Gluten freeOmajowa
Butter-fried mushrooms
Omajowa: Namibian termite-hill mushrooms fried simply in butter, made with shop-bought large mushrooms
For a few weeks after good summer rains, people sell enormous omajowa caps by the roadside between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo, each one pushed up through the side of a termite mound, and families fry them that evening in butter with nothing more than salt and pepper. They are meaty and firm with a nutty, almost chicken-like richness. Never forage for them or any wild mushroom: here we use shop-bought king oyster and portobello mushrooms, which take the same treatment very well. Pile them onto toast, serve beside pap or eat them straight from the pan. The classic error is crowding the pan, which stews the mushrooms in their own water instead of browning them. Butter is used here, so it is vegetarian but not vegan. Chef's tip: press the slices down with a spatula for the first minute so they sear golden before you season them.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 2
- Per serving
- 230 kcal
Ingredients
- 10 ½ oz king oyster mushroomsshop-bought, sliced lengthways 1 cm thick
- 7 oz portobello mushroomsshop-bought, thickly sliced
- 1 ⅜ oz butter
- 1 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 clove garlic (optional)lightly crushed
- ½ tsp flaky salt
- ½ tsp black pepperfreshly ground
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Wipe the 10 ½ oz king oyster mushrooms and 7 oz portobello mushrooms slices clean with damp kitchen paper rather than washing them, so they don't soak up water.
Step 2: Heat a large frying pan over a medium-high heat with the 1 tbsp sunflower oil and half of the ⅔ oz butter until the foam settles.
Step 3: Lay in half the mushroom slices in one layer and press them down. Fry without moving until deep golden underneath, then turn and colour the other side.
5 minStep 4: Lift them onto a plate and fry the second batch the same way.
5 minStep 6: Take off the heat, season with the ½ tsp flaky salt and ½ tsp black pepper and serve at once with the pan butter spooned over.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does omajowa take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of king oyster mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
- What can I use instead of portobello mushrooms?
- Aubergine, diced, same weight.
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