Tasty Kenyan Mukimo Recipe

Written by Published on Updated on September 11, 2013 in Kenyan, Vegeterian

Kenyan dishes are very diverse and they vary depending with the different communities. They have evolved and been adapted to suit the regions and cultures. Mukimo is one such dish. I will be giving you the secret to this tasty Kenyan Mukimo recipe right here. I will show you how to successfully execute it. In fact, it is so easy, it would be almost impossible to mess it. Trust me!

Mukimo is one of the staple dishes of the Kikuyu community in Kenya. It consists of green maize, potatoes, green peas and kahurura (pumpkin leaves) all mashed together. There are many variations of mukimo recipe. Some people use spinach as a substitute for the pumpkin leaves or beans to substitute for the green peas. In some communities, pumpkin is used as a substitute for potatoes.

No ceremony or celebration of any kind (especially among the communities from Mt. Kenya) is complete without tasty Kenyan mukimo.

Now-a-days, people add cream, butter or margarine to give this tasty mukimo an extra layer of flavour. Some also go as far as adding some curry powder while mashing it.

If you are in a region, where there is scarcity in the availability of fresh vegetables use frozen ones. Be careful to add less water.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of maize off the cob
  • 6 medium sized potatoes
  • 2 cups green peas
  • A bunch of kahurura (pumpkin leaves)
  • Salt to taste
  • 50 g butter or Margarine (optional)

Directions

  1. Prepare the kahurura by breaking off the stalk. Make sure they are the soft young leaves because they won’t be stringy.
  2. Put the peas, potatoes and maize in the pot all at once. Cook the potatoes whole do not chop them up.
  3. Add just enough water to cover the contents in the pot.
  4. Place the pumpkin leaves on top of the dish and cover it up with the lid.
  5. Cook over medium heat for about 40 minutes. During this time, do not be tempted to stir the food.
  6. Drain the excess water; add salt to taste and butter. (I prefer adding the salt at this point because I can taste the food as I progress).
  7. Mash it using a wooden spoon. Do not use a potato grinder because it will break up the maize kernels.
  8. Serve it with stew of your choice. Most people serve it with either beef stew or chicken stew.  In most ceremonies, kachumbari (salsa) and Nyama Choma (Roasted Meat) normally accompany it.

 

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