Kachumbari,Kenyan Salad
Recipe: Kachumbari,Kenyan Salad
Kachumabari,Kenyan Salad is the easiest, most popular and a superbly delicious side dish that goes well with chicken, fish, barbecued meat (nyama choma), kebabs, tikkas, pilau, ugali, etc. It is a basic salad of tomatoes, onion, fresh coriander, lemon and a bit of chilli. This salad is popular in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The word kachumbari comes from the Hindi word Kachumber. So I am presuming that this salad became popular in the Eastern part of Africa when the Indians came to settle/work in those areas.
Indian kachumber usually consists of tomatoes, onion, cucumber, coriander, green chillis and lemon juice. The traditional Kenyan Kachumbari is a mixture of tomatoes and onion with some fresh coriander, lemon juice and chilli added to it. Modern variations of the basic kachumbari have cropped up. Cucumber, raw mango, avocado are sometimes added. Today I am sticking to the traditional kachumbari which my mum use to make every Sunday to go with khichdi and kadhi.
Sharing Kachumbari,Kenyan Salad Recipe With 2025 Alphabet Challenge Group
We’ve reached Letter K, also a reminder that time is flying. We’re already in the month of May for 2025! A reminder to my followers that for the 2025 Alphabet Challenge, initiated by Wendy, my A-Z will be based on salads. So far so good. Cannot to the salad theme without including a salad from the country where I was born – Kenya. Though simple and like a basic salsa, kachumbari is a part of the East African Cuisine.K is for kiwi, kale, kidney beans, key lime, kambocha, kohlrabi, kaffir lime, kebab, kumquat, kimchi, khoya, ketchup, khichdi, kala chana, etc.
My contribution for Letter K is Kachumbari, Kenyan Salad
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Ingredients Required For Kachumbari,Kenyan Salad
Tomatoes
For this salad it is best to use Roma tomatoes as they are not watery. We do not remove the seeds or pulp of the tomatoes.
Onion
Traditionally red onion is used for this salad. However, you may any onion of your choice.
Lemon Juice
Preferably fresh. Whenever I make this salad in Canada, I prefer to use lime juice as it tends to be a bit more sour than the large lemons.
Chilli
This salad is very forgiving as you can add any chilli you have in your fridge or pantry. Use fresh green or red chilli, sliced finely, jalapeno. Or go for the basic red chilli powder or cayenne powder.
Coriander | Cilantro
Add some for flavour. Adding other fresh herbs does not give it that authentic flavour.
Salt
Add according to your taste.
A Few Tips To Making Kachumbari,Kenyan Salad
- The ratio of tomatoes to onion is generally more.
- Can cut the tomatoes and onion into strips or cubes, your choice.
- Generally, all the ingredients are mixed and the salad is allowed to rest for 10-15 minutes or more for the flavours to infuse. Adding salt results in a watery salad but that is generally the preferred way.
- Don’t add too much coriander. You don’t the flavour of the coriander to over power the other flavours.
- For a modern version go ahead and add cucumber, avocado, semi ripe mango. Sometimes I add a few bits of pineapple.
- The flavour or the heat from the chillis should not be the dominant factor. Should have a good balance of salt, sour and hot.
KACHUMBARI,KENYAN SALAD
Kachumabari, Kenyan Salad is the easiest, most popular and a superbly delicious side dish that goes well with chicken, fish, barbecued meat (nyama choma), kebabs, tikkas, pilau, ugali, etc. It is a basic salad of tomatoes, onion, fresh coriander, lemon and a bit of chilli.
Ingredients
- 2 large Roma tomatoes
- 1 small red onion
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Peel and cut the onion into half. Slice it. Don't make the slices too thin or too thick.
- Add them to a bowl.
- Cut the tomatoes into halves. Cut them lengthwise. Not too thick or thin.
- Add it to the onion.
- Add chopped coriander, salt, red chilli powder and lemon juice.
- Mix the kachumbari well.
- I like to leave it in the fridge for 15-30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- If you are using fresh red or green chilli then add one or less according to how hot it is.
- Add lemon juice and salt according to your taste.
- The ratio of tomatoes to onion is generally more.
- Can cut the tomatoes and onion into strips or cubes, your choice.
- Generally, all the ingredients are mixed and the salad is allowed to rest for 10-15 minutes or more for the flavours to infuse. Adding salt results in a watery salad but that is generally the preferred way.
- Don't add too much coriander. You don't the flavour of the coriander to over power the other flavours.
- For a modern version go ahead and add cucumber, avocado, semi ripe mango. Sometimes I add a few bits of pineapple.
- The flavour or the heat from the chillis should not be the dominant factor. Should have a good balance of salt, sour and hot.
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A Small Request
If you do try this recipe then please either
- add a comment below,
- send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
- tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
- or comment on Pinterest @mayuri62
22 Comments
Sweet & Spicy Hawaiian Pineapple Ketchup
May 21, 2025 at 6:41 am
[…] Kachumbari, Kenyan Salad by Mayuri’s Jikoni […]
Wendy Klik
May 21, 2025 at 7:20 am
This is going on my to-make list for the minute the Michigan tomatoes ripen to readiness.
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:23 am
Thanks Wendy, enjoy the salad. Can also make it when the BBq season arrives. Goes very well with grilled meats.
Karen’s Kitchen Stories
May 21, 2025 at 1:15 pm
I love hearing about the history and origins of your dishes! This salad sounds super refreshing.
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:22 am
Thank you so much Karen. Am so happy you love reading my posts.
hobby baker Kelly
May 21, 2025 at 1:16 pm
When I was a toddler, a friend of my mom’s visited from Kenya. I have the dimmest memories of a super tall, dark man, although looking at the one picture we have, he was barely taller than my 5’4″ mom. Everyone is tall when you are two! I regret that we don’t have any shared recipes from that friendship, food brings people together. Love the flavors in this salad and definitely love red onions best!
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:22 am
Thanks Kelly, food definitely brings people together. I was born and brought up in Kenya, so the cuisine is very much a part of me. However, I get limited as I am a vegetarian. The coastal cuisine is influenced by the Portuguese, Arab, Indian and British.
Sue Lau
May 21, 2025 at 3:34 pm
I like Indian Kachumber so I know I’d love this.
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:19 am
Thanks Sue. Am sure you’ll love it.
Jolene
May 22, 2025 at 9:26 am
Love the idea of using the lime and I’ve always got jalapenos around. Looks fresh and delicious!
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:19 am
Thanks Jolene, Enjoy the salad.
Colleen – Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
May 22, 2025 at 3:43 pm
What an absolutely gorgeous salad! I’m excited to make this for B.O.B. Bob…because he just LOVES a tomato salad!!!
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:18 am
Thanks Colleen, go ahead and make it. Am sure you will be making it often thereafter.
Lisa
May 22, 2025 at 5:20 pm
Simple ingredients for this make me happy. And another recipe to use coriander in!
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:24 am
Thanks Lisa enjoy:)
Kimchi Gochujang Dip – Magical Ingredients
May 23, 2025 at 8:59 pm
[…] Mayuri’s Jikoni: Kachumbari,Kenyan Salad […]
Jolene
May 24, 2025 at 6:50 am
This looks amazing, I love tomatoes and this showcases them so well! I also love your challenge within the challenge!
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:12 am
Thanks Jolene. This simple but tasty salad is our favourite. Now that tomatoes and BBQ will be in season, I’ll be making this salad almost everyday.
Radha
May 24, 2025 at 1:17 pm
This simple and refreshing kochumber can be an anytime snack for us and we would like to have it with our meals. Great and simple recipe.
mayurisjikoni
May 25, 2025 at 1:11 am
Thanks Radha,as I mentioned in the post, it is served with practically anything.
Sneha Datar
June 8, 2025 at 6:26 am
Such a refreshing and delicious salad!
mayurisjikoni
June 9, 2025 at 6:05 pm
Thank you so much Sneha. It definitely is refreshing and delicious.