FOOD, MANIPUR, RECIPES
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Recipe of Manipur’s Popular Salad ‘Yongchak Singju’ made with Stink Beans

Today, I invited Khevito Elvis Lee also known as ‘The Tribal Chef’ (on Instagram) to teach me how to make my favorite Yongchak Singju. I am an ardent admirer and follower of his work – especially his food posts. He lives up to his name as ‘The Tribal Chef’ by regularly sharing a range of local dishes from Northeast India.

Khevito is also the owner of the Hornbill Restaurant in Safdarjung Enclave, Delhi, which has been serving mouth-watering local dishes to Northeastern folks there – and most importantly, introducing our region’s cuisine to non-locals in the city.

Coming back to the recipe, Yongchak Singju is a local’s favorite – especially in Nagaland and Manipur. It is made of Yongchak (monkey beans) which is a popular local ingredient, often used in making authentic Manipuri specialties like Eromba and Singju. It is a long twisting bean that is a member of the pea or beans family. Yongchak beans have an unusual smell and are crisp, soft, and tender with a rich and pungent flavor. Now, let’s learn how to make Yongjak Singju Elvis Lee’s style 🙂

Main ingredients for Yongchak Singju (left to right): Yongchak (Stink beans), king chilly, onions

Main ingredients for Yongchak Singju (left to right) : Yongchak (Stink beans), king chilly, onions

Ingredients you’ll need:

  1. Yonchak ( stink beans )
  2. King chilly
  3. Ngari ( fermented dry fish)
  4. Onion
  5. Pea leaves
  6. Chakhawai ( Rice beans)
  7. Salt

Steps to make:

  1. Peel the Yonchak skin and cut it into thin stripes .
  2. Burn the dry fish and king chilly ( you can put the king chilly as per your spice level) then smash then both into a fine paste .
  3. Boil the Chakhawai for sometime until it’s little soft and then drain the water and mix it with the Yonchak and dry fish , king chilly paste .
  4. Cut onion into thin slices , also clean the pea leaves and add them both with the Yonchak mixture and mix them all very nicely with your hand.
  5. Add salt as per taste.

Your Yonchak singju is ready:) Highly recommend it! Check out more recipes by Khevito Elvis Lee.

Rootsandleisure_Recipe_yongchak

Yongchak Singju by Khevito Elvis Lee

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