Lake Victoria Staple · Sun-Dried Silver Fish
Omena (Fried Silver Fish)
Photo: VictorOchieng / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
These fish are barely longer than a fingernail, yet the omena trade around Lake Victoria supports the livelihoods of an estimated two million people.
Tiny silver cyprinid fish are sun-dried on the lakeshore, then quickly fried with tomatoes, onions, and garlic until crisp. Market vendors in Kisumu scoop it into bags to eat on the spot, or sell it dried in bulk for households to fry at home.
Why it's made this way: Omena has long been one of the cheapest, most accessible sources of protein around Lake Victoria, making it a dietary backbone for Luo communities and a major regional export.
More from Kenya
Part of World of Street Food — 3248 dishes from 118 countries.
Something wrong here? Tell us in the comments below.
Photo credits.