Kantalelo fenni

OSHIWAMBO TRADITIONAL MEAL

Ombindi is one of the important[Afican spirit] traditional meal of oshiwambo enthic Ombindi can be cooked dried or fresh. Ovambo language is the most popular language in Namibia

PICKING

Young ombindi plants (2-3 weeks old ) are the best for cooking because they cook less time and according to most people they are not so bitter as the old ombindi. there is a belief that if you pick ombindi that is too young (1-2 weeks) they will not branch later on,so the average picking time is 3 weeks old when it has 2-3 branches.

RINSING

Before start cooking ombindi be carefull, scince it is too small it collects alot of sands and grasses that needs to be washed several times before starting cooking. For the first rinse,let it stand in water for 10 minutes most of the sand will then settle on the bottom of the basin. Rinse it thoroughly, 3-5 times. Ombindi is then taken sraight to the pot.

COOKING

It is believed that if you do not cook ombindi at high heat the bittemess will not go away and it will not properly being cooked. it is also believed that you should only open the pot after the crusial 30 minutes and this is the best time to turn it. Add more water about 2 cups and let it cooked at medium heat for 30 minutes without opening. After it has been cooked for 60 minutes in total then you can open the pot as many times as you want. Do not add salt before this 60 minutes becaouse your ombidi will be bitter no matter how long you cooked it. The cooking time will depending on how much ekwakwa or omunjulu you have present. If there is no ekwakwa or omunjulu it will take more time than 60 minutes and expect it to be hard when eating. Ombindi is regareded as cooked when it is tasteless and no bitterness is tasted. Usually salt and pepper will be the seasoning then when serving add cooked cow lard(omagadhi geengombe) or marura cooking oil(ondjove) and cherry tomato.

TABLE MANNER FOR EATING OMBINDI

Ombindi as used by some tribes in Namibia is a soures to be eaten with porridge(oshithima) insted of meat. Today's generation uses ombindi as a side of vegitable for a mealof for instance potatoes or chicken. Today there are rules governing eating together in oshiwambo tradion. Before eating, everybody must wash their hands in warmluke waterthen they sit arround the oshifima served in a flat basked called Elilo and ombindi served in a shallow called Etiti. Nobody should start eating until everybody is sitted, a prayer is then said.

Reference: fkantalelo@yahoo.com http:africanspirit.blogspot.com/2008/11/family-life.html african spirit