Isambaza (Crispy Fried Lake Kivu Whitebait)
In short: Tiny whole fish tossed in seasoned cornflour and deep-fried until crisp, eaten bones and all with lemon and chili sauce. It takes about 40 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 10 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 280 kcal
Isambaza are the tiny silvery fish of Lake Kivu, and fried until crisp they are one of Rwanda's best-known lakeside snacks. They are eaten whole, heads and bones included, with a squeeze of lemon and a spicy sauce. Rinse the fish well, give them a light coat of seasoned starch and fry them hot and fast. Smelt, whitebait or small sardines are good substitutes.
Instructions
- Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Toss them with the lemon juice and 1/2 tsp of the salt and leave for 10 minutes.
- Mix the cornflour with the remaining salt, pepper and paprika on a plate or in a bag.
- Heat the oil in a deep pot to 180°C (350°F). A pinch of cornflour dropped in should sizzle at once.
- Drain the fish and coat them lightly in the seasoned cornflour, shaking off the excess.
- Fry in 3 or 4 batches for 2 to 3 minutes each, until golden and crisp. Do not crowd the pot.
- Lift out with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels and serve right away with lemon wedges and chili sauce.
Tips
- Dry the fish well before coating. Wet fish makes the cornflour clump and the crust go soggy.
- If you can only find larger sardines or anchovies, remove the guts and heads and fry them 3 to 4 minutes per batch, until crisp.
Questions and answers
Do you eat the bones?
Yes. At this size the bones and heads are soft and crisp after frying. Larger fish should be gutted and boned.
What fish can I use instead of isambaza?
Whitebait, smelt, small sardines or fresh anchovies all work. Small dried fish are not a good substitute.
Can I air-fry them?
Yes. Spray the coated fish with oil and air-fry at 200°C (400°F) for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking halfway.
How long does it take to make Isambaza (Crispy Fried Lake Kivu Whitebait)?
About 40 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Isambaza (Crispy Fried Lake Kivu Whitebait)?
About 280 kcal per serving, with 22 g of protein, 13 g of carbohydrates and 15 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 280 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 22 g |
| Carbohydrates | 13 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 520 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
