Kachumbari (East African Tomato Salad)

Name: Kachumbari (East African Tomato Salad)
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: African
Ingredients: 1/2 small red onion (3 ounces; 85g), thinly sliced; 1 1/2 pounds (680g) ripe plum or Roma tomatoes (about 6 large), cored and diced into 1-inch bite-size pieces (about 3 cups) (see notes); 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste; for table salt use half as much by volume; 1 fresh serrano or jalapeño chile pepper, stemmed and sliced into thin rings or finely diced (see notes); 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems (from 1 small bunch cilantro); 2 tablespoons (30ml) fresh lime or lemon juice, plus more to taste

Instructions

Prep:20min

The vibrant mixture of fresh tomatoes tossed with raw onion, chile pepper, cilantro, and lime or lemon juice is a staple summer salad in East African countries. The five-ingredient tomato salad is easy to make, but for the most flavorful version, we use a couple science-backed tricks when preparing. Pair it with grilled meats, serve it alongside rice, or spoon it over crusty bread.

Updated at: Sun, 15 Jun 2025 15:58:21 GMT