Ingredients
Insects
- 500 gfresh nsenene, bush crickets or grasshoppers
Pot
- 2 tbspoil
- 2onions, sliced
- 2tomatoes, chopped, optional
- 1chilli, chopped
- 1 tspsalt
Optional
- curry powder
- a squeeze of lemon
To serve
- as a snack, or with matoke and posho
Directions
- Pull off the wings and the long back legs from each one.
- Rinse them in several changes of cold water and drain them well. Now blanch them briefly in boiling salted water for 2 minutes, then drain.
- Cook them right through until crisp. Insects are wild-caught animals and should be thoroughly cooked, without exception.
- Add the onion and cook until soft and golden, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chilli and the tomato if using, and cook a further 3 minutes.
- Season with salt and a squeeze of lemon. They should be crisp outside, savoury, and taste faintly of prawn and roasted nut.
- Serve hot as a snack in a paper cone, or alongside matoke and posho as part of a meal.
Technique
- They are high in protein and fat and were long an important seasonal food.
- Trapping with lights and iron sheets is a substantial local industry during the swarms.
- They are sold ready-cleaned in Kampala markets, which saves the plucking.
Substitutions
- Ready-cleaned nsenene, which is what most people buy.
- Other edible insects prepared the same way, where they are traditionally eaten.
Variations
- Fried plain with only salt.
- With curry powder and onion.
- Dried and stored for out of season.
History
Grasshoppers swarm in the November and April rains and are trapped in Masaka with lights and iron sheets; in old Buganda custom they were reserved for men.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nsenene?
Nsenene is a snack from Uganda: seasonal grasshoppers pan-fried with onion and chili, prized delicacy. Grasshoppers swarm in the November and April rains and are trapped in Masaka with lights and iron sheets; in old Buganda custom they were reserved for men.
How long does Nsenene take to make?
Nsenene takes 40 min of preparation and 15 min of cooking. The recipe makes 4 servings. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Nsenene?
Yes, within limits. Ready-cleaned nsenene, which is what most people buy. Other edible insects prepared the same way, where they are traditionally eaten.
What is the most important thing to get right in Nsenene?
Cook them right through until crisp. Insects are wild-caught animals and should be thoroughly cooked, without exception.
