All posts tagged: Akhuni

rootsandleisure_axone_fermentedsoyabean

Recipe | Learn How to Make The Famous Axone (Fermented Soyabean) From Nagaland

[First published on 25th May, 2019] Axone (pronounced ‘Aakhuni’) is a fermented soybean paste with a very strong pungent smell, and it is one of the most popular spices from Nagaland, in the North East of India. It is indigenous to the ‘Sumi’ Naga tribe but is widely used across all Naga dishes. While locals in Nagaland usually buy it from the market, it is also made at home. Axone made by the Sumi tribe is most favored, obviously. Today, we have Inali Jane Ayemi, a passionate cook from Nagaland, to guide us through the entire process of making Axone at home. All we need are soybeans, a pressure cooker, and leaves to wrap them for fermentation. The complete process takes about a week. Let’s get started! Preparing Axone (aakhuni) at home: Wash the soya beans and soak them for about 20-30 mins Cook it in a pressure cooker, then strain it dry Then pound the soyabean to make it into a paste (as shown in the photo) Wrap portions of the pounded soyabean paste …

Rootsandleisure_StickyRiceRecipe

Recipe | Naga Traditional Method to Make Steamed Sticky Rice and Axone Chutney

If you are travelling to Nagaland in the Northeast of India, and trying out local cuisine is your top priority, do not forget to taste the traditionally cooked “Sticky rice.” Sometimes eaten as a substitute for regular rice, it is also quite popular in Nagaland as an afternoon snack/mid-day meal. With the relatively earlier sunrise and super early breakfasts in this part of the country, a plate of sticky rice with some axone (akhuni) chutney on the side and a hot cup of tea is indeed a delightful treat. Sticky rice puris are also very popular as noonday snacks with hot tea [Recipe here] Our R&L contributor Lidang takes us to her kitchen to show us how their family cooks sticky rice and the very popular axone chutney (fermented soybean chutney). Full recipe and video below: Ingredients for Steamed Sticky Rice 1 kg of Sticky rice soaked overnight 2 types of pots: earthen pot with small holes at the bottom (like a momo steamer) and an aluminum pot (both medium sized) 2-3 banana leaves Some newspapers (to connect the two vessels together – one top of …

RootsandLeisure_smoked posk

Recipe | Smoked Pork with Akhuni and Black Sesame Seeds

Here is a Naga pork recipe contributed by R&L reader Elika. It’s another super delicious smoked pork recipe – with the aroma of axone and sesame seeds. Easy to cook, but will leave an unforgettable taste for a long time! Smoked pork cooked with Axone (fermented soya beans), and Sesame seeds. Best served with Rice. Ingredients: 1/2 kg Smoked pork (cut into 1″ cubes) 2 tbsps of Black sesame seeds 1 tbsp Axone 4-5 gloves of garlic 1″ Naga ginger 1 tbsp Red chilly powder Salt to taste Directions to cook: Roast the diced smoked pork in it’s own fat till there is enough oil coming out to cook the rest of the ingredients. Add salt, garlic, red chilly powder and cook till the meat is almost ready. In a separate pan, roast black sesame seeds and roughly pound them. Now add the sesame seeds and axone/akhuni (fermented soya beans) to the meat and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Garnish with a bit of roughly pounded Naga ginger and serve. Serve hot with steamed/boiled rice. Bon …

rootsandleisure_akhuni-chutney

Recipe | Nagaland’s ‘Axone’ (Akhuni) Chutney

Today’s recipe is a special one that showcases one of the most popular Naga spices – ‘axone’ (pronounced aakhuni). This fermented soybean paste has a very strong and pungent smell that can fill an entire house with its unique aroma. It’s no wonder that young people from Nagaland always carry a packet of axone with them wherever they go, to try and recreate their very own ‘Naga kitchen’ – a home away from home. While the smell of axone may be intense for first-timers, it’s addictive once you get used to the taste. Nagas use this spice in a variety of dishes ranging from chutneys and pickles to various local dishes like smoked pork with axone, nula (snails) with axone, and a host of stew dishes. To get you started, let’s learn how to make the most popular Naga chutney. Get ready to explore the unique flavors of Nagaland! Fresh axone is made by boiling soybeans and draining the excess water. Then wrapped in banana leaves and left to ferment for 3-7 days over a …