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Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
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Main course
Fish & Seafood
Food Flavour DNA
Nutritional Values
520kcal
42gProtein
22gCarbs
30gFat
3gFibre
350 gServing
* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.
Allergens
🦐 Shellfish
Also served in
Octopus Curry
How to order / say it
Say it
Mchuzi wa Pweza — [m-choo-zee wa pwe-zah]
Order
I'd like the Octopus Curry, please.
Locally
Naomba mchuzi wa pweza, tafadhali.
Say locally
A tender octopus dish cooked with spices and coconut, typical of Zanzibar.
Why try it?
Octopus Curry is a Zanzibari classic, symbolizing the bountiful seafood available on the island. It's a dish that reveals the island's love for spices and coconut, which are integral to its culinary identity.
How it tastes
This curry features tender octopus chunks in a rich, aromatic sauce made with coconut milk and spices like turmeric and curry leaves. It offers a complex taste with a hint of sweetness and a soft, succulent texture.
Origin & History — first documented: 1870
Introduced in the 19th century, Octopus Curry became a favorite due to the abundant coastal supply of octopus and the Indian influence that brought the curry techniques to Zanzibar. Its enduring appeal lies in its robust flavor enhanced by local spices.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 🦐 500 g octopus
- 🥛 300 ml coconut milk
- 🧄 1 large onion
- 🥣 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 🧂 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 🌿 5 curry leaves
- 🧄 3 cloves garlic
Method
- 1 Sauté onions, garlic, and curry leaves until golden.
- 2 Add octopus, tomato paste, and spices, cook slightly.
- 3 Stir in coconut milk and simmer gently.
- 4 Cook until octopus is tender and sauce thick.
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Mtori
M-TOH-ree
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kai-mah-tee yah moo-ho-go
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Nyah-mah Choh-mah
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pweh-ZAH wah koo-CHO-mah
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mm-kah-teh wah oo-foo-tah
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kee-sahm-voo
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Ooh-gah-lee nah Mchee-chah
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Ka-choom-bar-ee
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Bread
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Zanzibari Chapati
Chapati ya Kibanda
chah-pah-tee yah kee-bahn-dah
Flatbread that is flaky and slightly crispy, served with curry or chai.