious says

        November 03, 2020 at 3:24 pm

        You are so welcome, Cindy!

        Reply
    11. EJ says

      July 01, 2021 at 4:29 pm

      I found all of the ingredients except Mbongo spice. Do you know if there is a large difference between Mbongo spice and alligator pepper? I’ve seen some places say that they are the same and some say that they are slightly different. I really want to make this recipe but want to make sure I can do it properly!

      Reply
      • Precious says

        July 26, 2021 at 1:28 pm

        Hi EJ, I can't really tell you the difference between those 2 but I know the Mbongo spice we usually buy is a combination of spices, not just one spice. Hope this brings some clarity.

        Reply
        • EJ says

          August 20, 2021 at 3:21 pm

          Thanks! I found the mixture of spices online. I made this and was very happy with it! Just how I remembered it in Cameroun 🙂

          Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    precious

    Hi, I'm Precious!

    I am a mama with many mouths to feed. I develop recipes and share real-life stories. Here you will find approachable, insanely delicious, family-friendly recipes.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Close up shot of Pan Seared Tilapia
      Pan Seared Tilapia
    • Banana fritters on a platter with one opened up to show texture
      Banana Fritters
    • A mug of fresh ginger drink with some ginger and key limes on the side
      Ginger Drink
    • Egusi soup recipe
      EGUSI SOUP - NIGERIAN EGUSI SOUP
    • Chicken in White Sauce in a pot
      Chicken in White Sauce
    • Chicken drumsticks in creamy sauce in a cast iron skillet
      Chicken Drumsticks in Creamy Sauce

    [do_widget id=enews-ext-1]

    Easy Dinner Recipes

    • Square image of baked lemon butter tilapia.
      Garlic Butter Tilapia
    • Cooked salmon in pan.
      Lemon Butter Salmon
    • Square image of green beans.
      Garlic Butter Green Beans
    • Square image of pan seared boneless pork chops.
      Pan Seared Boneless Pork Chops
    • Square image of a roasted turkey thigh.
      Roasted Turkey Thighs
    • Square image of lemon pepper wings.
      Lemon Pepper Turkey Wings

    Easter Recipes

    • Cinnamon rolls in a pan, some of the rolls frosted with cream cheese frosting
      Cinnamon Rolls With Cream Cheese Frosting (VIDEO)
    • Square image of roasted turkey wings
      Baked Turkey Wings
    • A bowl of buttermilk mashed potatoes
      Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes
    • Pan seared lamb chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pan Seared Lamb Chops

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    IMPORTANT LINKS

    • Home
    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
    • Recipe Index
    • Accessibility Policy

    Life

    • Square image of kids at Austin Library
      Our Family Trip To Austin Texas
    • Black family picture
      Family Vacation At Lake Havasu, Arizona

    STAY CONNECTED

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    COPYRIGHT © 2022 PRECIOUS CORE