Kachumbari is a fresh tomato and onion salad or salsa that is popular in the cuisines of the African Great Lakes region. It consists of chopped fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro and peppers. (In the U.S. and Mexico, it’s known as pico de gallo.) Variations of kachumbari can be found in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and in Southern African countries and may also include cucumber.

In Portugal, a similar dish is called Salada à Algarvia, also with optional cucumbers.

We alternate between the styles according to which goes best with a particular dish or availability of fresh ingredients. No matter what, it’s always good.