🇹🇿 Tanzanian / Swahili · Fish & Seafood
🦑 Tanzanian Coconut Squid
Ngisi wa Nazi
Tanzanian Ngisi wa Nazi — squid rings quickly sautéed in a fragrant coconut milk, garlic, and Zanzibar spice sauce. Light, aromatic, and very fast — the coastal squid curry that takes 15 minutes from start to finish.
30 minTotal time
15 minPrep
15 minCook
4Servings
260Calories
EasyDifficulty
Coconut squid is the quick seafood dish of coastal Tanzania — squid from the morning's catch in a light coconut sauce in under 15 minutes. The key is speed — the squid goes in last and comes out quickly.
Ingredients
Equipment: Wide pan
- 500g cleaned squid — rings and tentacles
- 2 onions — diced
- 3 tomatoes — diced
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 200ml coconut milk
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp curry powder
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 red chilli
- 2 tsp salt
- ¼ cup coriander
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Method
- Cook onions until golden. Add garlic, ginger, spices.
- Add tomatoes. Cook 6 minutes until thick.
- Add coconut milk. Bring to gentle simmer.
- Add squid rings. Cook for exactly 3 minutes.
- Add lemon juice and coriander. Remove from heat immediately.
- Serve at once.
Chef Tips
- 3 minutes for squid — not a second more.
- Have everything ready before squid goes in.
- Remove from heat immediately.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overcooked squid — rubbery beyond recovery.
The Science
See TZA072 for squid cooking science.
Nutrition (per serving)
260Calories
22gProtein
12gCarbs
14gFat
2gFiber
560mgSodium
Health Benefits
- Very lean protein.
- Omega-3.
- Coconut milk MCTs.
Cultural Note
Coconut squid demonstrates the Swahili coast philosophy — the best ingredients need the least interference.
Storage & Serving
Storage: Best eaten immediately.
Reheating: Not recommended.
Serve with: Wali wa Nazi (TZA002), Chapati (TZA004)