Kenyan Comfort Food: Githeri Recipe

Kenyan Comfort Food: Githeri Recipe

In this article, I will be showing you how you can make Githeri at home with my very simple Githeri recipes. This flavorful and simple Kenyan dish, Githeri, combines just two main ingredients: beans and maize. It’s a hearty and wholesome meal enjoyed by many across the country.

A Dish with Deep Roots:

While popular in central Kenyan communities, githeri holds significance throughout the country and even beyond. Known by various names in different regions, it reflects the diverse culinary landscape of East Africa.

A Familiar Favorite:

For many Kenyans, githeri brings back childhood memories of school lunches. This recipe offers a home-cooked version, packed with flavour and perfect for any occasion. I have many memories of githeri from when I was young.

My grandmother, May she rest in peace, used to cook githeri in a very big sufuria so that it could last for about 3-4 days. I would wake up for this meal in the morning with tea, and sometimes for lunch, and it was the best meal ever. She would cook it in two variations; boiled and fried. In this article, I will show you how to prepare both.

Ingredients:

Before you start cooking, you will need to boil your maize and beans before you can fry them together with spices. First, take a cup of kidney beans, and soak them for at least 30 minutes to soften them. Then add them to a cooking pot with enough water. Let them boil for about an hour until they start to soften(Don’t let them be soft), then add the 1 cup of maize.

The reason for doing this is because maize cooks faster than beans, and so if you start boiling both of them at once, the maize might end up overcooking. That is why you let your beans cook first until they are almost softening up, before adding your maize.

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup small diced potatoes
• 1 large red onion, finely diced
• 3 tomatoes, finely diced (or 1 1/2 cups tomato puree)
• 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped spring onions
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• Handful fresh coriander (dhania), chopped
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 cup boiled kidney beans
• 1 cup boiled soft maize
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat oil: In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat.
2. Sauté potatoes: Add the diced potatoes and cook until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
3. Sauté aromatics: In the same pan, add the spring onions, red onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Sauté until slightly golden brown.
4. Add spices: Stir in the ginger, cayenne pepper (if using), garam masala, salt, and black pepper. Cook for about 30 seconds, releasing the fragrance.
5. Simmer tomatoes: Add the tomato puree and cook for 8-10 minutes, adding a little water if needed to prevent burning.
6. Combine and simmer: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the beans, maize, and enough water to cover the ingredients. Cover and simmer for 30-45 minutes, or until the water reduces by two-thirds.
7. Finish and serve: Stir in the cooked potatoes, lemon juice, lemon zest, and chopped coriander. Heat through on low. Serve hot on its own or with rice or chapati.

Tips:

• Pre-boil the maize and beans for convenience. Keep them frozen for quick githeri preparation.
• Prepare all vegetables and spices beforehand for a smooth cooking process.

What To Serve Githeri With

With Chapati

You can serve Githeri with Chapati, which is the most delicious meal you will have tasted. You can check out our articles on how to make the perfect chapatis at home. Making Chapatis will take between thirty minutes to one hour, but worth the trouble.

You could make it as you wait for your beans and maize to boil.

With Rice

You can simply boil a cup of rice, or more depending on the amount of people you want to serve. To make a simple rice dish;

• Put two cups of water into a cooking pot and put on medium heat.
• Add a pinch or two of salt to taste.
• Wash a cup of rice and add to the boiling water. Note, if you want to cook one cup of rice, add two cups of water and if you want to cook 2 cups of water, add double the amount of water.
• Let the rice cook until the water dries up.
• Done, when ready, you can serve it alongside your Githeri.

With Tea

If you are planning to have your Githeri with Tea, making Masala Chai will be the perfect option for the perfect breakfast.

Enjoy this delicious and comforting Kenyan staple!

If you enjoyed the meal, take a pic and send it to me, or let me know in the comment section of this article. If you have any queries, send me an email and I will get back to you as soon as possible. If you have a recipe you would like to get featured on our blog, also send me an email and I will feature it on one of our recipes.

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