Mock Iromba

This is my modified and tweaked version of iromba. I call it mock because it lacks a key ingredient – fermented fish! Iromba is eaten almost daily in Manipur. It does need fermented fish called ngari (which I have unfortunately not found in Chicago), chives and red chillies to be authentic. The other ingredients can be varied. Best of all, it is super healthy!

Mock Iromba

Ingredients

1 medium potato, boiled and mashed
½ lb shrimps
16 oz mushrooms, sliced
3 red chillies
1 tilapia fillet (or any other white fish fillet), marinated with a little salt, tumeric powder and red chilli powder
1 bunch chives (or spring onions), finely chopped
1 tomato, steamed and mashed
1 cup warm water
Salt

In a pan, add 1 tbsp oil and the red chillies. Remove the red chillies when they turn dark red. Add the chives and shrimps and saute till the shrimps are light brown. Remove and keep aside. Fry the tilapia in the same pan. Remove when it turns brown.

In mixing bowl, crumble the red chillies. Mix in rest of the ingredients. Iromba is eaten with rice.